for that purpose, she let go her hold, and was dashed to pieces by her fall. REFLECTION. Vanity and idle curiosity are qualities which generally prove destructive to those who suffer themselves to be governed by them. A HARE, being seized by an Eagle, squeaked out in a most woful manner. A Sparrow, that sat upon a tree just by and saw it, could not forbear being unseasonably witty, but called out and said to the Hare, "So ho! what! sit there and be killed? Pr'ythee, up and away; I dare say, if you would but try, so swift a creature as you are would easily escape from the Eagle." As he was going on with this cruel raillery, down came a Hawk, and snapt him up; and, notwithstanding his vain cries and lamentations, fell a devouring of him in an instant. The Hare, who was just expiring, yet received comfort from this accident, even in the agonies of death; and addressing her last words to the Sparrow, said, "You, who just now insulted my misfortune with so much security, as you thought, may please to shew us how well you can bear the like, now it has befallen you." REFLECTION. Nothing is more impertinent than for people to be giving their opinion and advice in cases, in which, were they to be their own, themselves would be as much at a loss what to do. But so great an itch have most men to be directors in the affairs of others, either to shew the superiority of their understanding, or their own security and exemption from the ills they would have removed, that they forwardly and conceitedly obtrude their counsel, even at the hazard of their own safety and reputation. How vainly we promise ourselves, that our flimsy productions will be rewarded with immortal honour! A Spider, busied in spreading his web from one side of a room to the other, was asked by an industrious Silkworm, to what end he spent so much time and labour, in making such a number of lines and circles? The Spider angrily replied, "Do not disturb me, thou ignorant thing: I transmit my ingenuity to posterity, and fame is the object of my wishes." Just as he had spoken, a chambermaid, coming into the room to feed her Silkworms, saw the Spider at his work; and with one stroke of her broom, swept him away, and destroyed at once his labours and his hope of fame. |