The Moral.
REFLEXION.
'Tis Matter of Cuſtom, and in Paſſion, rather then in Earneſt, that Men in Pain and Miſery are ſo ready to call for Death: For when he comes, they are affraid of him, It may be ſaid to be the Motto of Humane Nature, rather to Suffer then to Dye, though ‘tis Good however to be always ready for That which Muſt come at Laſt, The Doctrine is This, That Skin, and All that a man has will he give for bis Life. We are apt to Pick Quarrels with the World for Every Little Foolery. Oh that I were e'en in my Grave, cryes my Lady. My Pretty Pearl is Dead. Never did any thing go ſo near my Heart, I Praiſe the Lord for't. Pray Madam Bethink your ſelf; ſays a Good Woman to her upon a Condoling Vifit. Why you have Out-liv’d the Loſs of a moſt Excellent Husband. Ay Madam, ſays the ſorrowful Widow: But the Lord may ſend me ſuch Another Huſband; I ſhall never have ſuch Another Dog. Every Trivial Croſs makes us think we are Weary of the World; but our Tongues run quite to Another Tune when we come once to parting with it in Earneſt. Then, ‘tis Call the Doctor, Pothecary, Surgeon; Purge, Flux, Launce, Burn, Saw: I'le Endure Any thing in This World, if you can but keep Life and Soul together. When it comes to That once, ’tis not Help me Off with my Burden, but Help me Up with it.
Fab. CXIV.
A Doctor and Patient with Sore Eyes.
A Phyſician Undertakes a Woman with Sore Eyes, upon the Terms of No Cure No Mony. His Way was to Dawb 'em quite up with Oyntments, and while ſhe was in That Pickle, to carry of a Spoon or a Porringer, or ſomewhat or Other at the End of his Viſit. The Womans Eyes Mended, and ſtill as ſhe came More and More to her ſelf again, there was Every Day leſs and leſs left in the Houſe to be ſeen. The Doctor came to her at laſt, and told her; Miſtreſs, ſays he, I have Diſcharg'd my Part, Your Eyes are Perfectly Well again, and pray let me be Payd now according to Our Agreement, Alas, Sir ſays ſhe, I'm a Great deal Worſe then I was the Firſt Minute you Undertook me; for I could ſee Plate, Hangings, Paintings, and Other Goods of Value about my Houſe, ‘till You had the Ordering of me; but I am now brought to ſuch a Paſs, that can ſee nothing at all.
The
