THere goes a Story of an Owl that was adviſed by the Little Birds to Build rather among the Boughs and Leaves as they did, then in Walls and Hollow Trees; and ſo they ſhew'd her a Young Tender Plant for her Purpoſe. No, No, ſays the Owl, thoſe Twigs in time will come to be Lim'd, and then you're all Loſt if you do but touch em. The Birds gave little Heed tot', and ſo went on Playing and Chirping among the Leaves ſtill, and paſſing their Time there in Flocks as formerly; till in the concluſion the Sprigs were all Daub'd with Lime, and the Poor Wretches clamm'd and taken, Their Repentance came now too Late; but in Memory of this Notable Inſtance of the Owls Foreſight, the Birds never ſee an Owl to this very Day, but they Flock about her and Follow her, as if it were for a New Leſſon. But our Modern Owls have only the Eyes, the Beak and the Plume of the Owls of Athens, without the Wiſdom.
The Moral.
Good Counſel is loſt upon thoſe that have not the Grace to Hearken to't; or do not Underſtand it, or will not Embrace and Follow it in the proper Seaſon.
REFLEXION.
Wholeſom Advice is worth nothing, unleſs it be (in Truth,) Given as well as taken in Seaſon. This Fable ſhews the Danger and the Miſchief of either Rejecting, not Heeding, or not Entertaining it; and likewiſe at the ſame time, ſets forth how hard a thing it is to faſten Profitable Advice upon Men that Indulge themſelves in Eaſe and Pleaſure. They look upon it as ſo much time loſt, to employ the Preſent upon the thought of the Future; and ſo by one Delay after another, they ſpin out their whole Lives, 'till there's no more Future left before 'em. This Dilatory Humour proceeds partly from a Sloathful Lazineſs of Temper; as I knew a Man that would not be got out of his Bed when the Houſe was afire over his Head. Action is Death to ſome ſort of People, and they'd as live Hang as Work. It ariſes in a great meaſure too from an Habitual Heedleſs Inadvertency, when Men are ſo intent upon the Preſent, that they mind nothing elſe; and Counſel is but caſt away upon them. Birds of Pleaſure, and Men of Pleaſure are too Merry to be Wiſe; and the caſe of this Fable is but the common caſe of the World. Wholſom Advice comes in at one Ear, and goes out at 'tother. Men, in ſhort, of Bloodand
