Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/447

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FABLES of ſeveral Authors.
397

of the Aſs. The Muletier bad him Riſe, and go on according to his Bargain. 'T other ſaid that the Aſs was His for the time he had Hir'd him. Right, ſays the other, You have Hir'd the Aſs, but not the Shadow.

The Moral.

Work for the Lawyers.

REFLEXION.

This Fable Plays upon the Contentious Humour of People that go to Law for Trifles. De Aſini Umbra, is effectully but this Fancy in an Adage. There needs no more to the ſetting of the whole World in a Flame, then a Quarrelſom Plaintiff and Defendent, and a Brace of Chicaneurs to Blow the Coals, Wrangling is Inſtructed as an Art or a Science on the one ſide, and made uſe of as an Exerciſe on the other. Some People can no more Live without Law, then without Air, and they reckon it better Husbandry to ſpend a Thouſand Pound upon Counſel, to Defend a Trivial or an Unwarrantable Cauſe, then to part with one ſingle Six Pence for the Payment of an Honeſt Debt. This Fable in ſhort, is Moralliz'd in Weſtminſter-Hall, Forty times over every Term.



Fab. CCCCXXII.

A Country-Fellow and a River.

A Blockbeaded-Boy that was ſent to Market with Butter and Cheeſe by the Good Old Woman his Mother, made a ſtop at a Quick River in the way, and laid himſelf down upon the Bank there, till it ſhould run out. About Midnight, Home he goes to his Mother, with all his Market-Trade back again. Why how now Son, ſays She, what have we here to do! Why Mother, ſays this Booby, yonder's a Scurvy River that has been running all this Day, and I ſtaid till juſt now for the Running of it out, and there ‘tis Running ſtill. The Lord help thee Son, ſays the Good Woman, for thy Head and mine will be laid many a Fair Day before this River runs Dry.

The Moral.

We are not to Expect that Nature will Change her Courſe, to Gratify she Sickly Freak of every Fantaſtical Humour.

REFLEXION.