10 FABLES. 



APPLICATION. 



" He who defers his work from day to day, 

 Does on a river's brink expecting stay, 

 'Till the whole stream that stopt him shall be gone, 

 Which, as it runs, for ever will run on." 



INDOLENCE is like a stream which flows slowly 

 on, but yet it undermines every virtue; it rusts the 

 mind, and gives a tincture to every action of one's 

 life, the term of which does not allow time for long 

 protracted deliberations ; and yet how many w r aste 

 more of their time in idly considering which of two 

 affairs to begin first, than would have ended them 

 both ? To-morrow is still the fatal time when all is 

 to be done; to-morrow comes, it goes, and still in- 

 dolence pleases itself with the shadow, while it 

 loses the substance: and thus men pass through 

 life like a bird through the air, and leave no track 

 behind them, unmindful that the present time alone 

 is ours, and should be managed with judicious 

 care, since we cannot secure a moment to come, 

 nor recall one that is past. It is no matter how 

 many good qualities the mind may be possessed 

 of; they all lie dormant if we want the necessary 

 vigour and resolution to draw them forth; for this 

 slumber of the mind leaves no difference between 

 the greatest genius and the meanest understanding. 

 Neither the mind nor the body can be active and 

 vigorous without proper exertion, and trouble 

 springs from idleness, and grievous toil from use- 

 less ease; therefore, "whatsoever thy hand findeth 

 to do, do it with all thy might, for there is no work, 

 nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the 

 grave, whither thou goest." 



