attains the highest place at court; but by ill conduct is disgracefully tumbled headlong down.

The daughter is fair as Aurora, but excessively proud of her beauty; by which means she is slighted and contemned; lives dejected, and dies a virgin.

The Farmer blames Jove for the miscarriage of his children; to whom Jove replies, "I granted your petitions to please you, "and you see the consequence; henceforth learn and practise virtue, and leave the rest to my management."

66

MORAL.

Contentment is the greatest of moral virtues, and the truest riches. He enjoys enough who wants no more: but the person unsatisfied in the station providence has placed him, will hardly ever be pleased. The Almighty cannot punish us more severely than by granting all we desire; nor show us more favour than by denying some of our requests. Wisdom teaches us to value content above all things, and a virtuous mind above all worldly glory.

Alexander conquered the whole world; and then lamented that he had not another world to conquer; not considering that he had yet himself to overcome. The want of this ruined him.

Riches, honour, and beauty, in the opinion of mankind, are the greatest terrestrial blessings; but, on a close survey, we shall find a great mistake in the account. Riches make themselves wings and fly away; or else are buried in the earth, and so become useless. Honour is but a blast; a deity to-day, to-morrow a demon. Beauty is a flower, pleasing in the morning, but withering and decaying in the evening.

But virtue out-lasts time, its riches never leave us, its honour never diminishes, and its beauty never decays. All good things proceed from it; it is an adamantine fountain, an invincible fortress, repelling all the force of envy; a glorious crown without a thorn, an ornament

of all that possess it, a sure defence against all evil here, and a cer tain conductor to glory hereafter. All good men openly reverence it, and even bad men secretly; its charms are irresistible and its rewards eternal.

"Seek virtue-and, of that possest,
Henceforth to God resign the rest."

THE EAGLE AND THE ASSEMBLY OF ANIMALS.

JOVE, taking a survey of the world, heard strange mur

murings among the creatures.

The fish complaining of their element, desired to solace themselves in the groves and meadows. The birds desired to regale in the waters, and the beasts to ascend the airy regions.

The

Jove calls the Eagle, and commissions him to inform the creatures, that all had liberty to change their situations. Eagle calls a grand assembly, and declares his order to the

creatures,

But all, instead of embracing what they had requested, stood silent and confounded.

Whereupon the Eagle retorts upon them-What! are all mute? do none agree? For shame! depart and be satisfied each in his station.

MORAL.

Curiosity is very often fatal in its consequences, and pernicious ir its effects. How often do we see the attempts of schemists, and vain pretenders, evaporate into smoke; and their abortive undertakings become the derision of the wiser part of mankind! How many per

sons have in vain sought after the philosopher's stone, and ruined themselves and dependants, without being able to come at it. Could we pry into all the mysteries of nature, fathom the profundity of the vast abyss, find out the most secret things of the earth, and with a staff walk to heaven, even yet something would be wanting to complete our desires.

Happiness is not fully attainable in this world, but is reserved for a better. Yet knowledge, as far as may be useful, makes life very agreeable; arts and sciences delight the mind; and a studious application to business in youth, makes age comfortable. Industry is ever commendable; and if our condition be low, it is our duty, by all honest means we can contrive, to advance ourselves; among which, none is more likely than learning, which is an ornament to the mind. Sloth is very detestable. Idleness always procures poverty, and laziness want; yet an unsettled mind rarely has peace, or an ungovernable disposition, satisfaction. A bee in a bottle may labour much for its enlargement, but to little purpose; so the mind of man, intent on things vain, or contrary to his nature, may be full of inquietude, and never gain his end. A disposition, calm and serene, founded on virtue and knowledge, an industrious endeavour to discharge the duties of our respective stations, and a firm reliance on Providence for our support under all difficulties, will make us more happy than the possession of the Indies.

"Contentment is a constant store;
"Desire what's fit, and nothing more."

THE PEACOCK, TURKEY, AND GOOSE.

HE Peacock, standing among the poultry, and displaying

This spangled fathedi, da

One finds fault with his legs, another with his voice, a third with his magnitude, and all are offended at his pride and vanity. The peacock, observing them, says, "It is a bad world, when "small and inconsiderable blemishes hinder the sight of great beauties."

MORAL.

If providence furnishes a person with a superior share of excellence, or industry prompts him to an improvement of his parts, the envious drone will be sure to cavil at him. Some men cannot hear another commended without being angry, or allow any merit but in themselves. Conceitedness of our own performances is a great fault; as it hinders us from advancing farther; and renders us ridiculous to all mankind. A man full of himself, and that despises others, eclipses his own desert, and robs the world of a valuable treasure. Humility is the highway to honour; a low opinion of ourselves, a just esteem of others, a firm dependance on Providence, and an industrious improvement of what we enjoy, will raise us above the common level, render us respected among the judicious, and make us esteemed by our betters. Indeed, envy can see no beauties, nor hide any blemishes yet the truly valuable person will shine like the rays of light in obscurity.

To commend what is praise-worthy is common justice; and to deprecate what is well done is dishonest. The man who lives only for himself, is of a base and ignoble spirit: generous minds are forward in promoting whatever may tend to the public good. The glory of a good man is a good conscience; this affords inward peace at all times. Some poor men are undervalued, as worth nothing; and some rich men are overvalued, as nothing worth.

He who commends himself is chargeable with arrogance, and he that discommends himself, with folly. Men who are commodious to none but themselves, are not worthy to be esteemed in the commonwealth. Prejudice and ill-nature make a man hateful to others, and a plague to himself. Envy is like a canker; it eats and devours all around it; it robs us of our comfort, and our neighbour of his repose; it captivates our understanding, and hoodwinks our reason; it dims our sight, and obstructs our knowledge; it discovers the deformed part only, and will not let us see the beauty of what is valuable.

"When envy prompts the mind to spleen,
"The brightest charms are overseen.'

FABLE VI.

THE FOX AT THE POINT OF DEATH.

FOX worn out with age, perceives his end approaching, and calls all his sons together, to whom he says, My sons, my race is run, my days are at an end, I pray you take my last advice:

Amend your lives, forsake your errors, and live honestly, that you may die comfortably.

To which one of them replied, Your advice is vain-how

can we, who are naturally vicious, and educated under so bad a master as yourself, ever change our manners?

MORAL.

The minds of young persons are like soft wax, capable of any impression. The seeds of virtue first sown lay a pleasant foundation for a good life, as those of vice do for a bad one. A bad example has a strong influence on a weak mind; and that outweighs many good precepts. That preacher will make but very few converts whose practice runs counter to his doctrine

A hap

All persons desire to die well, though few care to live so. py death is the never-failing portion of a well-spent life, which alway ends in eternal bliss and glory. By living virtuously we save ourselves much trouble, vice being ever attended with great perplexities. He that lives according to reason, shall never be poor; and he that governs his life by opinion shall never be rich; for nature is limited, but fancy is boundless. That man is wealthy enough that wanteth not; he is great enough that is his own master, and he is happy enough that lives to die well. We have every thing if we desire nothing; a contented mind is richer than Croesus, or both the Indies.

In labouring to instruct the mind with valuable qualities, praise is purchased with men, and favour with God. He that instructs one that thinks himself wise enough, has a fool for his scholar; and he that thinks himself wise enough to instruct himself, has a fool for his

master.

It is a most noble and commendable design in children descended of mean parents, by their industry, to become the sons of virtue; and by the improvement of their parts, to be equal with those of honourable descent, in wisdom and knowledge. The great lesson of morality, is To do as we would be done by; and love our neighbour as ourselves. Knowledge and learning, riches and honour, even in their most resplendent gallantry, are all but insignificant pageantry without piety and virtue.

"He that in virtuous knowledge takes delight,
"True happiness has always in his sight."