Hair to make it all of a Colour. The Matronly Wife, ſhe Pluck’d out All the Brown Hairs, and the Younger the White: So that they left the Man in the Concluſion no better then a Bald Buzzard betwixt them.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
Marriges are Govern’d, rather by an Over ruling Fatality, then by any Solemnity of Choice and Judgment; though ‘tis a Hard Matter to find out a Woman, even at the Beſt, that's of a Juſt Scantling for her Age, Perſon, Humour, and Fortune to make a Wife of. This Fable preſents us with One ſingle Diſparity that is of it ſelf Sufficient, without a more then Ordinary Meaſure of Virtue and Prudence, to make a Man Miſerable and Ridiculous. I ſpeak of a Diſparity of Years, which, in the Moral, takes in all Other Diſproportions. The One’s too Young, T’other too Old; to ſhew us that Marriage is out of Seaſon if it does not Hit the very Critical Point betwixt them. 'Tis much with Wedlock, as it is with our Sovereign Cordials and Antidotes. There go a Thouſand Ingredients to the making of the Compoſition: But then if they be not Tim'd, Proportion'd, and Prepar’d according to Art, ’tis a Clog to us rather then a Relief. So that it would have been Well, if Nature had Preſcrib’d the Dos of Womans-Fleſh, as ſhe has Determin'd the Neceſſity of it.
Fab. CXLII.
Two Frogs that wanted Water.
UPon the Drying up of a Lake, Two Frogs were forc'd to Quit, and to ſeek for Water Elſewhere. As they were upon the Search, they Diſcover'd a very Deep Well. Come (ſays One to T’other) Let us e’en go down here, without Looking any further. You ſay well, ſays her Companion; but what if the Water ſhould fail us Here too? How ſhall we get Out again?
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
We are taught by the Providence of Theſe Frogs, to Conſider the End of things before we Reſolve upon the Meanes; for when the Die is Caſt, 'tis too late to Wiſh for Another Chance. In our Deliberations whatto
