ON the leaves and flowers of the fame fhrub, a SPIDER and a BEE purfued their feveral occupations: the one covering her thighs with honey; the other diftending his bag with poifon. The Spider, as he glanced his eye obliquely at the Bee, was ruminating with fpleen on the fuperiority of her productions. And how happens it, faid he, in a peevith tone, that I am able to collect nothing but poifon from the felf-fame plant that fupplies thee with honey? My pains and induftry are not lefs than thine; in thofe refpects we are each indefatigable. It proceeds only, replied the Bee, from the different difpofition of our nature; mine gives a pleafing flavour to every thing I touch, whereas thine converts to poifon, what, by a different procefs, had been the pureft honey.

TO THE

FIRST BOOK.

FABLE I. The Trees and the Bramble. THE most worthless perfons are generally the most preJuming.

FABLE II. The Frogs defiring a King. It is better to bear with fome defects in a mild and gentle government, than to risk the greater evils of tyranny and perfecution.

FABLE III. The Belly and the Limbs. It is a folly even to wish to withhold our part from the Support of civil government.

FABLE IV. The Wolf and the Shepherds. We feverely cenfure that in others, which we ourselves practise without fcruple.

FABLE V. The Fox and the Swallow. We should well confider, whether the removal of a pre fent evil does not tend to introduce a greater. FABLE VI. The Fox and the Raven. Wherever flattery gains admiffion, it seems to banish common-fenfe

FABLE VII. The Fox and the Stork: We should always reflect, before we rally another, whether we can bear to have the jest retorted.

FABLE VIII. The Daw with the borrowed Feathers. To aim at figure by the means either of borrowed wit, or borrowed money, generally fubjects us at last to tenfold ridicule.

FABLE IX. The Wolf and the Lamb.
They who do not feel the fentiments of humanity will
feldom liften to the pleas of reafon.

FABLE X. The Mountain in Labour.
To raife uncommon expectations, renders an ordinary

event ridiculous.

FABLE XI. The Boys and the Frogs.
It is unjust and cruel to raise ourselves mirth at the ex-
pence of another's peace and happiness.
FABLE XII. The Lark and her Young.
We should rely principally upon our own diligence, in
matters that concern ourfeives alone.

FABLE XIII. The Stag drinking.
We often make a false estimate in preferring our orna-
mental talents to our useful ones.

FABLE XIV. The Swallow and other Birds.
Some will liften to no conviction but what they derive
from fatal experience..

FABLE XV. The Afs and the Lapdog.
The attempt to recommend om files by a behaviour fo
reign to our character is vain and ridiculous,

FABLE XVI. The Lion and the Mouse.
We may all need the affiflance of our inferiors; and
fould by no means confider the meanest among them as
wholly incapable of returning an obligation.

FABLE XVII. The Wolf and the Crane.
It is the utmost extent of fome men's gratitude, barely to
refrain from oppreffing and injuring their benefactors.
FABLE XVIII. The Countryman and the Snake.
To confer either power upon the mischievous, or favours
on the undeferving, is a mifapplication of our benevo

lence.

FABLE XIX. The Dog and the Shadow.
An over-greedy difpofition often fubjects us to lofe what
we already poffefs.

FABLE XX. The Sun and the Wind.
Gentle means, on many occafions, are more effectual than
violent ones.

FABLE XXI. The Wolf and the Mastiff.
A mere competence with liberty, is preferable to fervitude
amid the greatest affluence.

FABLE XXII. Fortune and the Schoolboy.
We are always ready to cenfure fortune for the ill effects
of our own carelessness.

FABLE XXIII. The Frog and the Ox.
The filly ambition to vie with our fuperiors, in regard to
outward figure rather than inward accomplishments,
is often the caufe of utter ruin.

FABLE XXIV.

The Lion and other Beafts hunting.

An affociation with too powerful allies is always impru-

dent.

FABLE XXV. The Ant and the Fly.
The independence acquired by industry is preferable to
the moft fplendid flate of vaffalage.

FABLE XXVI. The Bear and the two Friends.
Cowards are incapable of true friendship.

FABLE XXVII. The Bull and the Gnat.
The leaft confiderable of all mankind are feldom deftitute
of felf-importance.

FABLE XXVIII. The Wafps and the Bees.
It is a folly to arrogate works to ourselves of which we
are by no means capable.

FABLE XXIX. The Old Man and Death.
Men under calamity may feem to wish for Death, but they
feldom bid him welcome when he ftares them in the face.
FABLE XXX. The Court and the Country Mouse.
Poverty with peace is preferable to the greatest affluence
amid anxiety.

FABLE XXXI. The Fox and the Goat:
When we are going to encounter difficulties, we should
depend more upon our own ftrength than the affiftance
of our neighbours.

FABLE XXXII.

The Farmer, the Cranes, and the Stork.
They who keep bad company must often expect to fuffer
for the misbehaviour of their companions.

FABLE XXXIII. The Oak and the Willow.
The courage of meeting death in an honorable cause, is
more commendable than any address or artifice we can
make ufe of to evade it.

FABLE XXXIV. The Boy and the Filberts.
The furest way to gain our ends is to moderate our defires.
FABLE XXXV. The Satyr and the Traveller.
We should immediately decline all commerce with a perfon
whom we find to be a double-dealer.

FABLE XXXVI. The Horse and the Stag.
Let revenge be ever fo fweet, it is too dear a purchase at
the price of liberty.

FABLE XXXVII. The Farmer and his Sons.
Industry is itself a Treasure.

FABLE XXXVIII. The Lion and the Gnat.
Little minds are fo much elevated by any advantage
gained over their fuperiors, that they are often thrown
off their guard against a fudden change of fortune.