“ We should use the talents that are alloted, and are most suitable to our species; instead of disparaging those faculties, that are as properly adapted to another.
UNDER the covert of a thick wood, at the foot of a tree, as a Lynx lay whetting his teeth, and waiting for his prey, he espied a Mole, half buried under a hillock of her own raising. Alas, poor creature, said the Lynx, how much I pity thee! Surely Jupiter has been very unkind, to debar thee from the light of the day which rejoices the whole creation. Thou art certainly not above half alive ”

“ Undoubtedly, replied the Cat, with a most demure countenance; nothing is more becoming, in a creature of any sensibility, than a compassionate disposition. While they were thus moralizing, and mutually complimenting each other on the wisdom of their respective reflections, a Wolf darted out from a wood upon a flock of Sheep, which were feeding in an adjacent meadow; and without being in the least affected by the moving lamentations of a poor Lamb, devoured it before their eyes. ”

“ Happy creature! continued he, how much I envy your lot! who are in full possession of the utmost I desire: for philosophy has long taught me to be satisfied with a little. It seems then, returned the Lamb, those who say you feed on flesh, accuse you falsely, since a little grass will easily content you. If this be true, let us for the future live like brethren, and feed together. So saying, the simple Lamb imprudently crept thro' the fence, and became at once a prey to our pretended philosopher, and a sacrifice to his own inexperience and credulity.
The Fox and the Bramble. ”

“ The sick Lion, the Fox, and the Wolf.
Men, who meditate mischief, suggest the same to others; and generally pay dear for their forward gratifications.
A LION, having surfeited himself with feasting too luxuriously on the carcase of a Wild Boar, was seized with a violent and dangerous disorder. The beasts of the forest flocked in great numbers to pay their respects upon the occasion, and scarce one was absent, except the Fox. The Wolf, an ill-natured and malicious beast, seized this opportunity to accuse the Fox of pride, ingratitude, and disaffection to his majesty. ”

“ The positive disputants looked equally surprised, and equally confounded, while the sagacious repptile, assuming the air of a philosopher, thus admonished them: Ye children of men, learn diffidence and moderation in your opinions. 'Tis true, you happen, in the present instance, to be all in the right, and have only considered the subject under different circumstances: but pray, for the future, allow others to have eye-sight as well as yourselves; and be candid enough not to condemn any man for judging of things as they appear to his owu view.
The Wolf and the Lamb. ”

“ Having thus trod round the circles of the year, in a course of restless labour, uneasiness and disappointment, and found no season, nor station of life, without its business and its trouble, he was forced at last to acquiesce in the comfortless season of winter, where his complaint began: convinced that in this world every situation has its inconvenience. ”

“ A child may see the absurdity of it. In the midst of this curious speculation, down dropt an Acorn, from one of the highest branches of the oak, full upon his head. How small a trifle may overturn the systems of mighty philosophers! ”

“ And now the next man they met exclaimed with more vehemence and indignation than all the rest—Was there ever such a couple of lazy boobies! to overload in so unconscionable a manner, a poor dumb creature, who is far less able to carry them than they are to carry him! The complying Old Man would have been half inclined to make the trial, had not experience by this time sufficiently convinced him, that there cannot be a more fruitless attempt, than to endeavour to please all mankind. ”

“ It is a plaister made of part of a Wolf's skin, taken warm from his back, and laid to your majesty's stomach. This remedy was no sooner proposed, than it was determined that the experiment should be tried: and whilst the operation was performing, the Fox, with a sarcastic smile, whispered this useful maxim in the Wolf's ear—you would be safe from harm yourself, learn for the future not to meditate mischief against others.
The Lion, the Bear, the Monkey, & the Fox.
It is often more prudent to suppress our sentiments, than either to flatter or to rail. ”

“ Thus every age has its peculiar vice; the young suffer by their insatable thirst after pleasure; and the old, by their incorrigible and inordinate avarice.
The Tortoise and the two Ducks.
Curiosity often excites those people to hazardous undertakings, whom vanity and indiscretion render totally unfit for them.
VANITY and idle curiosity are qualities which generally prove destructive to those who suffer themselves to be governed by them. ”

“ The Fox and the Cat.
Persons may write fine systems of morality, who never practised a single virtue.
NOTHING is more common than for men to condemn the very same actions in others, which they practise themselves whenever occasion offers. ”

“ All, 'tis true, have not faculties to understand, nor powers to enjoy the benefit of it: but must the business and the pleasures of the world be obstructed, that an Owl may catch Mice?
The Blind Man and the Lame.
The wants and weaknesses of individuals form the connection of society. ”

“ A Blind Man, being stopped in a bad piece of road, meets with a Lame Man, and intreats him to guide him through the difficulty he was got into. How can I do that, replied the Lame Man, since I am scarce able to drag myself along? ”

“ In the midst of his invective, the fox entered; who having heard part of the Wolf's accusation, and observing the Lion's countenance to be kindled into wrath, thus adroitly excused himself, and retorted upon his accuser. I see many here, who, with mere lip-service, have pretended to shew you their loyalty ”