is beyond all the Palaces under the Heavens; The Pomp, the Plenty, and the Pleaſures of them over and above. To ſay nothing of the Surfeits that are gotten by Exceſſes of Eating and Drinking; ‘The Reſtleſs Nights, Factious Emulations, Fewds, and Diſguſts that Attend them: Beſide the Slavery of being Ty’d up to other Peoples Hours, Meals, and Faſhions. He that has no Ambition, is Happy in a Cell, or in a Cottage; whereas the Ambitious Man is Miſerable, even upon a Throne. He that thinks he has not Enough, Wants, and He that Wants is a Beggar.
The Tortoiſe came Late, for he came Unwillingly, which is the Cafe of many a Worthy Man that Sacrifices his Peace to formalities of Complement, and Good Manners. Jupiter took Snuff at the Contempt, and Puniſh'd him for't. And what was the Puniſhment? He ſent him Home again. ‘That is to ſay, He Remanded him to his Lot, and to his Choice. Such, in Short, is the Felicity of a Moderate, and a Steady Mind, that all Comforts are Wrapt up in’t; for Providence turns the very Puniſhment of a Good-Man, into an Equivalence to a Reward, by Improving that to his Advantage, which was intended for his Ruine; and making the Tortoiſe’s Baniſhment a bleſſing to him.
Fab. CLXXXVI.
A Wolfe and a Sheep.
A Wolfe that lay Licking of his Wounds, and Extremely Faint, and Ill, upon the Biting of a Dog, call’d out to a Sheep that was Paſſing by, Heark ye Friend (ſays he) if thou wouldſt but Help me to a Soup of Warer out of that ſame Brook there, I could make a Shiſt to get my ſelf ſomewhat to Eat. Yes, ſays the Sheep, I make no Doubt on't; but when. bring ye Drink, my Carcaſs ſhall ſerve ye for Meat to’t.
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
Known
