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THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD'S DOG.

A WOLF, ranging over the forest, came within the borders of a sheep-walk; when meeting with a shepherd's Dog, that with a surly sort of a growl demanded his business there, he thought proper to put on as innocent an appearance as he could, and protested upon his honour that he meant not the least offence. "I am afraid," said the Dog, "the pledge of your honour is but a poor deposit for your honesty; you must not take it amiss, if I object to the security." "No slur upon my reputation," replied the Wolf, "I beg of you. My sense of honour is as delicate, as my great achievements are renowned. I would not leave a stain upon my memory for the world." "The fame of what are generally called great achievements is very precious, to be sure," returned the Dog; "almost equal to the character

of an excellent butcher, a gallant highwayman, or an expert assassin." While the Dog was yet speaking, a lamb happened to stray within reach of our hero. The temptation was stronger than he was able to resist; he sprung upon his prey, and was scouring hastily away with it. However, the Dog seized and held him till the arrival of the shepherd, who took measures for his execution. Just as he was going to dispatch him, “I observe," says the Dog, "that one of your noble achievements is the destruction of the innocent. You are welcome to the renown, as you are also to the reward of it. As for me, I shall prefer the credit of having honestly defended my master's property, to any fame you have acquired by thus heroically invading it."

REFLECTION.

Common honesty is a better principle than that which we often compliment with the name of heroism.

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THE TRAVELLER AND THE LION.

A LION and a Man were once travelling together; among other discourses upon the road, they fell upon this topic, which was the strongest creature of the two. As they were arguing the case very sedately, they came at last to a place where were a great many marble pillars, and among the rest a pedestal, on which was carved a man with a lion under his feet. "Look ye, friend," says the Man, turning to his fellow traveller, "you may from hence perceive that men are much stronger than lions, and all other creatures besides." "A pleasant thought indeed," replied the Lion; "but had we Lions carvers and painters as you Men have, you would see twenty to one more Men under the Lions' paws, than Lions under the feet of Men."

REFLECTION.

The allegory of this fable is intended to reprove the vanity of sculptures, and especially of such pieces as aim at flattery more than truth. This happens so frequently among men, that one may with a great deal of reason ask, how much money was the artist's bribe for erecting such haughty monuments of our pride? What I say of carvers, ought by parity of reason to be understood of poets, painters, and all others who are entrusted with the handing down of men and actions to posterity. What abundance of chimerical actions, imaginary virtues, and false ornaments, are pompously set down in the poems of the one, and in the pictures of the others?

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AN Ape, having two young ones, was dotingly fond of one, but disregarded and slighted the other. One day she chanced to be surprised by two Bears, and had much ado to get off. However she did not forget her favourite young one, which she took up in her arms, that it might be the more secure: the other, which she neglected, by natural instinct, leapt upon her back, and so away they scampered together. But it unluckily fell out, that the dam, in her precipitate flight, blinded with haste, let fall her favourite, which was immediately destroyed by the Bears. The hated one, clinging close to her rough back, escaped all the danger of the pursuit.

REFLECTION.

This fable is designed to expose the folly of some

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