A Daw with a String at's Foot
A Country Fellow took a Daw, and ty'd a String to his Leg, and so gave him to a little Boy to Play withal. The Daw did not much like his Companion, and upon the first Opportunity gave him the Slip, and away into the Woods again, where he was Shackled and Starv'd. When he came to Die, he Reflected upon the Folly of exposing his Life in the Woods, rather than Live in an easy Servitude among Men.
'Tis Fancy, not the Reason of Things, that makes Life so Uneasie to us as we find it. 'Tis not the Place, nor the Condition; but the Mind alone that can make any Body Miserable or Happy.
A Mastiff and an Ass
There was a Huge Bear-Dog, and an Ass laden with Bread upon a Long Journey together: They were Both very Hungry, and while the Ass was Grazing upon Thistles by the Way-side, the Dog would fain have been Eating too for Company, and Begg'd a Bit of Bread of him. The Ass made him Answer, that if he were Hungry, he might e'en do as he did; for he had no Bread to spare. While this pass'd, up comes a Wolf toward them. The Ass fell a Trembling, and told the Dog, he hop'd he would stand by him if the Wolf should set upon him. No, says the Dog, that they will Eat Alone, shall e'en Fight Alone too, for me: And so he left his Fellow-Traveller at the Mercy of the Wolf.
Common Defence and Preservation, is the Main End of Society, and the Great Benefit we receive by Joining in't: We Love One Another, because we are the better for One Another; and it is the Interest that Supports us in the Duty; when that Reciprocal Kindness fails, as we see here in the Dog and the Ass, the League drops to Pieces.
A Bull and a Gnat
A Gnat that had Planted himself upon the Horn of a Bull, very Civilly begg'd the Bull's Pardon for his Importunity; but rather then Incommode ye, says he, I'll Remove. Oh never Trouble your Head for that, says the Bull; for 'tis all One to me whether you go or stay. I never felt ye when you sat down, and I shall take as Little Notice of ye when you Rise.
The Vanity of this Fly, strikes at a Humour that we meet with every Day in the World, in a Hundred Trifling, Nonsensical People, that will be still making Themselves more Considerable then they are.
A Cobler and a Financier
There was a Droll of a Cobler that led a Life as Merry as the Day was Long, and Singing and Joking was his Delight. But it was not altogether so well with a neighbour of his, though a Great Officer in the Treasury; for there was no Singing, nor hardly any Sleeping under his Roof: Or if he happen'd to Doze a little now and then in a Morning, 'twas Forty to One the Jolly Cobler Wak'd him. How often would he be Wishing to Himself that Sleep were to be bought in the Market as well as Meat and Drink! While his Head was working upon this Thought, the Toy took him in the Crown to send for the Songster. Come Neighbour, says he, thou liv'st like a Prince here, How much a Year canst thou get by thy Trade? Nay, Faith Master, Says the Cobler, I keep no 'Count-Books; but if I can get Bread from Hand to Mouth, and make Even at the Years End; I never trouble my self for to Morrow. Well, says the Officer, but if you know what you can Earn by the Day, you may easily cast up what that comes to a Year: Ay, says he, but that's more or less as it falls out; for we have such a World of Holy-Days, Festivals, and New Saints, that 'tis a Woundy Hindrance to a Poor Man that Lives by his Labour. This Dry, Blunt Way, took with the Officer, and so he went on with him: Come my Friend, says he, You came into my House a Cobler, what will you say now, if I send you out on't an Emperor? and so he put a Purse of a Hundred Crowns into his Hand. Go your ways, says he, there's an Estate for ye, and be a Good Husband of it. Away goes the Cobler with his Gold, and in Conceit as Rich as if the Mines pf Peru had been empty'd into his Lap. Up he Locks it immediately, and all the Comforts of his Life together with his Crowns in the same Chest. From the time that he was Master of this Treasure, there was no more Singing or Sleeping at our House; not a Cat stirr'd in the Garret, but an Outcry of Thieves; and his Cottage as so haunted with Cares, Jealousies, and Wild Alarums, that his very Life was become a Burden to him. So that after a short time, away trudges he to the Officer again; Ah Sir says he, if you have any Charity for a Miserable Creature, do but let me have my Songs and my Sleep again, and do you take back your Hundred Crowns, with a Hundred Thousand Thanks into the Bargain.
The Poor Man that has but from Hand to Mouth, passes his Time Merrily, and without any Fear or Danger of Thieves, Publick or Private; but the House that has Money In't, is as good as Haunted.
Travellers by the Sea Side
A company of People that were walking upon the Shore, saw somewhat come Hulling toward them a great way off at Sea. They took it at first for a Ship, and as it came nearer, for a boat only; but it prov’d at last to be no more than a Float of Weeds and Rushes: Whereupon they made this Reflection within themselves, We have been waiting here for a mighty Bus’ness, that comes at last to be just Nothing.
We Fancy Things to be Greater or Less at a Distance, according to Our Interest or Inclination to have them either the One or the Other.
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