Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/141

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87
Æſop's FABLES.

Vomiting his Heart out. The Man, it ſeems, had Poyſon’d himſelſ, and the Revenge upon his Landlord was the Defeating him of his Eſtate by Deſtroying the Laſt Life in his Leaſe. In One Word, Revenge ſtops at Nothing that’s Violent and Wicked. It Divides the Deareſt Friends; Embroils Governments, and Tears Families to pieces, But to ſay no more on’t, The Hiſtorics of All Ages are full of the Tragicsl Outrages that have been Executed by this Diabotical Paſſion: beſide, that it hardens People into a Brutall Contempt of Death, (as in the Fables above) where they may but ſee their Enemies fall for Company.


Fab. XCII.

A Fortune-Teller.

THere was a kind of a Petty Conjurer, that made it his Profeſſion to Reſolve Queſtions, and tell Fortunes, and he held forth in the Market-Place. Word was brought him, in the very Middle of his Schemes and Calculations, that his Houſe was Robb'd; and ſo away he ſcours immediately to learn the Truth on't. As he was running home in All Haſte, a Droll takes him up by the Way, with this ſhort Queſtion. Friend (ſays he) How come You to be ſo Good at telling Other Peoples Fortunes, and Know ſo little of your Own?


Fab. XCIII.

A Cunning woman.

A Certain Dame that paſs'd in the World under the Name of a Cunning Woman, took upon her to Avert Divine Judgments, and to Foretell Strange Things to come. She play'd the Counterfeit Witch ſo long, till in the Concluſion, ſhe was Taken up, Arraign'd, Try'd, Convicted, Condemned to Dye, and at laſt Executed for a Witch indeed. D'ye hear, Good Woman (ſays one to her, as ſhe was upon the Way to her Execution) Are the Gods ſo much Eaſyer then the Judges, that you ſhould be Able to make Them do any Thing for ye, and yet could not Prevail with the Bench for the Saving of your Own Life?

Fab.