A Hound and a Mastiff
There was a Man had Two Dogs; One for the Chase, T’other to look to the House; and whatever the Hound Took Abroad, the House-Dog had his Part on’t at Home. T’other Grumbled at it, that when he took all the Pains the Mastiff should reap the Fruit of his Labours. Well, says the House-Dog, That’s none of my Fault, but my Master's, that has not Train'd me up to Work for my self, but to Eat what others have Provided for me.
Fathers and Masters have a great deal to Answer for, if their Children and Servants do not do as they should do.
A Bee that went over to the Drones
To what End (says a Bee) should I Toyl and Moyl my self out of my Life for a Poor Subsistence, when the Drones that do nothing at all, Live in as much Plenty every jot as I do? Upon this Thought, the Bee Resolv'd after their Example to work no longer. The Master it seems call'd her to Account for't; the Bee took Pet upon't, and without any more to do, went over to the Drones Party, where she pass'd the Summer easily enough, and to her Satisfaction. But upon the Winters coming on, when the Drones were all Dispers'd into their several Holes, the Bee would fain have gone Home again; but the Cells of the Combs were all Clos'd, so that there was no Entrance, and the Poor Bee Starv'd to Death betwixt Cold and Hunger.
It is all the reason in the World, that every Man in what Station soever, should Work in some sort or other for his Living. Nature her self is always at Work; and a Prince has no more Prerogative to be Idle, then a Beggar.
Mercury and Tiresias
Mercury had a great Mind to try if Tiresias was so Famous a Diviner as the World took him for, or not. So he went and stole Tiresias's Oxen; and order'd the Matter to be in the Company of Tiresias, as upon Business by the Bye, when the News should be brought him of the Loss of his Oxen. Mercury went to Tiresias in the Shape of a Man; and the Tidings came as Mercury had contriv'd it: Upon this, he took Mercury up to a high Tower, hard by, and bad him look well about him, and tell him what Birds he saw. Why, says Mercury, I see an Eagle upon Wing there, that takes her Course from the Right-hand to the Left. That Eagle (says Tiresias) is nothing to our Purpose; wherefore pray look again once. Mercury stood Gazing a while, and then told Tiresias of a Crow he had discover'd upon a Tree, that was one while looking up into the Air, and another while down towards the Ground: That's enough (says Tiresias) for this Motion of the Crow, is as much as to say, I do Appeal to Heaven, and to Earth, that the Man that is now with Tiresias, can help him to his Oxen again if he pleases.
This Fable is of a General Application to all Bold and Crafty Thieves and impostors. It serves also to set forth the Vanity of Wizards, Fortune-Tellers, and the like.
A Fig-Tree and a Thorn
A Fig-Tree and a Thorn were valuing themselves once upon the Advantage that the one had over the other. Well, says the Thorn, what would you give for such Flowers as These? Very Good, says the Fig-Tree, and what would you give for such Fruit as This? Why, says the other, 'twould be against Nature for a Thorn to bring forth Figs. Well (says t'other again) and 'twould be against Nature too, for a Fig-Tree to bring forth Flowers: Beside that, I have Fruit you see, that is much better.
Every Creature has a Share in the Common Blessings of Providence; and it is a Virtue as well as a Duty for every Creature to rest well satisfied with its Proportion in those Comforts; but when we come once to Boast or our selves, and to Derogate from others, 'tis no longer a Virtue but a Vanity; and especially when we Mistake the Value of things, and prefer the Advantages of Beauty, before those of Use and Service.
An Unhappy Match
There was a Man, a long time ago, that had got a Shrew to his Wife, and there could be no Quiet in the House for her. The Husband was willing however to make the Best of a Bad Game, and so for Experiment sake, he sent her away for a while to her Father’s. When he came a little after to take her Home again, Prithee Sweet-heart (says he) How go Matters in the House where thou hast been? In troth, says she, they go I know not how: But there’s none of the Family, you must know, can endure me: No not so much as the very Hinds and Ploughmen; I could read it in the Faces of them. Ah Wife! Says the Husband, If People that rise Early and come Home Late, and are all Day out of your Sight, cannot be Quiet for ye, what a Case is your poor Husband in, that must Spend his whole Life in your Company?
When Man and Wife cannot Agree, Prudence will oblige the One, and Modesty the Other, to put all their little Controversies into their Pockets, and make the Best of a Bad Game.
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