not certain, (in ſuch an Inſtance as this,) is in danger; and 'tis ill Venturing (Neck and all eſpecially,) where a Body is not very ſure, whether it be a Hawk or a Cuckow.
Fab. CCCCXX.
Hungry Dogs, and a Raw-hide.
A Company of Hungry Curs Diſcover’d a Raw-Hide in the Bottom of a River, and lay'd their Heads together how to come at it: They Canvaſs'd the matter one way and ‘tother, and brought it to this Iſſue in the Concluſion, that the only way to get it, was to Drink their way to't. So they fell to Lapping and Guzzling, 'till in one Word, they Burſt themſelves, and never the nearer.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
Fooliſh Counſel is not only Vain and Unprofitable in General, but in many particular Caſes moſt Deſtructive and Deadly. This Fable lays open the Folly, the Vanity, and the Danger of Preſſing too eagerly for any thing that's out of our Reach. We ſpend our Strength, and our Credit in clearing the way to't, and it flies before us like a Shadow, which we may well Purſue, but can never Overtake. It is much the Humour of Chymiſts, and a Thouſand other ſorts of Projectors, that propoſe to themſelves things utterly Impracticable, and out conſume their Lives in Hopeleſs and Fruitleſs Undertakings. This falls out for want of Computing upon the Proportion betwixt the Means, and the End; and for want of Examining and Conſidering what's Praccticable, and what not; and for want again of Meaſuring our Force and Capacity with our Deſigns.
Fab. CCCCXXI.
An Aſs and a Shadow.
ONe Hir'd an Aſs in the Dog-Days to carry certain Bails of Goods to ſuch a Town: 'T'was Extream Hot, ſo that he lay down upon the Way to Refreſh himſelf under the Shadeof
