Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/483

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no Death in the Caſe, and the Vultures were not a little Troubled at the Diſappointment.

The Moral.

When Fools Fall Out, it ſhall go Hard but Knaves will be the Better for't.

REFLEXION.

There are ſeveral ſorts of Men in the World that live upon the Sins and the Misfortunes of other People. This Fable may be Moralliz'd in almoſt all the Controverſies of Humane Life whether Publick or Private. Plaintiff and Defendant finds Buſ'neſs for the Lawyers: Queſtions of Religion tor the Divines: Diſputes about Priviledges and Liberties, Cut out Work for the Soldiers. A General Peace, in fine, would be a General Diſappointment; for the wrangling of ſome, is the Livelihood of others; and wherever there are like to be Carcaſſes, there will never fail to be Vultures.

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Fab. CCCCLVII.

A Man that would never Hear Ill News.

ONe came to a Country Grazier, and ask'd him if he ſhould tell him a piece of News. Is't Good or Bad? (ſays he.) Nay, ſays t'other, 'tis not very Good. Pray, ſays the Grazier keep it to your ſelf then; and ſo he went his way. The Grazier was telling the next day, that the Wolves had Kill'd one of his Bullocks: That’s like enough ſays the ſame Man; for I ſaw him Wand'ring from the Herd, and I was afraid on't. I would you had told me this in time, ſays the Grazier. Why I came I know not how far Yeſterday a-purpoſe to tell you the Story, and you would not hear on't.

The Moral.

The Man is too Delicate to be Happy, that makes it in his Bargain not to hear any thing that may give him a Preſent Trouble.

REFLEXION.

This way of Conſulting a Bodies Eaſe, makes a Man Acceſſory to his own Ruin. There’s an Attempt deſign'd for the purpoſe, upon the Perſon of a Man; and he ſhuts his Ears againſt any Intelligence, or Notice of it, 'till the Dagger is at his Heart. He that will not hear the worſtof