Gr. Credit.
D. D. Doctor of Divinity. N. S. New Stile.
Dr. Doctor, or Debtor. O. S. Old Stile.

F.R.S. Fellow of the Roy- P. M. Afternoon. ›

LL. D. Doctor of Laws. St. Saint.

L. S. The place of the Seal. S. T. P. Profeffor of Di

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FABLE I.

Of the RAVEN and the FOX.

Raven, having found a piece of cheese, perched on a tree to eat it. A fox, feeing her, longed to partake of the fweet morfel. He immediately began to entertain her by praifing the beauty of her fhape, and the brilliancy of her plumage. The Fox perceiving that the Raven liftened with attention, and was highly pleafed with his encomiums, obferved, that it was a great pity that her finging did not better agree with her other rare qualities. The Raven, defirous to convince the Fox that her voice was not difagreeable, immediately began to fing. The moment the opened her mouth, down fell the cheese to the ground. This was just what the Fox wanted. He immediately feized it, and devoured it before the eyes of the Raven; who fat, confounded at her own ftupidity; and vexed, that fhe fhould be fo foolish as to liften to "the falfe flattery of the treacherous Fox.

MORAL.

This teaches us to beware of flattery; and not to prétend to poffefs charms, which nature has denied us.

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FABLE II.

City Rat once paid a vifit to a country Rat, who entertained him with a frugal repaft, compofed only of roots and nuts. After the repaft, the city Rat had the complaifance to invite his friend to vifit him in his turn. On his arrival in the city, he found a fplendid table laid for him, loaded with the moft dainty dishes-with fweetmeats, cheefe, fruits, and many other delicacies, unknown to the stranger. During the entertainment, the country Rat obferved that the fervants were conftantly running out and in, and caufing frequent alarms, and confufion among the guefts. At length, being overcome with fear, he departed in hafte, repeating thefe words, "I prefer my little cottage, in the midst of the lonely village, where I can eat my frugal repaft in peace, and enjoy my liberty, to all the fplendor and magnificence of the city, where one is conftantly expofed to inquietude and danger."

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FABLE III.

N Eagle, one day, found an oyfter, which the had a great inclination to eat; but with all her dexterity and fkill, fhe could not find means to open the fhell. A Crow, paffing that way, and obferving the anxiety of the Eagle, told her he could eafily put her in a way to accomplish her wifhes. The Eagle liftened to his advice; and the Crow told her, that the best way was to take the oyster in her claws, and carry it high in the air, and let it fall upon a rock. In the mean time, he placed himself near the rock; and, no fooner was the oyster opened by the fall, than he feized the meat and fwallowed it, leaving nothing but the fhell to the poor Eagle, as a reward for her oredulity.

MORAL.

Study the character of a perfon well, before confide in his counfel.

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Of the LION, the ASS, and the FOX.

A Lion, an Afs, and a Fox, went upon the chafe

one day, in company; and took a ftag and feveral other animals. At night, the Lion ordered the Afs to make a proper divifion of the fpoil. The Afs made all the parts as equal as he could, and left it to the others to take their choice. This equality touched the pride of the Lion; and he immediately fell upon the Afs, and tore him in pieces. He then

turned to the Fox, and ordered him to make the divifion. The Fox, prudently, gave all but a very fmall portion to the Lion. Who taught you to make fuch a wife divifion? faid the Lion. The fad fate of the Afs, replied the Fox.

MORAL.

We learn by this, that juftice does not always accompany power and that obedience does not always proceed from choice.

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