he thats Worſted, will be ſure to take Sanctuaty-in the Fens, and then are we to be trod to Pieces.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
Let Ill Conſequences be never ſo Remote, ’tis good however, with the Frogs here in the Fable, to have the Reaſon of Things at Hand. The Deſign of many Acions looks one way, and the Event works another; as a Young Gameſter’s Couzen’d with a Bricole at Tennis. But Miſchiefs, whether meant or not, are to be Provided againſt and Prevented, with as much Care and Induſtry as if they had been deſigned from the Beginning; and the Application of Foreſight in the one Caſe, muſt ſupply the want of Foreſight in the other. 'Tis the Fool that lives ex Tempore, and from Hand to Mouth, as we ſay, without carrying his Thoughts into the Future. But a Wiſe Man looks forward, thorough the proper and natural Courſe and Connexion of Cauſes and Effects; and in ſo doing, he Fortifies Himſelf againſt the Worſt that can Befall him. The Frogs Caſe, in ſome Reſpect, is that of a Civil War; where the People muſt expect to be Cruſh’d and Squeez'd in the Conſequence, toward the Charge and Burden on't, The Lords make Merry, but ‘tis the Commons muſt pay the Piper.
Fab. CCCCV.
The Frogs and the Sun.
IN the Innocent Age of the World, when there were no Children in Nature, but thoſe that were begot in Lawful Wedlock, it was in every Bodies Mouth, that the Sun was about to Marry. The Frogs in General were ready to Leap out of their Skins for Joy at it; 'till one Crafty Old Slut in the Company, advis'd ‘em to Confider a little Better on’t, before they appointed a Day of Thankſgiving for the Bleſſing. For (ſays ſhe) if we are almoſt Scorch’d to Death already, with One Sun, what will become of us when that Sun ſhall have Children, and the Heat Encreaſe upon us with the Family!
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
