tue, is able to ſtand before it. The Lyon's Parting with his Teeth, and his Clawes, in a Complement to his New Miſtreſs, is no more then what we ſee Every Day Exemplify’d in the caſe of making over Eſlates and Joyntures, with the Malice Prepenſe all this While, of holding their Noſes to the Grindſtone, and with the Girles Father here, of Jilting them at laſt.
Fab. CXXII.
A Lyoneſs and a Fox.
A Numerous Iſſue paſſes in the World for a Bleſſing; and This Conſideration made a Fox caſt it in the Teeth of a Lyoneſs, that ſhe brought forth but One Whelp at a time. Very Right, ſays the Other, but then That One is a Lyon.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
There are more Fools in the World then Wiſe Men, and more Knaves then Honeſt Men; ſo that it is not Number, but Excellency, that Inhaunces the Value of Any thing, The moſt copious Writers are commonly the Arranteſt Scriblers; And ſo in much Talking, the Tongue is apt to run before the Wit: In Many Words there is Folly, but a Word in Seaſon is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver: Says the Oracle of Truth it ſelf. And we have it from the ſame Authority, that our very Prayers, when they are Loud and Long, are in the Sight of Heaven no better then ſo much Babbling; and that they have More in them of Hypocriſy and Oſtentation, then of Affection and Judgment. The Great Creator of the Univerſe, whoſe ſingle FIAT was ſufficient to have made Ten Thouſand Worlds in the Twinkling of an Eye, Allowed himſelf Six Dayes yet tor the Finiſhing of his Purpoſe: Paus’d upon Every Days Work, Conſiderd of it, Review'd it, and Pronounc'd it Good; and ſo Procceded. Right Reaſon Moves, in ſome Proportion, by the ſame Steps and Degrees with This Inimitable Example: It Deliberates, Projects, Executes, Weighes, and Approves. Nature does Nothing in a Huddle, and Human Prudence ſhould Govern it ſelf by the ſame Meaſures. A Plurality of Voices, 'tis true, carryes the Queſtion in all our Debates, but rather as an Expedient for Peace, then an Eviction of the Right; for there are Millions of Errors to One Reaſon, and Truth; And a Point is not ſo Eaſy to be Hit: In a Word, the Old Saying is a ſhrewd One, that Wiſe Men Propoſe, and Fools Determine. Take the World to picecs, and there are a thouſand Sots to one Philoſopher: and as many Swarms of Flyes to One Eagle. Lions do not come into the World by Litters.
Fab.
