REFLEXION.
The Power of Flattery, where it is once Entertain’d, is well nigh Irreſiſtible; for it carries the Countenance of Friendſhip and Reſpect; and Fooliſh Natures are eaſily wrought upon, and Perverted, under that Semblance. When Pride, Vanity, and Weakneſs of Judgment meet in the ſame Perſon, there's no Reſiſting the Temptations of a fair Tongue, and conſequently no avoiding the Secret and Malicious Deſigns of a Falſe Heart. Here’s a Credulous Cock already prepar'd for the Entertainment of the Groſſeſt of Flatteries: Nothing ſo Ridiculous, nothing ſo Impoſſible, but it goes down whole with him, for Truth and Earneſt Nay, and the Folly is ſo Unaccountable, and the Madneſs ſo Notorious, that in this Humour the moſt Spiteful Enemies we have in the World paſs upon us for Friends. The Cock takes the Council of a Fox, and like the Squirrel to the Rattle-Snake, puts himſelf into the Mouth of his Mortal Adverſary. How many ſuch Diviners do we meet with in our Daily Converſation, that lay their Lives, Fortunes and Reputation at the Mercy of Paraſites? How many Sots that Commence Philoſophers upon the Credit of theſe Fawning Slaves! There’s no Fool to the great Fool that's Fool'd by a little Fool; nor any thing fo Scandalous as to be the Fool Of a Fool.
Fab. CCCCXXV.
The Moon Begs a New Gown.
THe Moon was in a heavy Twitter once, that her Cloaths never Fitted her: Wherefore, Pray Mother, ſays ſhe, let the Taylor take Meaſure of me for a New-Gown, Alas Child, ſays the Mother, how is it poſſible to make any one Garment to Fit a Body that appears every Day in a ſeveral Shape?
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
