his Companion to give over Shuffling and Doubling, and to Pratice Good Faith. The Snake went on in his Old Way: So that the Crab finding that he would not Mend his Manners, ſet upon him in his Sleep, and Strangled him; and then looking upon him as he lay Dead at his Length: This had never befall'n ye ſays he, if You had but Liv'd as Straight as You Dy’d.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
Good Councell is loſt upon a Habitual Hardneſs of Ill Nature: And in That Caſe it muſt be a Diamond that Cutts a Diamond; for One Fraud is beſt Undermin'd and Diſppointed by Another. This Fable is a Figure upon a Figure, in Oppoſing the Straitneſs of the Body of the Snake after he was Dead, to the Crookedneſs of his Manuers when he was Living. But the Licenſe of Mythology will bear out the Hardneſs of the Alluſion.
Fab CLV.
A Shepherd and a Wolves Whelp.
A Shepherd took a Sucking Whelp of a Wolfe, and Train‘d it up with his Dogs. This Whelp Fed with em; Grew up with 'em, and whenſoever they went out upon the Chace of a Wolfe, the Whelp would be ſure to make One. It fell out ſometimes that the Wolfe ſcap'd, and the Dogs were forc'd to go Home again: But This Domeſtique Wolfe would be ſtill Hunting on, 'till he came up to his Brethren where he took part of the Prey with them; and ſo back again to his Maſter. It happen'd now and then that the Wolves abroad were pretty Quiet for a Fit: So that This Whelp of a Wolfe was fain tomake Bold ever and anon with a Sheep in Private by the By; but in the Concluſion, the Shepherd came to find out the Roguery, and Hang'd him up for his Pains.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
