་ tue,and enforce the Practice thereof. Of the Truth of this we ourfelves are, in fome measure, Witneffes, feeing that one of the greateft Genius of the laft Age (the Arch-bishop of Cambray) followed this Method in inftructing the Royal Infants of France; and feveral fince him value themselves upon a Knack of Writing after the fame Manner. It is this which has likewife induced me to place in the Front of each of the following Sections, of which this inconfiderable Piece before you confifts, fome particular Fable, which compre hends both the moral and political Purport of each Section; and which, in the ensuing Application thereof, is fupported by feveral Arguments, and curious Examples, extracted out of the Hiftories of moft Nations: So that it is to be hoped, that in fuch an agreeable Medley and Variety, fomewhat may occur, which may redound, as well to the Improvement, as fatisfactory Diverfion both of Young and Old, which I can affure my gentle Reader, was the only End propofed by me in Undertaking it. We read, that Demofthenes,when in Danger of being deliver'd up by the Athenians, upon the peremptory Demand of Alexander, thought fit, even at that Time, to make Ufe of a Fable, however light and trivial a Thing it may feem to be, to diffwade his Fellow-Citizens from fuch a Surrendry; and though otherwife Mafter of the finest Strokes of Eloquence and Oratory, yet by the Application of the Fable he chiefly carry'd his Point, and diverted the impending Blow. Plato has inferted feveral Fables amongst his Laws, looking upon them as fo many pleafing Ornaments, and an Allay no Ways dif agreeable. The The ancient Poets likewife very artfully introduced feveral into their Writings, to the end, that by the infinuating Application of fuch Fables, the facred Myfteries of their Religion (fuch as it was in those Days) might meet with a more favourable Reception, and univerfal Belief, and Adherence from the ignorant and uncultivated Populace. We have an Account, that Menenius Agrippa, when fent to pacify the Roman People, who upon a Pique against the Senate had forfook the City, accofted them with a Fable, in this Manner: That on a Time all the Members of Man's Body rebell'd against the Belly, objecting that it remain'd in the Midft of the Body, without doing any Thing, whereas all other Parts and Members labour'd painfully to fatisfy the craving Appetites, and provide Neceffaries for the Body; The The Belly notwithstanding all this, laughed at their Folly, and faid, It is true, I first receive all Meats that nourish Man's Body, but afterwards 1 fend it again to the Nourishment of other Parts of the fame: By this notable Tale he brought them to their Senfes again, reconciled them to the Senate, and prevail'd upon them peaceably to apply themselves again to their feveral Trades and Callings in the City. In like Manner we read, that Afop,being difpofed to speak a good Word in Behalf of an old Samian General, who, having done what feveral in the fame Commiffion have done befides him, viz. by fundry finifter and oppreffive Means fill'd his own Coffers at the Expence of the Publick; instead of a florid and elaborate Speech upon fuch an important Occafion, (and doubtless he rummaged his Budget for fome of his best Argu ments ments to fupport fuch a bad Cause) he made Ufe of a familiar Fable of a Fox, which was over-run with a Herd of Blood-fucking Vermin called Tikes, which a charitably difpofed Hedge-bog in the Neighbourhood perceiving, very courte oufly proffer'd his Service to brush them off; but the Fox as courteoufly declined the Favour, urging that his prefent Adherents, being by this Time glutted with his Blood, could not fuck much more; but if once remov'd, they might probably be fucceeded by a fet of fresh Ones, Empty and Sharp-fet, by which Means he should run a Rifque of lofing every Drop of Blood in his Body; from whence this excellent Mythologift artfully inferr'd, that upon the Removal of their old General, who, being already over-grown with his unjuft Acquifitions,could not well fqueeze much more out of them, his Place would a |