A FARMER came to a neighbouring lawyer, expreffing great concern for an accident which he faid bad just happened. One of your oxen, continued he, has been gored by an unlucky bull of mine, and I fhould be glad to know how I am to make you reparation. Thou art a very honest fellow, replied the Lawyer, and wilt not think it unreasonable that I expect one of thy oxen in return. It is no more than justice, quoth the farmer, to be fure; but what did I say?—I mistake—It is your bull that bas killed one of my oxen. Indeed! fays the lawyer, that alters the cafe: I must enquire into the affair; and if And if! faid the farmer-the bufinefs I find would have been concluded without an if, had you been as ready to do juftice to others as to exalt it from them. FABLE VERCIERZELEN De krakeelende Katten. IX. TWEE katten hebbende eenige kaas geftoolen, konden niet over eenkoomen omtrent het verdeelen van hunnen buit. Ten einden dan om te vereffenen den twift, zy ftemden toe hun te gedraagen aan d'uitspraak van eenen aap. Den voorgeftelden fcheidfman was heel bereid 'tampt t'aanvaarden en brengende eene weegschaal leide een deel in elke fchotel. Laat my zien, "zeide hy, ag dit ftuk overweegd het ander :" en beet 'er aanftonts of een aanmerkelyk deel, om het te verminderen, zoo hy zeide, tot een evenwigt. D' andere fchotel was dan de zwaarfte geworden, 'twelk gelegentheid gaf aan onzen gewiffigen oordeelder voor eenen toevoegenden montvol. Houd op, houd op, zeiden de twee katten, dewelke begonden verfchroomd te weezen voor den uitval, geef ons onze wederzydfche aandeelen, en wy zyn voldaan. Zoo gy voldaan zyt, erhaalde den aap t' regt is niet: een geval van zoo eene verwarde gedaante is in geene deelen zoo haaft ver effend FABLE IX. The litigious Cats. TWO Cats having stolen fome cheese, could In order not agree about dividing the prize. therefore to fettle the difpute, they confented to refer the matter to a Monkey. The propofed arbitrator very readily accepted the office, and producing a balance, put a part into each scale."Let me fee," said he, "ay-this lump out"weighs the other" and immediately bit off a confiderable piece, in order to reduce it, he obServed, to an equilibrium. The oppofite fcale was now become the heaviest; which afforded our confcientious Fudge an additional reafon for a fe], cond mouthful. Hold, bold, faid the two Cats, who began to be alarmed for the event, give us our refpective Shares, and we are fatisfied. If* you are fatisfied, returned the Monkey, Justice is not a cafe of this intricate nature is by no means for foon determined. Upon which he con tinued effend, op 't welke hy aanging met knaagen, eerit 't een fluk en dan 't ander, tot dat d'arme katten, ziende hunnen kaas allengskens verminderen, fmeekten dat hy hem geen voordere moeite zoude gegeeven hebben, maar hun wederom te keeren den overfchot. Zoo haaftig niet, ik Bid u myne vrienden, erhaalde den aap; wy zyn verpligt regt tot ons zelven te doen, zoo wel als tot u: wat overblyfd, koomt my toe, uit regt van myn ampt. Op het welk hy het gantfch in zynen mond propte, en met groote ftaatigheid hy kaffeerde het hof. tinued to nibble first one piece, and then the other, till the poor, Cats, Seeing their cheese gradually diminishing, intreated him to give himself no farther trouble, but deliver to them what remained. Not fo faft, I beseech you, friends, replied the Monkey; we owe juftice to ourselves as well as to you: what remains is due to me in right of my office. Upon which he crammed the whole into his mouth, and with great gravity difmiffed the court. FABLE |