by Rule, and Conſults the Conſcience of his Actions, without any Regard to Popular Applauſe. Did ever any Mortal yet in his Right Wits, Adviſe with the Mobile about the Government of his Life and Manners? (Or which is all one, with the Common and Profeſſed Enemies of Reaſon and Virtue,) Did ever any Creature make a Friend or Confident of them? Why ſhould we be ſollicitous then to be thought well of by thoſe that no Prudent Good Man ever thought well of? They are all Paſſion and Fancy, without either Judgment or Moderation: They neither underſtand what they do, nor why; but act with a kind of Impetus, that knows neither Conſideration nor Conduct. So that it is in truth, a Scandal, and an Ill Sign to Pleaſe them; but a worſe yet, for a Man to Value himſelf upon the Reputation of a Popular Favour. What are their Affections but Violent Tranſports that are carried on by Ignorance and Rage? What are their Thoughts of Things, but variety of Incorrigible Error? And what are they themſelves in their own Nature, but a Herd rather than a Society? Their Humour is very Happily ſet forth in this Fable; and ſo is the Vanity of the Old Man's endeavouring to keep Fair with them; for they are ſtill unſatisfied with the Preſent State of Things, and conſequently never to be Pleaſed. Now if a Man had nothing elſe to do but to Fool away his Days in the Purſuit of Phantomes and Shadows, and then at laſt lye down in the Duſt like a Brute, without any Fear or Danger of an after-Reckoning, the Care were taken; but for a Reaſonable Soul to Poſt-pone the moſt Neceſſary Offices and Duties of Life, and to Hazzard the very loſs even of Heaven it ſelf, in favour of a Depraved Appetite? What has he to Anſwer for, that ſhall be found Guilty of ſo Impious a Madneſs? The very Dog's not worth the Hanging, that runs out at Check, and lets every Cackling Crow or Daw Divert him from his Game and Buſineſs. To Conclude; a due Conſideration of the Vanities of the World, will Naturally bring us to the Contempt of it; and that Contempt of the World will as certainly bring us Home to our Selves, This was the Caſe of the Poor Man here, when he had Try'd this, and that, and other Experiment, he threw all his Care and Follies together with his Aſs into the River: And then he was at Reſt.
Fab. CCCLIX.
A Man Dreamt he found Gold.
A Man fancied in his Sleep once, that he was carried by the Devil into a Field to Dig for Gold, where he found a Great Treaſure; ſo the Devil adviſed him not to take it away with him at preſent, but rather to leave ſome particular Mark upon the Place; that he might find it another time. What Mark? ſays the Dreamer. E'en down with your Breeches quoth the Devil, and lay your Tail there; my Life for yours, do but keep your own Councel, and no Body will look for Gold inthat
