e disgrace, gallanted the hens with all the
intrepidity imaginable.

MORAL.

Before honour is humility. We must not be too much elevated by
prosperity lest we meet a grievous fall.

[Illustration: THE FIGHTING COCK AND EAGLE.]

FABLE XI.

THE DIAMOND AND THE LOADSTONE.

A DIAMOND, of great beauty and lustre, observing, not only many
other gems of a lower class ranged together with himself in the
same cabinet, but a Loadstone likewise placed not far from him,
began to question the latter how he came there, and what
pretensions he had to be ranked among the precious stones; he,
who appeared to be no better than a mere flint, a sorry, coarse,
rusty-looking pebble, without any the least shining quality to
advance him to such an honour; and concluded with desiring him to
keep his distance, and pay a proper respect to his superiors.

"I find," said the Loadstone, "you judge by external appearances,
and condemn without due examination; but I will not act so
ungenerously by you. I am willing to allow you your due praise:
you are a pretty bauble; I am mightily delighted to see you
glitter and sparkle; I look upon you with pleasure and surprise;
but I must be convinced you are of some sort of use before I
acknowledge that you have any real merit, or treat you with that
respect which you seem to demand. With regard to myself, I
confess my deficiency in outward beauty; but I may venture to
say, that I make amends by my intrinsic qualities. The great
improvement of navigation is entirely owing to me. By me the
distant parts of the world have been made known and are
accessible to each other; the remotest nations are connected
together, and all, as it were, united into one common society; by
a mutual intercourse they relieve one another's wants, and all
enjoy the several blessings peculiar to each. The world is
indebted to me for its wealth, its splendour, and its power; and
the arts and sciences are, in a great measure, obliged to me for
their improvements, and their continual increase. All these
blessings I am the origin of; for by my aid it is that man is
enable to construct that valuable instrument, the Mariner's
Compass."

MORAL.

Let dazzling stones in splendour glare;
Utility's the gem for wear.

FABLE XII.

THE BEAR AND THE BEES.

A BEAR happened to be stung by a Bee; and the pain was so acute,
that in the madness of revenge he ran into the garden, and
overturned the hive. This