the Bold and Rich Thrive in the World, when the Poor and the Baſhful go a Begging: But Virtue is never the leſs Venerable for being out of Faſhion.
Fab. CCCCLXXIII.
A Brother and a Siſter.
There was a Brother and a Siſter that happen’d to look in a Glaſs both together: The Brother a very Lovely Youth, and the Siſter as hard favourd as a Girl could well be. Look ye (ſays the Boy,) and have not I a very Good Face now? This the Laſs took for a Reproach, as if hers were not ſo too. What does this Envious Tit, bur away to her Father, with a Tale of her Brother, how Effeminately he Behav'd himſelf, and that a Petticoat would become him better then a Sword. The Good Man Kiſs'd them both, and Reconciled the Controverſy. My Dear Children, ſays he, I lay my Command upon ye Both to look often in a Glaſs; You Son, to keep a Guard upon your Self, not to Diſhonour the Advantages that Nature has given ye, with Ill Manners: And you Daughter, (ſays he) to Mind you of Supplying the Defects of an External and a Tranſitory Beauty, with the more ſubſtantial Ornaments of Piety and Virtue.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
The Vanity of the Youth here in the Fable, is doubly to Blame; Firſt, he values himſelf upon a Trivial and an Uncertain Advantage. Secondly, ‘Tis below the Dignity of the Sex, for a Man to Glory in, and to Uſurp upon the proper Ornaments and Privileges of a Woman. The Siſters Envy may be better Reprov'd then Reform’d; for to ſay that a Woman is not Handſom, is a Sin never to be Forgiven. The Father does excellently well Diſcharge the Part of a Wiſe Man, and of a Tender Parent both in One. And the Moral of his Part Reſolves finally into this, That Virtue attones for Bodily Defects, and that Beauty is nothing worth, without a Mind Anſwerable to the Perſon.
Fab.
