therein to peep Upon the opening of the Pot they all Returnd in hast to Heaven from whence they came Only Hope loath to depart stayd on the Brim And ever since is to the Afflicted Kind Loving their Company whom Fortune hates The MORAL Hope of all Miseries that Men endure Is the only Cheap and Universal Cure Cowley FAB CVIII The Nose WHat shall I do with this prodigious Nose On which a cluster of young Noses grows Of various Magnitudes and different Shapes All Red as Rubies or Burgundian Grapes A Nose that 's pointed at by all I meet That frights the Boys and Women in the street And my self too when in a Glass I see 't A Nose that every hour worse and worse grows I can't endure it longer Off it goes Bring me a Razor Boy or a sharp Knife Thus spoke a Man weary of 's Nose and Life But when the Knife toth ' root of 's Nose was laid He stopt and to himself thus calmly said Hold think a while may I not by this Fact Incur the Penalties of the Coventry Act Instead of mending shall I not spoil my Face And bring upon me Pain Expence Disgrace Strangers will swear 't was a Venereal Wound And shun my Conversation as Unsound Out of the same Glass they 'll refuse to drink And stop their Noses at my Notches stink My Smart will be increas'd my Cure delayd Until the Surgeon 's bountifully payd I shall repent too late when thou art gone 'T is better to have an Ugly Nose than none If we two part I run risque of my Life Nose keep thy Place Boy take away the Knife The MORAL Some Remedies are worse than the Disease FAB CIX The Traveller and Tortoise A Traveller on a long Journey bent Enter'd a Wood just as the Day was spent Ready to faint and resolvd there to sleep Until the Sun should out o' th' Ocean peep To get new Strength and fresh Spirits create Then as he thought he on a Hillock sate But what to him appeard a rising Land Was a great Tortoise coverd o'er with Sand. Who pincht with hunger travelld all the Night In search of Food to appease his Appetite Cropping the tender Herbs he found in 's way Without making a Halt or the least stay His constant tho slow motion much ground rid And brought him far from thence where he lay hid Next morn the Traveller about him gazd And stood surprizd confounded and amazd At the great Alteration of the Scene And could not comprehend what it should mean What a strange Metamorfosis is this All things I saw last Night this day I miss When I sate down to sleep he said there stood A Rocky Mountain and orelookt the Wood. A stately Palace grac'd a pleasant Hill On my right hand why is it not there still Is it removd pulld up by th' roots or sunk Have I my Wits lost am I Mad or Drunk Nothing its Place nothing its Shape has kept Besides this Sandy Bank on which I slept Then taking of it an attentive view He saw it move and what it was he knew The MORAL Time passes unperceivd Pale Death draws near And steals us hence before we know we are here FAB CX The Birds and Fenix IN former Times the Empire of the Birds Did not belong to the Kings Eldest Son Or any other of the Royal Blood But was disposd of as the States thought good The Bird who had most Votes in the Grand Diet Was ownd King and possessd the Throne in quiet Of that Assembly such the Customs were It was freely Elected every Year Out of each several Species of Birds But might not Act until the King was dead Freedom of Speech Liberty in Debates Were Fundamental Privileges of those States The greatest and the least were Equal there None were brow-beaten none of them domineerd The Wren was not despisd nor the Eagle feard No Votes were to be bought or sold no Bribes Given to corrupt the Officers or Scribes And many more too long here to inesrt A King died and the August Assembly met A sit Successor on the Throne to set The first day of the Sessions 't was decreed No Bird of Prey should to the Crown succeed For they had heretofore their Tyranny felt This raisd the Ostriches and Peacocks hopes To obtain the Crown by their Embroiderd Copes The Pulses of some of the House they tried But found themselves even by their Friends denied Several Factions and Cabals were framd But before any Candidate was namd A Politic Parrot to the Rostrum fled A Parrot by a Learned Doctor bred Who often to him talkd and sometimes read And with Chymeric Notions filld his Head Out of old Legends and Romances culld Wherewith the World had a long time been gulld Having cravd Audience he his Speech began Let not this Noble Senate take it ill That I presume my Advice to interpose Hear it then if you think fit with me close Under the Cope of Heaven there is but one Of all the Birds worthy to mount the Throne No more than One. Then he the Fenix nam'd And on his Vertues a long hour declaimd With so Pathetic and Perswasive Note That it upon the Attentive Senate wrought To choose the Fenix by Unanimous Vote 'T was next debated how the Instrument Of his Election might to th' King be sent And how the Ambassadors should find the Road For they were all i' th' dark as to 's Abode Ten thousand Couriers with expanded Wing Were sent abroad in Quest of this new King They visited every Climate every Zone All parts o' th' Globe which yet remain unknown Seas Mountains Lakes every Hill every Plain Caves Grotto's Hermites Cells but all in vain Tho' a strict search was made all the World round This PERFECT KING could never yet be found The MORAL Britannia bless thy Fate thy Prince revere If there 's a FENIX in the World 't is here FINIS
his Fee The ungrateful Ass unmindful of his word Gave him so rude a Kick upon his Head That made him fall down sprawling and half dead After some time awaking from his Trance He said I justly suffer this disgrace For practising an Art I never learnt The MORAL Let not the Cobler go beyond his Last FAB LII The Mad Lion and Goat A Goat seeing a Lion raving Mad Running about and roaring said to himself If a wise King can hardly be endurd How sad is the Condition of us Beasts Who must live under Power with Madness joynd The MORAL Wrath armd with Power cannot be withstood FAB LIII The Thrushes A Numerous flock of Thrushes passd the Alps To feast upon the Grapes of Lombardy Whereof some few returning fat and plump Were envied by the rest that stayd behind They cursd their Fate their Cowardise and Sloth Which made them lose their share in that rich prey To whom one of these Travellers replyd You l change your minds and pity us did you know How many thousands of us made this Voyage And to what paucity we are reduc'd The rest being taken Prisoners Maimd or Killd The MORAL The Court has many made and more undone And even undone those whom it has made FAB LIV. The Old Man and Death A Poor Old Man carrying a heavy Load Ready to faint for want of strength and breath Threw his Pack down and calld aloud for Death To whom when Death appeard in 's ghastly shape The terrified Old Man cryd out Good Sir Pray help me lift this Burthen to my Back The MORAL Those who desire Death fear it when it comes FAB LV. The Cormorant Bat and Bramble A Cormorant a Bramble and a Bat Resolvd to try their Luck in Merchandise The Cormorant adventurd Brazen Ware The Bramble Cloth and the Bat ready Cash Borrowed of griping Bankers at great Use. They chearfully Embarqud despising Danger So prevalent with them was the hope of Gain A sudden Storm arose and sunk their Ship And they three only got alive to Land And ever since this their unhappy loss The Cormorant stands watching on the Sand Hoping the Waves will cast his Vessels up The Bramble pulls the Passenger by 's Coat Tares Patterns off to see where 't is her Cloth But the poor Bat his Debts so much affright He dares not peep out of the doors till Night The MORAL To root out Vice 't is not an easie thing 'T will grow again if you leave the least String FAB LVI The Young Raven and his Mother A Raven by th' Fysicians given ore Now at the point of death his Mother begd To procure solemn Prayers make sacred Vows And bargain with the Gods to save his life To whom she thus replyd Son 't is too late Thou hast made all the Gods thine Enemies Defild their Temples all their Altars robbd What hopes hast thou thy Prayers should prevail The MORAL They who in wicked deeds their whole life spend Cannot expect a comfortable End FAB LVII The Flie. A Hungry Flie fell in t ' a Pot of Broth And having eat and drank his fill perceivd His strength decreasd his Body heavy grown His Wings wet and unfit to bear his weight In short seeing no way to avoid death With a sedate Mind and undaunted Heart Thus to himself he said I have eat and drank And washd why should I be afraid to die The MORAL Bear patiently what thou canst not avoid Another MORAL out of I. C. Ghy moet indien ghy kondt het quade seer geneseu En so ghy niet en kondt in al 's geduldigh wesen To this purpose O Man what ever is thy Lot Either it may be remedied or not If not with patience thy Lot endure If 't may with speed the Remedy procure FAB LVIII The Fox and Raven A Raven who had found a piece of Cheese Bore it to 's Nest on one o' th' neighbouring Trees And having laid it down began to Crow Aloud that all might his good Fortune know A Fox who heard the noise and understood The meaning of it quickly leaves the Wood Draws near unto the Tree and thus did speak Just as the Raven took the Cheese in 's Beak Good Gods what beauteous Bird 's before mine Eyes How smooth they lie how do thy Feathers shine No Colour equals Black and no Black thine Would I might hear thy Voice if thou couldst Sing Thou wert a Present for the greatest King The Raven tickled with the Foxes praise And willing to hear more began to Sing With a hoarse voice and let the Cheese fall down Which when the Fox had seizd Raven said he 'T is true thou' rt handsome but thou hast no Wit The MORAL All Flattery is upon ill design And they are Fools who hear it with delight Another MORAL out of Horace Si tacitus pasci potuisset Corvus haberet Plus dapis multo rixae minus invidiaeque To the same purpose out of I. C. 'T is seker soo de â—aef kon in der stilhept eten Sy kreegh een vollen buyck en niemant sou het weten Maer mits hy by den roof soo luyde sit en Krast Soo krijght hy menigh mael een ougenooden gast That is Were the Crow wise and could with silence eat He would have fewer Spongers and more Meat Another out of I. C. Soo dickwils al 's 't Schapie bleet verliestet een veetien That is As often as the Sheep bleats he loses a monthful Another out of the same 'T is best dat 't Schap in stilheyt eet Want al 's het bleet verliest een bleet Een stil Seugh die eet de draf That is 'T is the still Sow that eats the Broth. FAB LIX The Pye and Peacock OF Birds the general Assembly met To elect a King the chiefest Candidate The Peacock popular for his great Estate His beauteous shape and glorious painted Train Had gaind the greatest part upon his side And certainly would have been chosen King Had it been put to th' Vote which when the Pye Perceivd he stood up and cravd leave to speak Turning his Face to th' Peacock Beauteous Sir Said he if th' Eagle should with us wage War How would you lead us on and bring us off The MORAL In choice of Magistrates a handsome Face Must to the Beauty of the Soul give place FAB LX. The Hart and Hind Calf A Young Red Deer thus to his Father spoke You are swifter you are greater than the Dogs And better Armd why dont you stand and fight To whom the Hart replyd Son you have said The truth Nature for me has done her part Has given me every thing but a stout heart That 's wanting when the noise of Hounds I hear I must be gone I cant command my fear The MORAL Nature in every thing will be obeyd Achilles Arms can't make a Coward fight FAB LXI The Swan and Goose. IN the same Court a white Goose and a Swan Were kept one for the rareness of his Song The other
to be eaten with a Friend A Friend arrives orders were sent toth ' Cook To kill the Goose but he unwittingly Mistook one for the other both being white And seizd the Swan who as Swans usd to do In former times sung his own Funeral Dirge And so was known and so he savd his life The MORAL Many from Dangers Eloquence preserves FAB LXII The Boy and Scorpion A Wanton Boy hunting of Grashoppers By chance espied a Scorpion on the Ground And stretchd his right hand out to take it up The Scorpion turnd up his forked Tail Then thus said to the Boy Fool touch me not For if thou dost thy Sport will cost thee dear And thou wilt Grashoppers henceforwards fear The MORAL That City's ruin's near where it is hard To know who is a good Man who a bad FAB LXIII The Lion and Fox A Fox who never had a Lion seen Met one i' th' Wood and was so much affraid He had like t o've sunk down dead upon the spot The second time he feard but not so much And the third enterview to him he weâ—t Boldly and cried God bless your Majesty The MORAL What terrible appears at the first sight Being often represented yields delight FAB LXIV The Swallow and Crow A Swallow and a Crow had a Contest Whose Beauty and whose Colour was the best And many Arguments were urgd pro and con At last the Crow this demonstration usd Your Beauty is a fading Summer Flower On mine the coldest Winter has no power To which the Swallow had nothing to reply The MORAL That Good 's to be preferd which longest lasts FAB LXV The Father and Sons A Father near to death calld up his Sons To his Bed-side and told them he had hid Great quantities of Gold i' th' Vineyard Bidding them dig it up when he was dead This said he died and left them ignorant In what part of the Vineyard the Gold lay No sooner were the Funeral Rites performd But they began to work and delve the Ground They cleard the roots o' th' Vines they broke the Clods And scourd the Ditches but they found no Gold But yet their Labour was not ill bestowd For the next Year the Cultivated Vines Enrichd the Owners with a plenteous Crop Which when the Eldest of the Sons perceivd He said This is the Gold our Father hid The MORAL Labour and Industry are surest Riches FAB LXVI The Dog Cock and Fox A Dog and Cock benighted on the Road Took up their Lodgings in an aged Oak The Cock i' th' boughs the Dog in 's hollow Trunck The Cock next morning crowd by break of day As 't is their use to whom a Fox approachd And earnestly desird him to come down For he so much delighted in his Song And Martial Mien that he should count himself The happiest Fox i' th' World to see him near To embrace and kiss him The Cock understood His fraudulent intent and thus replyed Sir I desire it much but cant come down Without the Porters leave wake him I pray He 's fast asleep in 's Den at the Oaks root The Fox suspecting nothing put in 's Head And made a hideous noise at which the Dog Leapd out seizd on him worried him to death The MORAL A Cheat ought not if cheated take it ill FAB LXVII The Ass Ape and Mole A Mole ore-heard an Ape and Ass complain Ones Tail was short the other had no Horns And thus reprovd them With what Face can you Bewail the want of useless Ornaments When you behold me Patient tho' Blind The MORAL Compare thy State with theirs who 're worse than thee Then thou wilt easily bear thy Misery FAB LXVIII The Young Men and Cook TWO Young Men went to a Cooks Shop one stole A piece of Flesh and to his Fellow gave 't The Cook soon missd it and there being none But those two in the Shop chargd them with Theft He who had took it swore he had it not And he who had it swore he stole it not Well said the Cook tho' you have deceivd me You cannot cheat the Gods who all things see The MORAL They who Swear most are least to be believd FAB LXIX The Boy and Cockles A Country Boy a dish of Cockles bought And laid them to be roasted on the Coals Which their internal moisture rarisied And causd them to emit a whistling sound Fools said the Boy is it a time to Sing Now when your Houses burn about your Ears The MORAL All Actions out of season deserve blame FAB LXX The Miser A Covetous wretch had hid a bag of Gold And almost every hour went out to see 't A Neighbour wondring at his constant Walk Observing where he went and what he did Found out the Treasure and conveyd it thence The wretch returnd next morn by break of day When he perceivd his God was flown away He wept and tore his Beard and his gray Hair And wishd for Death thro' horror and dispair A Passenger informd o' th' cause of 's grief Said Father leave lamenting hide a Stone In the same place and think it is your Gold You 'll be as rich then as you was before For he that dares not use it has no store The MORAL The Miser wants what he has and has not FAB LXXI The Olive-Tree and the Reed AN Olive and a Reed had great disputes Which was the better Plant. The Olive said Weak Fool dar'st thou compare thy self with me My Root shoots down to th' Center of the Earth Thine's in the Surface and scarce hid with Mold I scorn the strongest blasts of Northern Winds At every little breath of Air thou bowest So low that thou canst hardly rise again And always movest thy Paralytic Head The Reed not daring to reply stood mute Expecting time and place to be revengd And was ere long A furious Storm arose And laid the Olive prostrate on the ground Which when the Reed perceivd aloud she cryd This fate is due to Insolence and Pride The MORAL Trust not a Calm a Storm is always nigh FAB LXXII The Asses and Jupiter THE Asses sent a solemn Ambassade Intreating Iove to grant them a release And freedom from the Miseries they endur'd Iove answerd that could never be procur'd Till they could make a River with their Piss This he intended for a flat denyal But they believing Iove was serious Have ever since been making of the tryal And where they see one Piss all do the same The MORAL Asses believe Impossibilities FAB LXXIII The two Neigbouring Frogs TWo Neighbouring Frogs livd in great Amity One in the Road the other in a Pond A little thence removd and more secure Who as a Friend his Neighbour thus advisd Why do you choose to dwell in such a place So much exposd to danger Quit it Sir 〈◊〉 with me I have plenty void of fear To which the Courteous Frog this answer made For your kind proffer I return you thanks But cant be brought to change my
native Soil There was I born and bred there will I die This said he went to his Quarters and there staid Till he was pressd to death by a Cart Wheel MORAL Ill Men defer Amendment till'ts too late FAB LXXIV The Mice and Cat. A Colony of Mice planted their selves In the same House and livd in much repute And with great prudence managd their Affairs To save their selves from the insults o' th' Cat They by consent retird to the House top And resolvd there to stay during their lives Which when the Cat perceivd she took this way To countermine them and obtain her ends She hung her self upon a Pin i' th' Wall With her Head downwards feigning to be dead A Mouse who saw her in this posture said That Trick won't do I 'll not believe thee dead Tho' I should see thy Skin pulld o'er thy head The MORAL Superabundant Caution does no harm FAB LXXV The Eagle and Fox LOng had the Eagle and the Fox been Friends And that their Amity might increase resolvd To live together the Eagle built her Nest Upon the highest Branches of an Oak And the Fox made his Burrow near its Root It hapned both had young at the same time And when the Fox was gone in quest of Prey The treacherous Eagle stole his Cubbs away And with her Flesh feasted her self and brood The Fox returnd perceiving his great loss Was struck with horrour of that heinous Act Much did he grieve for his dear Childrens death But more to see himself in such a state Having no helps no prospect of Revenge But 't was not long before the Scene was changd A Country Farmer sacrified a Kid I' th' open Fields thither the Eagle flies And from the Altar steals a piece of Flesh To which stuck fast a Coal o' th' sacred Fire This being brought to her dry woody Nest Set it immediately in a bright flame Then did the Eagle see her young ones drop Half roasted into th' mouth o' th joyful Fox The MORAL Heaven vindicates the wrong done to the Poor FAB LXXVI The Trees and Thorn THE Trees desird the Olive to accept The chief Command o' th' leafy Nation To whom he said can you believe that I Who live contented with my own Estate Whose Fruit is so much prizd by Gods and Men Will change my happy Life for anxious Cares Always attending upon Crowned Heads No lay this weight on some ambitious Fool. Being thus repulsd they to the Fig-Tree went And beggd him to supply the vacant Throne Can you said he suppose I 'll quit my Fruit Which is more sweet than the Hyblean Honey For Aloes and Gall the food of Kings Being twice repulsd they to the Vine repaird And humbly beggd him to accept the Crown He shewd his Branches loaded with ripe Grapes More bright in colour than the Tyrian Purple You see said he my Riches and my Store These pleasant Grapes which such a Liquor yield That recreates the heart of God and Man Can you desire me quit this happy Station And my self ruin to preserve your Nation If I do so I justly may be deemd The greatest Fool of Trees I 'll be no King Tird with denyals they at last chose the Thorn Who greedily lays hold o' th' profferd Crown And swelld with Pride thus to his Subjects spoke Now I am King I expect to be obeyd Against all those who dare oppose my Will I 'll send a raging Fire which shall not spare The tallest Cedars of Mount Libanus The MORAL To Command over others none desire But those who intend to gratifie their Lust. FAB LXXVII Momus JOve Neptune Pallas when the World was young Strove which of them should do 't the greatest good And by consent chose Momus to be Judge Iove in his own Similitude made a Man The God o' th' Sea a Bull Pallas a House This done they sent for Momus to pronounce Which of their Gifts in his Esteem was best But he found fault with all First with the Man Because there were no Windows in his Breast Thro' which his inclinations might be seen He said the Bulls Horns were not fitly placd They would have been more useful on his Breast He blamd the House because 't was not on Wheels And could not from ill Neighbours be removd The MORAL Nothing against Detraction is secure Who dare be Vertuous must this Plague endure FAB LXXVIII The Two Dogs A Certain Dog never peepd out of Doors When the least drop of Rain fell from the Clouds Of whom a neighbouring Dog his Friend inquird The cause of this strange Humour he replyd By scalding Water once I had like t o've dyd And ever since have been afraid of Cold. The MORAL He whom a Snake has bit runs from an Eel FAB LXXIX The woman and Oculist A Woman much afflicted with sore Eyes Sent to a skilful Oculist for Cure He came and undertook it for a Sum Which she engagd to pay when she was well He often came and often dressd her Eyes And whilst forcd by the smart she kept them shut He every day stole something out o' th' House Till there was nothing left At last it chancd His Remedies had their desird Effect Then the Oculist demands his recompence But she refusd to pay 't My Sight is worse She said then when you first enterd my door Then every part o' th' House appeard to me Well stord with Goods but now I nothing see The MORAL Benefits are effaced by Injuries FAB LXXX The Boar and Fox A Fox observd a Boar whetting his Tusks And askd him why he so employd his time Having no prospect of an Enemy The Boar replyd not without cause for when I am assaulted 't will be too late then The MORAL The fittest season to provide for War Is then when we enjoy a profound Peace FAB LXXXI The Thief and his Mother A Thief to th' Place of Execution brought To suffer Death the just reward of 's Crimes As he upon the Ladder stood espyd His sorrowful Mother pressing thro the throng To take the last leave of her dying Son The Officers permitted them to embrace But he instead of a departing Kiss Bit off her Nose and spit it in her Face The Crowd detesting this unnatural Act Cryd out no torment can be great enuf No sort of Death for such a Parricide Hear me said he condemn me not unheard This Woman whom I have treated in this sort Is the only cause of my untimely death When I was Young not knowing Good from Ill And from my Play-fellows some Trifles stole I brought her them which she receivd with joy T was her Encouragement made me proceed In that lewd way and commit greater Thefts For which I undergo this shameful death From whence I might have easily been preservd Had she chastizd me for the first Offence The MORAL A cruel Mother is better than a mild Sparing the Rod is spoyling of the Child Another MORAL Quo semel est imbuta recens
had Mother methinks I see him still Only two Feet his Mouth was made of Horn And a raw piece of Flesh grew on his Head His Body short with various Colours deckt An upright Gate bright Eyes a bushy Tail And on his scaly Legs he wore long Spurs The Mother by her Sons description knew What he had seen and thus to him replyd Ah foolish Child thou knowst not good from ill And art not to be trusted by thy self That Creature which thou thoughtst so amiable So Courteous so Assable so Kind Whom to discourse thou hadst so great a mind Is the worst Beast that lives under the Sun Cruel persidious fraudulent unjust And a sworn Enemy to all thy Kind He killd and eat thy Father and thy Brothers He many Widows makes and Childless Mothers He had killd thee too if thou hadst gone near Him always dread approach not near his Tents If thou desirest to avoid untimely death If for thy Mother thou hast any love For my Life dearest Child 's bound up in thine The other who so proud to thee appeard So fierce so cruel so much to be feard Is a young frolick wanton Fool like thee He delights not in Blood and Cruelty Water he drinks Corn is his only Food There 's nothing in him of the treacherous Cat He has a valiant Heart and chearful Song And scorns to do or suffer any wrong The Assault he made on thee was a meer Trick Of Youth a feignd Attack a false Alarm Designd to please himself not thee to harm The MORAL A chearful Countenance shews an honest Heart From those who wear that Badge suspect no ill But when thou dealst with Men of cloudy Brows Pretending to more Conscience than others Look to thy Hits for they will Cheat their Brothers FAB C The Boaster ONE who had travelled far at his return Told many famous Acts he had done abroad And this amongst the rest that being at Rhodes He out leapd all the Inhabitants of that Isle Which he could by authentic witness prove To whom one of the Standers-by replyd What need is there to muster Witnesses If it be true convince us by your Deeds Let 's see you do 't Here 's Rhodes and here 's a Leap The MORAL Words may be spar'd when Deeds can be produc'd FAB CI. The Two Citizens and Ungrateful Son A Citizen setled his whole Estate In Marriage upon his only Son And for a season friendly with him livd At length his Sons Wife proves with-Child and thus Spoke to her Husband I am Breeding my Dear And can't endure to see your Father spaul And smoke stinking Tobacco in my Hall As you love me and this your Child unborn Laying her Hand upon her pregnant Womb Let it be so no more Away he goes And tells his Father this Complaint of 's Wife And prays him for the future to look out Some other place wherein to Spit and Smoke This to the Old Man was a Thunder-clap But he was forc'd to yield to those hard Terms For they must needs go whom the Devil drives Next day when he had din'd he took his Staff Walkt out to give a Visit to a Friend A wealthy Citizen who had left off Trade And on 's Estate i' th' Country livd retird Leading a chearful hospitable life He comes and with great kindness is receivd After a Glass or two the Courteous Host Said Sir in your dejected Countenance The troubles of your Mind plainly appear What Evil has befaln you tell your Friend He told this Story and tho' 't is very bad I fear said he the worst is still behind For when my Daughter 's pleasd to give the word Her Husband 's so obedient and so fond I shall be turnd out and constraind to beg I thought his Friend replyd that you had known The World too well to strip your self of all And trust to the good Nature of a Son But what is past cannot be now undone I think I have a Project in my head Will settle you for your life and you restore To greater Freedom than you had before If you do this the injurd Man replied You 'll be to me a Father and a God Know then replyd his Friend I too was once A wealthy Citizen I too had a Son To whom I gave a plentiful Estate To set him forth i' th' World but not my All Something I kept against a rainy day Besides a Rent Charge upon which I live I have two thousand Guineas in a Chest With these I 'll trust you these at several times You and I to your Lodgings will convey What they contrivd they soon put in effect Then by advice th' Old Man a Sickness feignd Doctors and 'Pothecaries came in shoals With Clyster-pipes and Gally-pots and Glasses To whom when 's Son profferd to pay their dues Hold Child said he I have some Money left Here take this Key it opens such a Trunk Bring thence what is sufficient with joy He goes unlocks the Trunk and finds the Gold But without breaking Bulk returns the Key And was so generous to defray the Charge Of 's Father's Sickness out of his own Purse The Old Man recovers quits his Bed comes down Dines and then proffers to go out and Smoke Under a Shed i' th' Yard as he was wont Which when his Daughter saw Sir what d' you mean Stay in this Room she said Spit where you please Use the House freely take it for your own You have been lately Sick you 're weak and old I would not for the World you should take Cold. And ever after to the day of 's Death He was by 's Daughter Honourd and Caressd The two old Friends their Visits interchangd Till all the Gold returnd from whence it came And brought at several times so many Stones As filld the empty Trunk up to the top Loaded with Years at length the Father dies The Son performs the Funeral Obsequies Then taking by the hand his joyful Wife He leads her to adore the Golden Fleece But finding nothing there but Stones and Brick He stood amazd and said with a deep groan My Ungratitude has turnd this Gold to Stone The MORAL Put not thy Cloaths off till thou goest to Bed Part not with all thy Estate till thou art Dead Another out of I. C. Niemant en ontkleet him â—eern eer hy slapen gaet That is Let none Undress before they go to Sleep Another out of the same Wiljie mijn Erf wacht tot Ick sterf That is Wouldst have my Gold stay till I 'm Cold. Or thus If thou' rt desirous Friend my Land to have Wait patiently until I am i' th' Grave Another out of the Italian Quanto piu l' uccello e veâ—chio tant piu mal voluntieri Lalcia la piuma To this purpose I. C. Wat mach men van een ouden Mensch vegeeren Hoe ouder Doghel hoe nooder uâ—t de Deeren That is Why should an Old Man give away 's Estate The oldest Birds of Feathers have