Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/154

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Æſop's FABLES.

of Job) and Touch All that he hath, and be will Curſe thee to thy Face. This Good Man Loſt All, and, for an Example of Patience and Reſignation to Future Ages, The Lord gave (ſays he) and the Lord hath Taken away, Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord. Here was No Daſhing of the Two Tables one againſt the Other, for an Office, or an Egg at Eaſter, as the Fellow ferw'd his Idol here. The Whole Summe of the Moral is in ſhort, Comprized in the Old Saying: He that ſerves God for Mony, will ſerve the Devil for Better Wages.




Fab. CVI.

A Dog Invited to Supper.

A Gentleman Invited a Friend to Supper with him, and the Gentleman's Dog was ſo well Bred as to Invite the Friends Dog to come for Company. The Dog came at his Hour, and into the Kitchin he went, to ſee what Good Cheer was toward: But as he was there, Wagging his Tayle, and Licking his Lips, at the thought of what a Meale he was like to make on't, the Roguy Cook got Slyly behind him, and Spoil d the Jeſt. He took him up by the Tayle at Unawares, and after a Turn or Two in the Air, flung him out of the Window. So ſoon as ever the Poor Devil had Recover'd the Squelch, away he Scampers, Bawling like Mad, with I know not how many Prick-Ear'd Currs at the Heels of him, to know how he lik'd his Wellcome. Why truly, ſays he, they have given me as much Drink, as my Skin will hold; and it has made me ſo Light-Headed, I could not find the Right Way out of the Houſe again.

The Moral.

Love Me, Love my Dog, ſays the old Proverb, and there's ſomewhat of Good Manners, as well as of Good Nature in’t; for there are certain Desencies of Reſpect due to the Servant for the Maſler's ſake.

REFLEXION.

It looks well among Friends, when Maſters and Servants are all of a piece. The Dog invites his Gueſt, and the Cook throws him out of the Window, and in ſo doing, the Man ſhew’d himſelf the Arranter Curr of the Two; for it was againſt Hoſpitality and Good Manners ſo to do. There is a Duty of Tenderneſs and Good Nature, even toward Thoſe Animals: But when it came to the Worſt at laſt, the Dog had the Wit, we ſec, to make the Beſt of a Bad Game. Though 'twas an unmannerly, and an Ill-Natur'd Frolick of the Cook all this while; for the Ill Uſage of a Servant is ſome ſort of Affront to his Maſter.

Fab.