Fab. CLIX.
The Waſhing of a Blackmore.
A Man gave Mony for a Black, upon an Opinion that his Swarthy Colour was rather Flattery then Nature; and the Fault of his laſt Maſter, in a Great Meaſure, that he kept him no Cleaner: He took him Home with him, and try‘d All manner of Waſhes to bring him to a Better Complexion: But there was no Good to be Done upon him; beſide, that the very Tampering Caſt him into a Diſeaſe.
Fab. CLX.
A Raven and a Swan.
A Raven had a Great Mind to be as White as a Swan, and fancy'd to Himſelf that the Swan's Beauty proceeded in a High Degree, from his often Waſhing and Dyet. The Raven upon This Quitted his Former Courſe of Life and Food, and betook himſelf to the Lakes and the Rivers: But as the Water did him no Good at all for his Complexion, ſo the Experiment Coſt him his Life too for want of Suſtenance.
The Moral of the Two Fables above.
REFLEXION.
'Tis a Vain Thing to Attempt the Forcing of Nature; for What's Bred in the Bone will never out of the Fleſh: And there can be no Thought of Altering the Qualities, the Colour, or the Condition of Life, that Providence has Allotted us.
'Tis Labour in Vain, to all manner of Purpoſes, to Endeavour the Mending of any of the Works of Natures for ſhe never did Any thing Amiſs. And then 'tis as Great a Madneſs to Attempt any Alteration upon them, becauſe What Nature does, God does; whoſe Decrees are Unchangeable, and All his Works are Perfection in the Kind; but next to the Force of Natural Impreſſions, we may reckon That of Cuſtoms and Habits.
Fab. CLXI.
A Swallow and a Crow.
UPon a Diſpuce betwixt a Swallow and a Crow, which was the Greater Beauty of the Two: Yours, ſays the Crow is only a Spring-Beauty, bur mine laſts all the Year round.
The
