her voice, and having a mind to set him right in that matter, she began to sing, and in the same instant let the cheese fall out of her mouth. This being what the Fox wanted, he snapped it up in a moment; and trotted away, laughing to himself at the easy credulity of the Crow. MORAL. It is a maxim in the schools, That "Flattery's the food of fools!" Will soon have nothing else to eat. INGRATITUDE. BLOW, blow, thou wintry wind, As man's ingratitude; Thy tooth is not so keen, Although thy breath be rude. Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, As friends rememb'ring not. 3* As Jupiter's all-seeing eye "Ungrateful creatures! whence arise These murmurs, which offend the skies? ། ASSEMBLY OF ANIMALS. Why this disorder? say the cause; "Hard is my lot," the hound replies; O'er plains and vales, and mountains go; "When," says the greyhound, "I pursue, The lion craved the fox's art; The bird of heav'n then cried aloud, Entirely change your name and nature, 31 . And be the very envied creature? MORAL. Every one thinks his own condition the hardest. SUSPICION. SUSPICION is no less an enemy to virtue, than to happiness. He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious; and he that becomes suspicious, will quickly be corrupt. He that suffers by imposture, has too often his virtue more impaired than his fortune. But as it is necessary not to invite robbery by supineness, so it is our duty not to suppress tenderness by suspicion. It is better to suffer wrong than to do it ; and happier to be sometimes cheated, than not to trust. He who is spontaneously suspicious, may be justly charged with radical corruption. "Though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps At wisdom's gate; and to simplicity Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill |