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A MAN, being bit upon the cheek by a Fly, could not imagine at first what was the matter, but at last clapping his hand upon the place, he took the poor animal prisoner. The Fly was then for making her excuses, alleging that nature had allowed to her breed no other way for a livelihood: hereupon she intreated him to release her, saying, the only harm she did was to tickle him. "You are mistaken," says the Man, "and for that very reason I intend to put thee to death, because thou oughtst not to offend any person whatever, neither little nor great."

REFLECTION.

It is but a sorry excuse for criminals to plead their weakness, in order to evade the punishment which is due unto their crimes. This is by no means an argument

of justifying them, much less of clearing them from the malice that they foster secretly in their breasts. For to render a man unworthy of pardon, it is enough that he has shewn some tokens of the wickedness of his will, though it has not been attended with any extraordinary bad circumstance, or has been diverted by some unexpected accident. To this we may add, that it is still more criminal to undertake a vicious action, when there is little or no hopes of escaping the punishment that ensues. Esop therefore was in the right of it, in introducing the Man of this fable with this argument in his mouth, that the smaller any creature is, the less he ought to be pardoned, being guilty of a higher crime, and less capable of making any resistance. Hence it is that we every day see, that the lesser criminals are made examples to the rest, to deter them from the same crime; because in their deaths there are but few who concern themselves, or sue out for an arrest of judgment. To this the proverb of the ancients bears some allusion, when speaking of the laws, they compare them to a spider's web, in which the little flies are caught, whilst the great ones break through and escape.

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THE PRINCE AND THE HERMIT.

A CERTAIN Hermit had scooped his cave near the summit of a lofty mountain, from whence he had an opportunity of surveying a large extent both of sea and land. He sat one evening, contemplating with pleasure on the various objects that lay diffused before him. The woods were drest in the brightest verdure, the thickets adorned with the gayest blossoms. The birds caroled beneath the branches; and the ships, driven by gentle gales, were returning safely into their proper harbours. In short, the arrival of spring had doubly enlivened the whole scene before his eyes; and every object yielded a display either of beauty or of happiness. On a sudden arose a violent storm. The winds mustered all their fury, and whole forests of oak lay scattered on the ground. Darkness instantly succeeded; hail-stones and rain were poured forth in cataracts, and lightning and

thunder added to the horror of the gloom. And now the sea, piled up in mountains, bore aloft the largest vessels; while the horrid roar of its waves drowned the shrieks of the wretched mariners. When the whole tempest had exhausted its fury, it was instantly followed by the shock of an earthquake. A Prince, who was at that time in the same neighbourhood, repaired to the Hermit's cave, laden with jewels, religiously hoping that the Hermit's well-known sanctity would protect him in his distress. He was, however, not a little surprised at the profound tranquillity that appeared in his counte"My friend," said he, "be not dismayed. Terrible to me, as well as to you, would have been the war of elements we have just beheld; but that I have meditated with so much attention on the various works of Providence, as to be persuaded that his goodness is equal to his power."

nance.

REFLECTION.

The goodness of Providence, apparent in his works, is a proper motive for our tranquillity amid every exertion of his power.

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A COUNTRY Fellow took a Dove, and tied a String to its foot, and so gave it to a little boy to play with. The Dove did not much like his companion, and upon the first opportunity gave him the slip, and flew away into the woods again, where he was shackled and starved. When he came to die, he reflected upon the folly of exposing his life in the woods, rather than live in an easy servitude among men.

REFLECTION.

Men that are impatient under imaginary afflictions, change commonly for the worse, as the Dove did here in the fable, that threw himself into a starving situation, rather than submit to the tolerable inconvenience of an easy restraint. Nothing would serve him, but he must

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