ſets up for a Foreboder too; and ſo gets upon a Tree, and there ſtands Nodding and Croaking, juſt over the Head of ſome People that were Paſſing by. They were a little Surpriz'd at firſt; but ſo ſoon as they ſaw how 'twas. Come, my Maſters (ſays One of the Company) let's e'en go forward, for This is but the Chattering of a Fooliſh Crow, and it ſignifies Nothing.
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
THE Affectation of Powers and Faculties, that are Above us, is not only Vain, and Unprofitable, but Ridiculous; for the Matter, upon Examination, will not abide the Teſt. Your Empyricks, Piſs-Pot-Prophets, Fortune-Tellers, and Buffoon-Pretenders to State and Government, fall under the Laſh of This Moral. And ſo do All your little Smatterers in Arts and Siences of what Kind, or Quality ſoever: But there goes more to the Making of a Prophet, then Nodding, and Croaking. 'Tis not the Gown and the Cap that Makes the Doctor; Neither is it the Supercilious Gravity of Countenances and Forms, that preſently Dubbs any Man a Philoſopher. Not but that a Fool may Put himſelf in the Garb, and ſo far Imitate the Meen, and Motions of a Wiſe-man, as at firſt Bluſh to Put a Body to a Stand what to Make of him: But upon further Conſideration, the Original is as Eaſily known from the Copy, as the Aſs in his borrow'd Skin was from the Lyon: Or I might have ſaid, as the Crow here from the Raven: Their Ears and their Tongues Betray them.
Fab. CLXXIX.
A Crow and a Dog.
A Crow Invited a Dog to Joyn in a Sacrifice to Minerva. That will be to no Purpoſe (ſays the Dog) for the Goddeſs has ſuch an Averſion to ye, that you are Particularly Excluded out of all Auguries. Ay, ſays the Crow, but I'll Sacrifice the rather to her for That, to try if I can make her my Friend.
The MORAL.
RE-
