FABLE XXXVII. The Lion, the Bear, the Monkey, and the Fox. THE Tyrant of the foreft iffued a proclamation, commanding all his fubjects to repair immediately to his royal den. Among the reft, the Bear made his appearance; but pretending to be offended with the fteams which iffued from the monarch's apartments, he was imprudent enough to hold his nofe in his majefty's prefence. This infolence was fo highly refented, that the Lion in a rage laid him dead at his feet. The Monkey, obferving what had paffed, trembled for his carcafe; and attempted to conciliate favour by the most abject flattery. He began with protefting, that for his part he thought the apartments were perfumed with Arabian fpices; and, exclaiming against the rudeness of the Bear, admired the beauty of his majesty's paws, fo happily formed, he faid, to correct the infolence of clowns. This fulfome adulation, inftead of being received as he expected, proved no lefs offenfive than the rudenefs of the Bear: and the courtly Monkey was in like manner extended by the fide of fir Bruin. And now his majefty caft his eye upon the Fox: Well, Reynard, faid he, and what 10 fost do you difcover here? Great prince, replied the tious Fox, my nofe was never efteemed my moft ftinguishing fenfe; and, at prefent, I would by no means venture to give my opinion, as I have unfortunately got a terrible cold. The Owl and the Nightingale. A formal folemn OWL had many years made his habitation in a grove among the ruins of an old monaftery, and had pored fo often on- fome mouldy manufcripts, the ftupid relics of a monkish library, that he grew infected with the pride and pedantry of the place; and, miftaking gravity for wifdom, would fit whole days with his eyes half thut, fancying himfelf profoundly learned. It happened, as he fat one evening, half buried in meditation, and half afleep, that a Nightingale, unluckily perching near him, began her melodious lays. He ftarted from his revery, and with a horrid fcreech interrupting her fong-Be gone, cried he, thou impertinent minftrel, nor diftract with noify diffonance my fublime contemplations; and know, vain fongfter, that harmony confiits in truth alone, B which is gained by laborious ftudy; and not languishing notes, fit only to footh the ear of a lovick maid. Conceited pedant, returned the Nightinale, whofe wifdom lies only in the feathers that muffeup thy unmeaning face; mufic is a natural and ration entertainment, and though not adapted to the ears an Owl, has ever been relifhed and admired by all who are poffeffed of true tafte and elegance. The Ant and the Caterpillar. AS a Caterpillar was advancing very flowly along one of the alleys of a beautiful garden, he was met by a pert lively Ant; who toffing up her head with a fcornful air, cried, Prithee get out of the way, thou poor creeping animal, and do not prefume to obftruct the paths of thy fuperiors, by wriggling along the road, and befmearing the walks appropriated to their footfteps. Poor creature! thou lookeft like a thing half made, which Nature not liking, threw by unfinished. I could almoft pity thee, methinks; but it is beneath one of my quality to talk to fuch mean creatures as thou art and fo, poor crawling wretch, adieu. Thhumble Caterpillar, ftruck dumb with this difdajul language, retired, went to work, wound him f up in a filken cell, and at the appointed time care out a beautiful Butterfly. Juft as he was fallyin forth, he obferved the fcornful Ant paffing by: Poud infect, faid he, ftop a moment, and learn from he circumftances in which you now fee me, never to defpife any one for that condition in which Providence has thought fit to place him; as there is none fo mean, but may one day, either in this ftate or in a better, be exalted above thofe who looked down upon him with unmerited contempt. Two FOXES formed a ftratagem to enter a henrooft; which having fuccefsfully executed, and killed the cock, the hens, and the chickens, they began to feed upon them with fingular fatisfaction. One of the Foxes, who was young and incontiderate, was for devouring them all upon the fpot; the other, who was old and covetous, propofed to referve fome of them for another time. "For experience, child," faid he, "has made me wife, and I have feen many unexpected events fince I came into the world. Let us provide, therefore, against what may happen, and not confume all our store at one meal." "All this is wondrous wife," replied the young Fox; "but for my part I am refolved not to ftir till I have eaten as much as will ferve me a whole week; for who would be mad enough to return hither? when it is certain the owner of these fowls will watch for us, and if he fhould catch us, would certainly put us to death." After this fhort difcourfe, each purfued his own scheme: the young Fox eat till he burft himfelf, and had scarcely ftrength to reach his hole before he died. The old one, who thought it much better to deny his appetite for the prefent, and lay up provifion for the future, returned the next day, and was killed by the Farmer. Thus every age has its peculiar vice; the young fuffer by their infatiable thirst after pleasure; and the old, by their incorrigible and inordinate avarice. : |