Fab. CCCCVIII.
Two Laden-Aſſes.
AS Two Aſſes were Fording a River, the one Laden with Salt, the other with Sponge: The Salt-Aſs fell down under his Burden, but quickly got up again, and went-on the Merrier for't. The Sponge-Aſs found it agreed ſo well with his Companion, that down lyes he too, upon the ſame Experiment; but the Water chat Diſſolv'd the Salt, made the Sponge Forty times Heavier then it was before; and that which Eas'd the One, Drown'd the Other.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
A Wiſe Man lives by Reaſon, not by Example; or if he does, 'tis odds, he goes out of his Way. We have a Common Saying that holds in a Thouſand Ordinary Caſes, where the ſame thing Ruins one, that Saves another. It is the part alſo of an Honeſt Man to deal Above-Board, and without Tricks. The Aſs with the Sponge fail'd in both; for Firſt, he would be trying Concluſions, without Examining either the Nature of the thing in Queſtion, or what the Matter would bear. Secondly, He was falſe to his Maſter too, in Abuſing a Truſt for the Eaſing of his own Carcaſs; and then it coſt him his Life Over and Above, which was both his Miſhap and his Puniſhment.
Fab. CCCCIX.
A Black-Bird afraid of a Kyte.
A Poor Simple Black-Bird was Frighted almoſt to Death with a Huge Flopping Kyte that ſhe ſaw over her Head, Screaming and Scouring about for her Prey. Come Siſter, ſays a Thruſh to her, Pluck up a Good Heart; for all chis Fluttering and Scrieking is but Fooling; and you ſhall fee this Lazy Buzzard at laſt, e'en take up with ſome Pitiful Frog or Mouſe to her Supper, and be Glad on't too. No, no, theHawks
