THE FARMER, THE HORSEMAN, AND THE PEDESTRIAN.
A FARMER, on his ass astride,
Who peacefully pursued his ride,
Exclaim'd, when on a Spanish steed,
An horseman pass'd with lively speed,
"Ah! charming seat! what deed of mine
Should thus incense the powers divine,
Who doom me ne'er to shift my place,
But at an ass's tardy pace?

Thus speaking, with chagrin and spite,
He reach'd a rough and rocky height,
Up which a poor o'er-labour'd drudge,
On tottering feet, was forc'd to trudge;
With forehead prone, and bending back,
Press'd by a large and heavy pack.

The farmer cross'd the hill at ease;
Jocosely set, with lolling knees,
On his poor ass, the rugged scene
Appear'd a soft and level green.
No flinty points his feet annoy'd:
He pass'd the panting walker's side,
Yet saw him not,- —so wrapt his brain
With dreams of Andalusia's plain.

Such is the world-our bosoms brood
With keen desire, o'er others' good:
On this we muse, and musing still,
We rarely dream of others' ill.
A further truth the tale unfolds:
Each, like the ass-born hind, beholds
The rich around, on steeds of Spain;
And deems their rank exempt from pain.
But still let us our notice keep

On those who clamber up the steep;
Then shall our grateful bosoms pour
Unceasing praise, and God adore.

THE WOLF AND THE APE.

A WOLF was ironically lamenting that the ape wanted a tail and a warm tight skin. And is your skin really so handsome?" said the ape. I should really think,"

replied the other, "that its appearance would demonstrate that; but if you doubt, ask mankind, who will tell you what it is used for, and how valuable it is."- -" Then I thank Heaven," replied the ape, that it is denied to me; for those advantages

are destructive which excite our superiors to persecute us, and induce robberies which we cannot escape."

THE LIONESS AND THE MONKEY.

A LIONESS, with a terrific and thundering growl, was parading through the wood, lamenting the loss of her cub, which had been shot by a huntsman. The affrighted animals all ran away, except a few who ventured near from curiosity. Among these was a monkey, who seated himself on a high tree, and requested to know the cause of her sorrow, and if he could render her any assistance. The lioness replied, "You can be of no service to me! I have lost my darling, my only cub, and all I ask of you is to weep with me."

The monkey then, with a grin, tauntingly said: "I assist you to weep!—you, who have cruelly destroyed my family and offspring! Know that we must possess pity before we can entreat it of others. For this time, therefore, all I ask of you, is to bear with my scoffs and merriment."

THE HUMMING-BIRD AND THE TRAVELLER.

A TRAVELLER who had visited Asia, Africa, and Europe, was at length, in making his tour through America, overcome with heat, and lay to repose under a tree. He had scarcely began to doze, when he was roused by a loud noise, of which he could not discover the cause. Looking about him, he perceived a small bird issuing forth from the hollow of a tree, whose beautiful plumage was variegated like the rainbow, and whose bulk scarcely exceeded that of the cockchaffer. "Is it you, little insect, that makes this loud humming noise?" exclaimed the traveller. "Yes," replied the bird, "you need not be surprised at that, for with men, as well as animals, the least often makes the greatest noise.'

THE TWO PEASANTS AND THE CLOUD.

Two peasants walking together, one of them remarked to the other, in a piteous tone, that he was sure yonder black cloud would be the harbinger of misfortune. "How so?" replied William, pleasantly. "How so?" retorted John: "I will wager that it is charged with hailstones; the harvest will be destroyed; not an ear of wheat will be left standing, and famine must ensue."-" What is the man dreaming of?" said William, good-humouredly; "I see nothing in that leaden cloud but an abundance of rain, which has been so long ardently prayed for. Instead of injury, the rain will enrich us, and ensure a plentiful year; let us, therefore, rejoice, and take a cup of ale upon the strength of it."-"How can you talk at this rate?" exclaimed John, angrily; to which William retorted: "Your eyes serve you but to little purpose." In this manner the quarrel proceeded to such a height, that they were about to proceed to blows; when a brisk wind arose, the cloud was dispersed, and both were deceived.

THE MONKEY WHO HAD SEEN THE WORLD.

A MONKEY, to reform the times,
Resolv'd to visit foreign climes :
For men in distant regions roam
To bring politer manners home.
So forth he fares, all toil defies;
Misfortune serves to make us wise.

At length the treach'rous snare was laid;
Poor Pug was caught, to town convey'd,
There sold. How envied was his doom,
Made captive in a lady's room!
Proud as a lover of his chains,
He day by day her favour gains.
Whene'er the duty of the day
The toilet calls, with mimic play

He twirls her knots, he cracks her fan,
Like any other gentleman.

In visits too his parts and wit,

When jests grew dull, were sure to hit.
Proud with applause, he thought his mind
In ev'ry courtly art refin'd;

Like Orpheus burnt with public zeal,
To civilize the monkey weal:

So watch'd occasion, broke his chain,
And sought his native woods again.

The hairy sylvans round him press,
Astonish'd at his strut and dress.
Some praise his sleeve; and others glote
Upon his rich embroider'd coat;
His dapper perriwig commending,
With the black tail behind depending;

His powder'd back, above, below,

Like hoary frost, or fleecy snow:

But all with envy and desire

His flutt'ring shoulder-knot admire.

"Hear and improve," he pertly cries;

"I come to make a nation wise.

Weigh your own worth, support your place,
The next in rank to human race.
In cities long I pass'd my days,

Convers'd with men, and learn'd their ways.
Their dress, their courtly manners see;
Reform your state, and copy me.

Seek ye to thrive in flatt'ry deal;

Your scorn, your hate, with that conceal,

Seem only to regard your friends,
But use them for your private ends.
Stint not to truth the flow of wit;
Be prompt to lie whene'er 'tis fit.
Bend all your force to spatter merit :
Scandal is conversation's spirit.
Boldly to everything attend,

And men your talents shall commend.
I knew the great. Observe me right;
So shall you grow like man polite."

He spoke, and bow'd. With mutt'ring jaws
The wond'ring circle grinn'd applause.
Now warm with malice, envy, spite,
Their most obliging friends they bite;
And, fond to copy human ways,
Practise new mischiefs all their days.
Thus the dull lad, too tall for school,
With travel finishes the fool;

Studious of every coxcomb's airs,

He drinks, games, dresses, lies, and swears;
O'erlooks with scorn all virtuous arts;

For vice is fitted to his parts.

THE CAT AND THE OLD RAT.

A CERTAIN cat had made such unmerciful havoc among the vermin of her neighbourhood, that not a single rat or mouse dared venture to appear abroad. Puss was soon convinced, that if affairs remained in their present situation, she must be totally unsupplied with provision. After mature deliberation, therefore, she resolved to have recourse to stratagem. For this purpose, she suspended herself from a hook with her head downward, pretending to be dead. The rats and mice observing her, as they peeped from their holes, in this dangling attitude, concluded she was hanged for some misdemeanour; and with great joy sallied forth in quest of their prey. Puss, as soon as a sufficient number were collected together, quitting her hold, dropped into the midst of them; and very few had the fortune to make good their retreat. This artifice having succeeded so well, she was encouraged to try the event of a second. Accordingly, she whitened her coat all over, by rolling herself in a heap of flour, and in this disguise lay concealed in the bottom of a meal-tub. This stratagem was executed in general with the same effect as the former. But an old experienced rat, altogether as cunning as his adversary, was not so easily ensnared. "I do not much like," said he "that white heap yonder; something whispers me, there is mischief concealed under it. 'Tis true, it may be meal; but it may likewise be something that I shall not relish quite so well. There can be no harm, at least, in keeping at a proper distance; for caution, I am sure, is the parent of security."

THE PATIENT SHEEP.

THERE was a sheep so charming from its innocent countenance, its fine fleecy coat, and its harmless pranks, that the son of the gentleman whose property it was, took it home for his amusement. Having played with it for a length of time, till he was tired, it was again returned to the flock. During its domestic confinement, it had endured many sufferings from the wildness of its young master; and now no longer dreaded shearing, or the other hardships incidental to the flock; for its early privations had taught it patience.

THE TWO BEES.

ON a fine morning in May, two bees set forward in quest of honey; the one wise and temperate, the other careless and extravagant They soon arrived at a garden enriched with aromatic herbs, the most fragrant flowers, and the most delicious fruits. They regaled themselves for a time on the various dainties that were spread before them: the one loading his thigh at intervals with provisions for the hive against the distant winter; the other revelling in sweets, without regard to anything but his present gratification. At length they found a wide-mouthed phial that hung beneath the bough of a peach-tree, filled with honey ready tempered, and exposed to their taste in the most alluring manner. The thoughtless epicure, spite of all his friend's remonstrances, plunged headlong into the vessel, resolving to indulge himself in all the pleasures of sensuality. The philosopher, on the other hand, sipped a little with caution; but being suspicious of danger, flew off to fruits and flowers; where, by the moderation of his meals, he improved his relish for the true enjoyment of them. In the evening, however, he called upon his friend, to enquire whether he would return to the hive; but found him surfeited in sweets, which he was as unable to leave as to enjoy. Clogged in his wings, enfeebled in his feet, and his whole frame totally enervated, he was but just able to bid his friend adieu, and to lament with his latest breath, that though a taste of pleasure might quicken the relish of life, an unrestrained indulgence is inevitable destruction.

ESOP AT PLAY.

un

AN Athenian one day found Æsop at play with a company of little boys, at their childish diversions, and began to jeer and laugh at him for it. The old fellow, who was too much of a wag himself to suffer others to ridicule him, took a bow, strung, and laid it upon the ground. Then calling the censorious Athenian, "Now, philosopher," said he, "expound the riddle if you can, and tell us what the unstrung bow implies." The man, after racking his brains, and scratching his pate about it a considerable time, to no purpose, at last gave it up, and declared he knew not what to make of it. 46 Why," says Esop, laughing, "if you keep a bow always bent, it will break presently; but if you let it go slack, it will be the fitter for use when you want it."