REFLECTION. This fable strongly recommends a due consideration of the thicket of law, before we go into it, for although judgment and sentence are passed in our favour, still we may be fleeced to the skin. THE FOX AND THE GOAT. A Fox and a Goat travelling together in a very sultry day, found themselves exceedingly thirsty; when looking round the country in order to discover a place where they might probably meet with water, they at length descried a clear spring at the bottom of a pit. They both eagerly descended; and having sufficiently allayed their thirst, began to consider how they should get out. Many expedients for that purpose were mutually proposed, and rejected. At last the crafty Fox cried out with great joy, "I have a thought just struck into my mind, which I am confident will extricate us out of our difficulty: do you," said he to the Goat, "only rear yourself up upon your hinder legs, and rest your forefeet against the side of the pit. In this posture, I will climb up to your head, from whence I shall be able, with a spring, to reach the top: and when I am once there, you are sensible it will be very easy for me to pull you out by the horns." The simple Goat liked the proposal well; and immediately placed himself as directed by means of which the Fox, without much difficulty, gained the top. "And now," said the Goat, "give me the assistance you promised." "Thou old fool," replied the Fox, "hadst thou but half as much brains as head, thou wouldst never have believed, that I would hazard my own life to save thine. However, I will leave with thee a piece of advice, which may be of service to thee hereafter, if thou shouldst have the good fortune to make thy escape:- -"never venture into a pit again, before thou hast well considered how to get out of it." REFLECTION. When we are going to encounter difficulties, we should depend more upon our own strength than the assistance of our neighbour. Two Foxes formed a stratagem to enter a hen-roost: which having successfully executed, and killed the cock, the hens, and the chickens, they began to feed upon them with singular satisfaction. One of the Foxes, who was young and inconsiderate, was for devouring them all upon the spot: the other, who was old and covetous, proposed to reserve some of them for another time. "For experience, child," said he, "has made me wise, and I have seen many unexpected events since I came into the world. Let us provide, therefore, against what may happen, and not consume all our store at one meal." "All this is wonderous wise," replied the young Fox; "but for my part, I am resolved not to stir till I have eaten as much as will serve me a whole week for who would be mad enough to return hither, when it is certain the owner of these fowls will watch for us, and if he Hh should catch us, would certainly put us to death?" After this short discourse, each pursued his own scheme: the young Fox ate till he burst himself, and had scarcely strength to reach his hole before he died. The old one, who thought it much better to deny his appetite for the present, and lay up provision for the future, returned the next day, and was killed by the farmer. Thus every age has its peculiar vice: the young suffer by their insatiable thirst after pleasure; and the old, by their incorrigible and inordinate avarice. REFLECTION. We should ever guard against those vices that are chiefly incident to our times of life; excess and riot, while we are young; and egregious parsimony, as we grow in years. |