Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/347

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REFLEXION.

MORE Men Reclaim out of Shame, Fear, or Pure Neceſſity, then for the Love of Honour, or Vertue. They that are Honeſt upon Theſe Terms would be Arrant Knaves if the Tables were Turn’d. They go along with the Devil, while there's either Pleaſure, or Profit to be had on That ſide; but when they come once to loſe the Taſt of the One, and the Means of the Other, they are preſently Regiſter'd in the Calender of New Converts. The Countenance of This Fable looks a little betwixt Jeſt and Earneſt; but This Mixture of Appearance does not Hinder it from being a moſt Edifying Satyr upon the Corruptions, and Falſe Semblances of Humane Life. Lord! How Sober, and Temperate do People grow, when they can Drink and Whore no longer!

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Fab. CCCXXVII.

An Impertinent and a Philoſopher.

A Certain Pragmatical, Senceleſs Companion would make a Viſit to a Philoſopher. He found him Alone in his Stuty, and fell a VVond’ring how he could Endure to Lead ſo Solitary a Life, The Learned Man told him; Sir, ſays he, You are Exceedingly Miſtaken; for I was in very Good Company till You came In.

The MORAL.

Good Thoughts and Good Bosks are very Good Company.

REFLEXION.

A Wiſe Book is much better than a Fooliſh Companion; And the Dead, in ſuch a caſe, are much Better then the Living. It is one of the moſt vexatious Mortifications perhaps, of a Sober, and a Studious Mans Life, to have his Thoughts Diſorder'd, and the very Chain of his Reaſon Diſcompos'd, by the Importunity of a Tedious, and an Impertinent Viſit. Eſpccially, if it be from a Fool of Quality, where the very Figure of the Man Entitles him to All Returns of Good Manners and Reſpect. And the Aff;iction is yet more Grievous, where That Prerogative of Quality, is further Back’d and Corroborated, with a Real Kindneſs, and Good Will: For a Man muſt be Inhumane, and Ungrateful, as well as Rude, if he does but ſo much as Offer, at the Eaſing, or the Relieving of Himſelf. The Drift of This

Fable at laſt, is to tell us, that Good Books and Good Thoughts are the Beſt Company, and that they are Miſtaken that think a Wiſe Man can ever be Alone. It prepares us alſo to Expect Interruptions, and Diſappointments, and to Provide for 'em; but withal, to take the Beſt Care we canto