Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	action_n	false_a	great_a	136	3	2.0658	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26524	Mythologia ethica, or, Three centuries of Æsopian fables in English prose done from Æsop, Phædrus, Camerarius, and all other eminent authors on this subject : illustrated with moral, philosophical, and political precepts : also with aphorisms and proverbs in several languages, and adorned with many curious sculptures cut on copper plates / by Philip Ayres, Esq.	Ayres, Philip, 1638-1712.; Aesop.	1689 (1689)	Wing A731; ESTC R28929	146,643	364

the less dreadful and us the less fearful of it Our best Meditation is on Death for the thoughts of that are capable to teach us how to live well Francis the first Duke of Britany finding himself near Death in the very Flower of his Age. My Dear Friends said he to his Courtiers You saw me a few daies since cloathed in Purple sitting in Majesty on my Throne reverenced by all the Great Men of my Court and loaded with all the Honours which could be desired and yet in a short time I shall be nothing but a little Dust and therefore I advise you all to settle your Thoughts on that approaching day which shall e'er long put a period to this our frail Life FAB LXVII The Flea and the Camel. PRoud was a silly Flea on the back of a loaded Camel to see the Laborious Beast take such pains as she supposed to carry her And coming at Night to their journeys end the Flea allighted down in the Inn and standing before him Now said he I have done kindly in coming from thy back because I would not grieve thee by keeping thee loaded any longer time No answered the Camel but I rather think the Gods that when thou gettest upon me I am not more loaded neither when thou dismountest from my back I am at all the more eased Many who are neither capable of doing Pleasure or Injury to great Men will be thus over valuing themselves for which they afterwards become dispised Algunos no son nada y querense estimar en mucho Every little fellow would fain be thought great FAB LXVIII The Answer of Socrates to his Neighbours SOcrates the admirable Athenian Philosopher building himself a very little House was asked by some of his inquisitive Neighbours How so great a Man as He could be content to dwell in so narrow a Place I wish answered the Philosopher I were able to fill it with true Friends Vulgare amici nomen saies Phaedrus sed rara fides The name of Friend is common but the Fidelity rare And of Socrates further saies Cujus non fugio Mortem si Famam adsequar c. Whose Death I could be contented to suffer might I acquire his Fame And I could yield to the violence of Envy as he did to be accounted innocent after I am dead Fidelem ubi invemias virum FAB LXIX The Dragon the Leopard and the Unicorn TO end an old Grudg a fierce young Leopard resolved to try the hazard of a Combat with a Dragon but at the first brush found himself not able to cope with him whereupon he retreating went to a Unicorn and beged his help For thou said he art valiant and fightest with admirable skill I therefore entreat thee to vindicate me against this insolent Dragon that has so often affronted me The vain Unicorn being proud to hear himself thus commended Thou hast given said he a true Character of me who am an Experienced Warrior and shall soon revenge thee on thy Adversary for when the Dragon shall open his Mouth I 'l strike my Horn into his Throat and kill him Afterwards when these Enemies met the Leopard giving the first On-set was quickly worsted but then the Unicorn advancing aimed to push his Horn into the Mouth of the gaping Dragon who moving aside his Head the Unicorn missed him and ran his Horn into the Ground from whence before he could pluck it out he was slain 'T is folly for any one to trust too much to his Manhood and madness to fight in a Quarrel that belongs not to him Engage not saies a learned Man to be Second to another neither blow thou the Coals amongst those who are at Variance but when Discord and Quarrels are begun by others 't is sure the greatest Honour for thee if Reconciliation come by thy means ` T is a good caution the old English Poet gives He that for odir men gladly wyl fighte Ys oftyn confondid tho he have grete might FAB LXX The Lion and the Man travelling together TWo Fellow Travellers a Lion and a Man chatting on the Road together to pass away the tediousness of their Journey happened upon a dispute of their Strength and Courage wherein each boasted to have an advantage over the other till walking by the Ruins of a Magnificent Structure they saw an admirable piece of Workmanship on a large Table of Marble where most skillfully was represented in Basso Relievo a Man strangling a Lion the Man then turning to his Companion what think you now my Friend said he does not this plainly convince you that a Man is stronger than a Lion Your argument replyed the Lion seems I confess to have some weight in it But had the Lions their Statuaries and Painters as Men have you would see in Paintings and in Marble more Men kill'd by Lions than Lions strangled by Men. Every one will do what he can to favour his own cause But methinks the Allegory of this Fable seems most to reprove the vanity of many Sculptures which contain far more flattery in them than Truth and are too frequent even in our Age that we looking on those high Marks of Pride might reasonably ask with how much mony were those Artists corrupted for their raising up such Ostentatious Monuments And what is said of Sculptures may likewise be understood of Poets Painters and all others who undertake to transmit great Mens Actions to Posterity Oh! the Chymeric Exploits the Imaginary Vertues and false remarks pompously displayed in some Mens Poems and in the Paintings Statues and ingenious Sculptures of others which would astonish any to consider them Nor are these the only Persons who make it their Business to enlarge upon Truth but even the Historians who make Profession of the greatest Sincerity are not ashamed to stuff up their Volums with Panegyric Discourses and false Relations which are often too plainly visible by their great Discord and clashing one against another FAB LXXI The Trifler or Delayer AMong certain Guests at a Feast one had placed himself so near the Fire that the lowest part of his Garment was beginning to be Scorched which another Person who sate by him observing Sir said he I have some thing to tell you If answered the first it be any thing that is sad I will not hear it till after Supper where all things ought to be delightful and merry It is not very pleasant added the second When we rise from hence then replyed the first we may at leasure attend serious matters After they had with great mirth ended the supper Now said the Delayer you may say what you please The other told him of the Damage he had suffered by sitting too near the Fire and shewed him his Garment very much Burnt and Spoiled This extreamly displeased him that he had not had more timely notice of it I had acquainted you replyed the ingenious Guest when it first began to be burnt but you forbad me because your Method was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉

does he in any respect refuse their Dominion over him But if we would resolve to fight it out with them as we too often do foolishly amongst our selves and would rather choose to lose our Lives by their cunning Tricks than basely submit to our Enemies or let any Commerce be between them and us we might by these means reasonably think to preserve our Liberty When the Bear had roared out these words he held his tongue expecting their Resolution herein but after a general murmuring the Assembly broke up and dispersed Not long after this very Bear happening into a Toil was caught had Rings put into his Nose and suffered himself to be led about by Men He was taught to Dance and perform the usual tricks done by tame Bears and all this with a steddy patience and without grumbling This shows that Men change their Manners with their Fortunes It also teaches that experienced and thinking Men are seldom known to be Hectors But on the contrary when those who threaten such great things fall into Poverty none are more humble nor express more meanness of Spirit than they And Aeschylus most excellently says beginning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. in Latin thus rendred Vexatus est quicunque Calamitatibus Is scit Homines omni de Fortunae impetu Perterritos plura mala semper metuere Eosdem ubi Sors affluit confidere Aura secunda usuras res semper suas FAB XXXI A Country-man and a Bee. A Country-man happening to be stung by a Bee which he had beat off from a Flower How is it possible cryed he thou Cruel Bee that from thee who affordest us so sweet and pleasant a sustenance there should come so severe a sting The more sweetness answered the Bee I yield when pleas'd the more sharpness and severity do I show when provok'd to anger Of how much more generous temper any Man is so much the less can he suffer an Injury to be done to him FAB XXXII The Fox and the Carved Head. THE Fox going into a Statuaries Shop saw there a Bust or Head of a Man very curiously cut which after he had a while admired for its excellent Workman-ship Thou art said he a beautiful Head and there was no small Art used to make thee appear with all this advantage but alas the main thing is still wanting Thou hast no Sense nor Understanding This hints at those who have Riches Honour and Beauty but want Wisdom and Knowledge To many now a days who make so splendid an outward show may this aptly enough be applyed with which the Fox upbraids the Bust They are of a Glorious appearance but want Brains Non in forma says Lactantius sed in Corde sapientia est FAB XXXIII The Boy and his Bird. MOst entirely did a Boy love a Bird he had long kept in a Cage which finding one day its Door by neglect left open flew away The Boy seeing her make such haste to escape followed and calling after her desired her to return to her Cage and promised her great kindness which she altogether refusing He asked her the reason of her obstinate denial Because answer'd she I have a mind to live after my own mode and not after yours Freedom of Life ought to be preferred before all the Delights of the World. FAB XXXIV The Physician that would have excused himself VEry unexpectedly did a Physician meet what they of his Profession strive to avoid to wit The Dead Corps of a Patient of his as his Friends were attending it to the Grave dead by this Physicians ill conduct and neglect The Doctor expecting to be blamed began to cry out first Alas said he Had this unhappy Man been ruled by me abstained from Wine and now and then breathed a Vein he might have lived yet many a fair day One of the Friends of the Deceased stepping towards him Doctor said he You should have given him this advice and kept him to it when it might have done him good for now all your pity comes out of Season We should stick close to the assistance of our Friends in time of their Exigency while there is opportunity of supporting them and not come with false pretences of Kindness when too late FAB XXXV The two Men amongst the Apes TWo Men of which one was addicted to Flattery and Lying but the other very sincere and whom nothing would corrupt to speak against his Conscience These travelling the World together came into a Country of Apes Of whose arrival so soon as the Prince or Chief of them had advice he gave order to have them brought before him They when come to his Court were conducted into his Presence by a strong Guard of Apes Monkeys and Baboons where they beheld the Prince sitting on a high-raised Chair of State after the manner of a Throne and surrounded with a great attendance of other Apes At the strangers approach after divers Questions he asked them What the World said of him and his Subjects and what they thought of his Greatness The Flatterer speaking first told him That the World rang of his Magnificence and Power but that he found Fame was short in all her relations concerning him being now sensible he was a mighty Emperour And when demanded What he thought of those about him He answered That by their noble appearance he presumed they were his great Lords valiant Captains and prudent Magistrates sutable Attendants on so potent a Monarch The Prince of the Apes hearing himself thus highly extolled generously rewarded him for this gross Flattery All which being observed by the vertuous man If this Lyar said he to himself who has no bounds to his Tongue be thus beloved honoured and rewarded how much more shall I that in all things love to tell the plain truth While he was in this thought the Chief Ape asked him And what thinkest thou of me and these about me He who was accustomed to speak truth and ever hated Flattery Thou said he art but an Ape and so all these about thee are but a company of Apes Baboons and Monkeys nor does the World esteem ye otherwise The Prince of the Apes hearing this in a great Passion commanded his Guards to take away this upright vertuous man and tear him in pieces with their Teeth and Nails which was immediately put in execution On this manner are false men and Flatterers too often rewarded whilest many a good man shall suffer even for his Truth and Vertue Por la Malicia de los Hombres el Bueno es mal trattado y el Lisonjero y Mentiroso es regalado Sp. FAB XXXVI The Lion in Love. WIth a very handsom Maid the Daughter of a Husbandman was a Lion fallen in Love and demanded her of her Father for his Wife The Man with scorn rejected the offer telling him he might forbear any further Courtship or troubling him on that subiect for he would make no Affinity nor Alliance with a Beast Which surly refusal so much incensed the

Stations than the greatest Princes who are continually subject to Cares and Vexations The Spaniards say El que vanamente se alaba su vana alabanca se torna en nada He who foolishly praises himself his vain Praise turns to nothing But very proper is the Latin Adage Qui quae vult dicit ea quae non vult audit He that speaks what he has a mind to shall hear what he has no mind to And Seneca says Non esse in parvis commodis sed sine magnis incommodis vitam beatam That a happy Life does not consist in having some small Conveniences but in being free from great Inconveniences And the Wise man says Vade a Formicam o Piger c. Prov. 6.6 FAB L. The Sheep and the Dog. 'T IS Reported that when all Creatures had the use of Speech the Sheep thus argued with their Master We admire Sir said they that to us from whom you still receive the Benefits of Wool Lambs and Milk you should be so unkind to allow nothing but what we can pick up with trouble from the Earth whereas to the Dog who affords you nothing of all these advantages you bestow a Liberal share of Meat from your own Table When the Dog heard this looking with indignation upon them Am not I said he your Guardian who defend and protect you ungrateful Creatures that Men steal you not nor the Wolves tear and destroy you For should I neglect my Care of you you could not go out to feed in your Pastures but in fear of perishing by your Enemies This Fable is related by Xenophon in his 2 d Book of the Memorable sayings of Socrates to show that the Sheep cannot feed in safety when the Shepherd is wanting And that the People are void of Security and fit for nothing where they are not Governed and kept in good Order by the Authority of a Prince It likewise hints at the unthinking and ignorant Rabble who are often murmuring at the idle Lives of their Governours FAB LI. The two Kinsmen going to Law. A Dispute arising between two Kinsmen about a summ of Money which both laid claim to and neither of them willing to yield to the other they resolved to decide the matter by Law. So after great Threats on both sides how much they would spend rather than lose their Rights they applyed themselves to the Lawyers and then the War was soon declared But e're their Advocates began to plead one of the Clients considering with himself called his Adversary aside and whispering in his Ear 'T is not at all said he for our Credits that we who are by Nature so straightly bound to each other should by Money be divided and made Enemies Pray consider that the Event of Law is as uncertain as that of War 'T is in our power to begin it but not to bring it to an end Our whole difference is about a hundred Staters of Gold and if we proceed on in our Suit we may spend double the summ before we shall have concluded it amongst our Advocates Solicitors and Clerks also in procuring the assistance of Friends and Witnesses All these must be waited on complemented and fee'd Besides we must be continually trotting about with innumerable Cares and Vexations attending us And then at last he who shall get the Victory let him sit down and make the best Reckoning he can he shall find himself a Loser Is it not therefore better we should open our Eyes in time before we put our selves into the Clutches of these Vultures And that we should divide the Money that would fall to their shares who will never thank us for it Resolve therefore to quit half your pretensions and I will do the like Thus shall we both be savers and preserve our Friendship which otherwise would soon expire and thus shall we shift off an unspeakable Trouble from us both Which proposal if you still refuse to accept I will leave the whole matter to your own Conscience use me as you please for I had rather my Friend should have my Money than these unsatiable Harpyes and shall gain enough in saving my Credit keeping my Friend and avoiding all the Troubles and Vexations dependant on such a Law-suit The Truth of the thing together with the Frankness of his Kinsman so much took with the Adversary that they soon put an end to the Difference by themselves To the great displeasure of all their Lawyers who were heartily vex'd to lose so good a Prey I wish such men would study to imitate the Prudence of these two Kinsmen as are ready to go to Law on every frivolous occasion since most of our Law-suits bring more Trouble and Charge than Profit even to the Victors themselves Better is it therefore for any Man to lose some part of his Iust Right than for the Expectation of a small advantage to pull on his own Head such endless Troubles and Vexations FAB LII The Sick Kite THE sick Kite seeing her Mother express great sorrow for the danger she appeared to be in Suppress dear Mother said she your Passion and rather pray to the Gods on my behalf that I may be restored to Health Alas my Child said her Mother How canst thou expect Favour from the Gods For which of them is it whose Altars thou hast not defiled and impiously snatched from them their Sacrifices God listens to the Zealous Devotion of Good Men but slights and rejects the Prayers of such as are hardned in their Wickedness and have contemned him A French Author says Qu' il arriue difficilement que celuy qui n' a fait aucune chose que vivre mal ait l' advantage de bien mourir It rarely happens that he who has always lived an ill course of Life should make a good End. O quam falluntur sua qui juvanda Tonanti vota putant cum sint pectore nata malo FAB LIII The Ass and the Boar. WIth very reviling Language a Boar being provok'd by an Insolent Ass Thou dull Animal said the Boar looking disdainfully on him thou deservest a severe chastisement for thy ill Tongue but I scorn to give it thee Therefore Scoff on since thy Sottishness allows thee this Liberty and makes thee beneath both my just indignation and revenge We should strive when we hear things that displease us and spoke by contemptible Persons so to moderate our Passions as not to make returns in scurrilous Language because it may be of greater Credit for us to pass them by with Scorn Non Mostrar tuo valor con gente vile Use not thy Valour on an ill-bred Clown FAB LIV. The Wood and the Country-man IN those times when Trees could speak came a Countryman into a Wood desiring liberty of the Trees to let him make a Handle or Helve amongst them for a new Instrument he had invented called a Hatchet which the Wood courteously granted But the Man having compleated his Hatchet first began to cut with it the

he knows to be as bad as himself Those who are known to live by ill Courses lead Miserable Lives being hated and avoided by all good Men and have even a continual Suspition and Iealousie one of another The Spaniards say El que ha las sospe●has ha las hechas He that is often suspected has some guilt Quicunque turpt fraude semel innotuit etiamsi verum dicit amittit fidem Phaed. FAB XII The two Frogs that were Neighbours TWO Frogs being Neighbours one dwelling in a deep Pond at some distance from the High-way and the other in a shallow Plash which contained but little Water in it and lay close by the Road. She of the Pond made a Courteous Invitation to the other to come and reside with her where she might feed well and live in greater security Which kind offer was slighted by her of the High-way who returned her this Answer That she for some time had lived happily in that Place and therefore cared not to remove Not long after when she little thought of such a Misfortune a Cart coming that Road happened to squeeze the imprudent Frog in pieces Those who have got ill Habits and Customs will sooner lose their Lives than change them FAB XIII The Oak and the Elm. MOST pernicious Councel did the Favourite Elm give to the Royal Oak That for his more firm Establishment in his Empire also for his Advantageous Nourishment and better Air it was requisite that many of those lesser Trees which were about him against whom the Elm had some private Enmity should be pulled up by the Roots and utterly destroyed Which thing this great Minister did not slightly urge but with pregnant Reasons and Arguments was continually endeavouring to perswade At last the daily importunity of this dissembling Elm having tired the patience of his most gracious Prince and provoked him to a just Anger What should I do said he expressing a Majestick Indignation in his Looks when I am assaulted with violent Storms and VVhirl-winds if I should destroy these my nearest Friends and Loyallest Subjects who stand always ready to assist and defend me No they shall therefore be preserved and cherished by me VVhen the wicked Favourite heard this he withdrew in great Confusion The King threatning him with Death or a very severe Punishment if for the future he should ever counsel him to the prejudice of his good Subjects The Oak expresses the true Affection and tender Care which a good Prince has for his Subjects and how ready he is to preserve them from the wicked Machinations of evil Councellors In the multitude of his People is the Strength and Dignity of a King but in their want is his Shame and Destruction Tunc fore Respubl beatas si aut Docti eas regerent aut qui regerent omne suum Studium in sapientia benignitate collocarent FAB XIV The Horse and the Ass. AS a Horse compleatly equipped in rich Furniture was travelling proudly on the Road he in a dirty passage meeting an Ass loaded with a heavy burden Thou dull and sluggish Beast said he with great Insolence How darest thou thus sawcily stand in my way Get thee instantly from before me or I shall tread thee in the dirt under my feet The poor Ass had not the Courage to answer him but so soon as he was able gave him the Track Not long after this the Horse being spoiled by overstraining himself and observed by his Master to be out of case and never more fit for running he took from him all his splendid Ornaments and sold him to draw in a Cart. Whom the Ass afterward espying at work in this different Harness Ah said he maliciously Laughing VVhat new sort of Accoutrements are these VVhere is now your Embroidered Saddle your rich Trappings and your glistering Bit Is all your Glory come to this Thus may it always happen to those so Insolent as thou hast been How many are there who when advanced into some Office or raised by some means or other to Greatness have so far forgot themselves and all Modesty that their Pride would scarce suffer them to speak or look on a poor man without Insolently dispising him and when Fortune has turned against them as nothing is certain in this World they themselves have been Scorned by all Tolluntur in altum Ut lapsu graviore ruant Claudian FAB XV. Mercury and the Statuary MErcury being curious to know how he was esteemed amongst men took on him human Shape and went into a Statuary's Shop where diverse Images of the Gods were and observing one of Iupiter amongst them he first asked the Price of it The Artist told him a Hundred Crowns And at how much said he do you value that of Iuno The Price replyed the Man is the same with Iupiters At which Mercury smil'd supposing them very cheap and shewing his own Statue which being not Inferiour in Workman-ship to any there he thought that being the Messenger and Interpreter of the Gods he should be of great value and esteem amongst men so demanded its Price If said the Statuary you buy the other two I shall give you that of Mercury into the bargain Thus many Vain-glorious Men who set a great value upon themselves often find that they are least esteemed by others FAB XVI The Apes Head. AMongst other pieces of Meat which lay on a Butchers Stall a Man observing the head of an Ape there to be Sold asked what kind of Tast it had The Butcher laughing answered Quale Caput est talis praestatur Sapor As the Head is such is the Tast it yields I suppose says Phaedrus speaking as I conceive of Aesop who though deformed of Person yet of a Prodigious Sharpness of Wit and Profound Knowledg that saying was rather intended as a Iest than Truth for I have known many men of most 〈◊〉 Shape and Beautiful Aspect yet very wicked and many others who have been unhandsome of Person yet of great Vertue and clear Understanding Mentem hominis Spectato non Frontem Look on Mens Minds not their Faces And Ovid says Si mihi difficilis Formam Natura negavit Ingenio Formae damna rependo meae Nature to make me handsom thought not fit But this Defect is recompenc d in VVit. FAB XVII The Swan and the Cook. A Rich man who had many Geese which he kept for his Table bought a Swan for her admirable Singing and suffered her also to feed amongst them but intending one Night to have a Goose kill'd for his Supper the Cook by mistake happened to catch hold of the Swan which in the dark he could not distinguish from one of the Geese ' til she perceiving the danger she was in began a most sweet Song as they are reported always to do when they fore-see they are near their Deaths by which excellent Melody she being discovered her Life was preserved The Intention of this Fable is to commend Musick for some Men who have attained to great