. Fables of Aesop and others. , I should have endeavoured,however incapable of it, to have returned you suitablethanks. THE APPLICATION. Sincerity is a most beautiful virtue; but there are some,whose natures are so poor spirited and cowardly, that they arenot capable of exerting it. Indeed, unless a man be steady andconstant in all his actions, he will hardly deserve the name ofsincere. An open enemy, though more violent and terrible, isnot however so odious and detestable as a false friend. To pre-tend to keep anothers counsel, and appear in their interest,while underhand we are giving intell
. Fables of Aesop and others. , I should have endeavoured,however incapable of it, to have returned you suitablethanks. THE APPLICATION. Sincerity is a most beautiful virtue; but there are some,whose natures are so poor spirited and cowardly, that they arenot capable of exerting it. Indeed, unless a man be steady andconstant in all his actions, he will hardly deserve the name ofsincere. An open enemy, though more violent and terrible, isnot however so odious and detestable as a false friend. To pre-tend to keep anothers counsel, and appear in their interest,while underhand we are giving intelligence to their enemies, istreacherous, knavish, and base. There are some people in theworld very dexterous at this kind of defamation; and can, whilethey seem most vehement in the commendation or defence of atriend, throw out a hint which will stab their reputation deep-er, than the most malicious weapon brandished at thera in apublic luauner, could liave been capable of doing. iESOPS FABLES. 171 FAB. XC. A Man bit by a A man who had been sadly torn by a dog, was ad-vised by some old woman, as a cure, to dip a piece ofbread in the wound, and give it to the cur that bit did so; and iEsop happening to pass by just at thesame time, asked him, what he meant by it? The maninformed him: why then, says ^sop, do it as private-ly as you can, I beseech you: for if the rest of thedogs of the town were to see you, we should all beeat up alive by them. THE APPLICATION. Nothing contributes so much to the increase of roguery, aswhen the undertakings of a rogue are attended witli it wero not for fear of punishment, a great part of mankind,who now make a shift to keep themselves honest, would appeargreat villains; but if criminals, instead of meeting with punish-ments were, by having been such, to attain honour and prefer-ment, our natural inclination to mischief would bo improved,and we should be wicked out of emulation. 172 iESOPS FABLES. FAB XCI. Fortune and the Boy.
Size: 1808px × 1383px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthoraesop, bookcentury1800, books, booksubjectchristianlife
