The two combatants, who lay and beheld the theft without having strength enough to stir and prevent it, made this reflection: "Behold the fruits of our strife and contention! that villain, the Fox, bears away the prize, and we ourselves have deprived each other of the power to recover it from him.” MORAL. Grasp all, loose all. APPLICATION. How truly does this fable describe a common but bitter phase of human experience! How frequently do men, by aiming at too much, lose all! One example will suffice as an illustration. man may, and often does, in his too strenuous exertions to amass wealth, or to gain honours, sacrifice his health, and thus finds too late that he has lost all in the attainment of the object of his ambition. 'Tis thus in life we not unfrequent see How some men labour long and wearily T' achieve a purpose which they have in view, Yet lose their labour and the object too. The lands and the riches that here we possess, THE CROW AND THE PITCHER. A CROW, ready to die with thirst, flew with joy to a Pitcher, which he beheld at some distance. When he came, he found water in it indeed, but so near the bottom, that, with all his stooping and straining, he was not able to reach it. Then he endeavoured to overturn the Pitcher, that so at least he might be able to get a little of it. But his strength was not sufficient for this. At last, seeing some pebbles lie near the place, he cast them one by one into the Pitcher; and thus, by degrees, raised the water up to the very brim, and satisfied his thirst. MORAL. Counsel before action. APPLICATION. Force without foresight is of no avail. The possession of mere strength is well enough for the animals; but the chief excellency of man consists in the gift of reason, and in the exercise of that gift; in fertility of invention, and in discovery of resources and expedients in situations of danger and difficulty. He who unites mature reflection with energetic exertion, will succeed where others fail, and will extract from every new trial sources of credit and advantage. That which is well considered, best succeeds; That which is well conducted, surest speeds. See, ere that thou do build, thy purse and plans do match: THE PORCUPINE AND THE SNAKES. A PORCUPINE wanting to shelter himself, requested from some snakes permission to enter their cave. They were prevailed upon, and let him in accordingly; but were so annoyed with his sharp, prickly quills, that they soon repented of their easy compliance, and entreated the Porcupine to withdraw, and leave them their hole to themselves. "No," says he; "they may quit the place who don't like it; for my part, I am well enough satisfied as I am." MORAL. They who their friends too lightly choose, APPLICATION. Be cautious in choosing thy companions. A false step is seldom retrieved. Better alone than in bad company. The manners of the man we desire for a friend, the principles of the woman we choose for a wife, the integrity of the person with whom we would jointly manage and concert measures for the advancement of our temporal interest, should be narrowly and cautiously inspected: we should have tried a person well before we embark with him in the same vessel, lest we should alter our mind when it is too late, and think of regaining the shore after we have launched out of our depth. Be cautious how you choose a friend; Than grief to see one's trust betrayed. Who from mishap in life himself would guard, |