FABLE XIX. The Dog and the Shadow. A HUNGRY Spaniel, having ftolen a piece of flesh from a butcher's fhop, was carrying it acrofs a river. The water being clear, and the fun fhining brightly, he faw his own image in the ftream, and fancied it to be another Dog with a more delicious morfel upon which, unjuftly and greedily opening his jaws to fnatch at the Shadow, he loit the fubfance. PHOEBUS and Eolus had once a difpute which of them could fooneft prevail with a certain traveller to part with his cloak. olus began the attack, and affaulted him with great violence. But the man wrapping his cloak ftill clofer about him, doubled his efforts to keep it, and went on his way. And now, Phoebus darted his warm infinuating rays, which melting the traveller by degrees, at length obliged him to throw afide that cloak, which all the rage of could not compel him to refign. Learn hence, faid Phoebus to the bluftering god, that foft and gentle means will often accomplish what force and fury can never effect. olus FABLE XXI. The Wolf and the Mafiff. A LEAN half-ftarved Wolf inadvertently ftrolled in the way of a ftrong well-fed Maftiff. The Wolf being much too weak to act upon the offenfive, thought it most prudent to accoft honeft Towfer in a friendly manner; and among other civilities, very complaifantly congratulated him on his goodly appearance. Why, yes, returned the Maftiff, I am indeed in tolerable cafe; and if you will follow me, you may foon be altogether in as good a plight. The Wolf pricked up his ears at the propofal, and requested to be informed what he muft do to earn fuch plentiful meals. Very little, replied the Maftiff; only drive away beggars, carefs my mafter, and be civil to his family. To thefe conditions the hungry Wolf had no objection, and very readily confented to follow his new acquaintance wherever he would conduct him. As they were trotting along, the Wolf obferved that the hair was worn in a circle round his friend's neck; which raifed his curiofity to inquire what was the occafion of it. Nothing, anfwered the Maftiff, or a mere trifle; perhaps the collar to which my chain is fometimes faftened. Chain replied the Wolf, with much furprife; it fhould feem then that you are not permitted to rove about where and when you pleafe. Not always, returned Towfer, hanging down his head; but what does that fignify? It fignifies fo much, rejoined the Wolf, that I am refolved to have no fhare in your dinners; half a meal with liberty, is, in my eftimation, preferable to a full one without it. A SCHOOLBOY, fatigued with play, threw himfelf down by the brink of a deep well, where he fell faft afleep. Fortune happening to pafs by, faw him in this dangerous fituation, and kindly gave him a tap on the fhoulder: My dear child, faid the, if you had fallen into this well, I fhould have borne the blame; though, in fact, the accident would have been wholly owing to your own careleffness. Misfortune, faid a celebrated cardinal, is but another word for imprudence. The maxim is by no means abfolutely true: certain, however, it is, that mankind. fuffer more evils from their own imprudence, than from events which it is not in their power to control, A FROG being wonderfully ftruck with the fize and majefty of an Ox that was grazing in the marlhes, could not forbear endeavouring to expand herself to the fame portly magnitude. After puffing and fwelling for fome time, "What think you, filter," faid fhe, "will this do?" Far from it. "Will this?" By no means. "But this furely will?" Nothing like it. In fhort, after many ridiculous efforts to the fame fruitless purpose, the fimple Frog burft her skin, and miferably expired upon the spot. |