s fume,
Meet objects here? Command it hence:
A thing so mean must give offence."

The humble Dunghill thus replied:
"Thy master hears, and mocks thy pride.
Insult not thus the meek and low;
In me thy benefactor know:
My warm assistance gave thee birth,
Or thou hadst perished low in earth:
But upstarts, to support their station,
Cancel at once all obligation."

FABLE LXV.

THE SHEEP-BITER AND SHEPHERD.

A CERTAIN Shepherd had a Dog, upon whose fidelity he relied very
much; for whenever he had occasion to be absent himself, he
committed the care and tuition of the flock to the charge of his
Dog; and, to encourage him to do his duty cheerfully, he fed him
constantly with sweet curds and whey, and sometimes threw him a
crust or two. Yet, notwithstanding this, no sooner was his back
turned, but the treacherous cur fell foul of the flock, and
devoured the sheep, instead of guarding and defending them. The
Shepherd being informed of this, was resolved to hang him; and
the Dog, when the rope was about his neck, and he was just going
to be hung, began to expostulate with his master, asking him, why
he was so unmercifully bent against him, who was his own servant
and creature, and had only committed two or three crimes, and why
he did not rather execute vengeance upon the Wolf, who was a
constant and declared enemy? "Nay," replies the Shepherd, "it is
for that very reason that I think you ten times more deserving of
death than he. From him I expected nothing but hostilities; and
therefore could guard against him. You I depended upon as a just
and faithful servant, and fed and encouraged you accordingly; and
therefore your treachery is the more notorious, and your
ingratitude the more unpardonable."

MORAL.

A known enemy is better than a treacherous friend.

FABLE LXVI.

THE STAG AT THE POOL.

A STAG that had been drinking at a clear spring, saw himself in
the water; and, pleased with the sight, stood long contemplating
and surveying his shape and features from head to foot. "Ah!"
says he, "what a glorious pair of branching horns are there! How
gracefully do those antlers hang over my forehead, and give an
agreeable turn to my whole face! If some other parts of my body
were but in proportion to them, I would turn my back to nobody;
but I have a set of such legs as really make me ashamed to see
them. People may talk what they please of their conveniences