how now Friend (ſays the Aſs) How comes This about? Only the Chance of the War, ſays the Other: I was a Soldiers Horſe, you muſt know; and my Maſter carry'd me into a Battel, where I was Shot, Hack'd, and Maim'd; and you have here before Your Eyes the Cataſtrophe of My Fortune.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
We are to Gather from hence, that people would never Envy the Pomp and Splendour of Greatneſs, if they did but confider, either the Cares and Dangers that go along with it, or the Bleſſings of Peace, and Security in a Middle Condition. No man can be truly Happy, who is not every Hour of his Life prepar'd for the worſt that can befall him. Now This is a State of Tranquility never to be Attain'd, but by keeping perpetually in our Thoughts the Certainty of Death, and the Lubricity of Fortune; and by Delivering our ſelves from the Anxiety of Hopes and Fears.
It falls Naturally within the Proſpect of This Fiction to Treat of the Wickedneſs of a Preſumptuous Arrogance, the Fate that Attends it; The Rife of it; and the Means of either Preventing, or Suppreſſing it; The Folly of it; The Wretched and Ridiculous Eſtate of a Proud man, and the Weakneſs of That Envy that is Grounded upon the miſtaken Happineſs of Humane Life.
If a body may be Allow'd to Graft a Chriſtian Moral upon a Pagan Fable, what was it but Pride and Arrogance that fiſt threw Lucifer out of Heaven, and afterward, Adam out of Paradiſe? [Ye ſhall be as Gods] was the Temptation; an Impotent, and a Preſumptuous Affectation of Vain-Glory was the Sin; and a Malediction Temporal and Eternal was the Puniſhment. Now if the Charms of an Unruly Ambition could ſo far prevail upon the Angels Themſelves in their Purity; and upon Mankind in a State of Innocence, how Strict a Guard ought we then to keep upon our ſelves, that are the Children of diſobedience, and bring the feeds of This Deadly Vanity into the World with us in our very Veins?
It is highly Remarkable, that as Pride, and Envy are the Two Paſſions, that above All Others give the Greateſt Trouble to the Sons of Men, ſo are they likewiſe the Firſt Emotions of the Mind that we take Notice of in our Approaches to the Exerciſe of our Reaſon. They begin with us in the Arms of our Nurſes, and at the very Breaſts of our Mothers; for what's the meaning of All the Little Wrangles and Contentions elſe, which Child ſall be moſt made off; or which Baby ſhall have the Gayer Coat? So that Theſe Affections are in truth, Connatural to us, and as We our ſelves grow up and Gather Strength, ſo do They, and paſs Inſenſibly from our Inclinations into our Manners. Now the Corruption muſt needs be Strong, where Humane Frailty ſtrikes in ſo Early with it, and the Progreſs no leſs Mortal, where it is ſuffer'd to go on without Control: For what are all the Extravagances of the Leudeſt Life, but themore
