. Æsop's fables : with upwards of one hundred and fifty emblematical devices . road,when he may fri^k it over the beauteous lawns,or lose himself agreeably in the shady verdantmazes of unrestrained contemplation? It isimpossible. Vulgar notions are so generallyattended with error, that wherever one tracesthe footsteps of the many, tending all one way,it is enough to make one suspect, with the Foxin the fable, that there is some trick in it. Theeye of reason is dulled and stupified when it isconfined, and made to gaze continually uponthe same thing: it rather chooses to look aboutit, and amuse
. Æsop's fables : with upwards of one hundred and fifty emblematical devices . road,when he may fri^k it over the beauteous lawns,or lose himself agreeably in the shady verdantmazes of unrestrained contemplation? It isimpossible. Vulgar notions are so generallyattended with error, that wherever one tracesthe footsteps of the many, tending all one way,it is enough to make one suspect, with the Foxin the fable, that there is some trick in it. Theeye of reason is dulled and stupified when it isconfined, and made to gaze continually uponthe same thing: it rather chooses to look aboutit, and amuse itself with variety of objects,as they lie scattered up and down in the un-bounded prospect. He that goes implicitly■*nto a thing, may be mistaken, notwidistandingthe number of those who keep him company;but he that keeps out till he sees reason to enter,acts upon true maxims of policy and short, it becomes us as we are , to behave ourselves as such, ana todo as few things as possible, of which we mayhave occasion to repent. 108 FABLE THE WARTOIf CALF. A CALF, full of play and wantonness, seeingthe Ox at plough, could not forbear insultinghim. What a sorry poor drudge art thou,says he, to bear that heavy yoke upon yourneck, and go all day drawing a plough at yourtail, to turn up the ground for your master ! butyou are a wretched dull slave, and know nobetter, or else you would not do it. See whata happy life I lead : I go just where I please ;sometimes I lie down under the cool shade;sometimes frisk about in the open sunshine;and, when I please, slake my thirst in the clearsweet brook; but you, if you were to perish,have not so n^.uch as a little dirty water to re-fresh you. The Ox, not at all moved withwhat he said, went quietly and calmly on withhis work; and, in the evening, v/as unyokedand turned loose. Soon after which he sa\ythe Calf taken out of the field, and deliveredinto tiie hands of a pri?«i:^ immediately led FABLK L
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