REFLEXION.
THERE’s No Diſputing with a Man that denies Principles, and there are Certain Precognita in the Motions of Fleſh and Blood, as well as in the Philoſophy of the Schools: In which Caſes, we Underſtand our Duty without a Teacher, and Acquit our ſelves as we Ought to do, without a Prompter. That is to ſay there are ſome Certain Fundamentals of Natural Juſtice, that we take for Granted, and Truſt One Another for; as in the Propoſition of our Widow here in the Fable, without any Need of Articles for the Performance of Covenants. The Widow, in ſhort, play’d the Gipſie, and ſo did her Confident too in pretending to Believe her: But there’s No Catching Old Birds with Chaffe, for One Woman reads the Heart of Woman-kind in her Own Breaſt. She was a Fool to be Mealy-Mouth'd, where Nature ſpeaks Plain. There may be Exceptions ‘tis True, to a General Rule, but None to an Univerſal. It was No Ill ſhift however, to come off withal, that in diſpite of All her Averſions, the was not yet for making‘ Vertue ofa Neceſſity. The Publiſher of Mr. Seldens Table Talk. Tells of a Girl that was worth Forty of Our Widow here, and an Honeſt Down-right, Plain Dealing Laſs it was. The Wench was juſt newly Marry'd, and ſo ſoon as ever the Job was over, Pray Mother, says ſhe, muſt not I go to Bed now? No, No, Child, ſays Mamma, You muſt take Your Dinner firſt; Oh ſays the Girl, and Then go to Bed I warrant ye. No, my Dear, not yet ſays the Mother, You muſt Dance after Dinner. Ay, Ay, ſays the Girl again, and Then to Bed. No, No, ſays T'other, You muft Sup firſt, and then Dance again. Ay, Ay, and Then to Bed, ſays the Bride. This Girl did but ſpeak the Widows Mind; for let Fleſh and Blood pretend what it will, to Bed, to Bed, will be the Bob of the Song.
Fab. CCLXXXIV.
The Town-Dogs and Country-Dogs.
'TIS a Common Thing upon the Paſſing of a Strange Dog through a Town, to have a Hundred Curs Bawling at his Breech, and Every Yap gets a Snap at him. There was One Particular Dog, that when he ſaw there was No ſaving his Skint by Running away, Turn’d upon his Purſuers, and then found upon the Tryal, that One ſet of Teeth was worth Two pair of Heels; for upon That Reſolution, they All fell off, and Sneak'd their Way. A Captain took Occaſion once to Apply This Inſtance to his People. Fellow-Soldiers (ſays he) take This for a Rule, Thoſe that run away are in more Danger than the Others that ſtand the Shock.
FAB.
