36 FABLES. 



present station, if it be not very bad indeed, for it 

 seldom happens that every thing can be in all re- 

 spects agreeable to our wishes. When we give 

 full scope to the impatience of our tempers, and 

 quit our present condition in life, we often find we 

 have not changed for the better; but we are too 

 fond of carving out our fortunes for ourselves, and 

 wish to remove this or that obstacle which we 

 imagine stands between us and our felicity: then, 

 too late, we see how greatly we are mistaken in 

 our notions, when we feel we have changed for the 

 worse. Before we attempt any alteration of mo- 

 ment, \ve should, if possible, ascertain what state 

 it will produce, and not suffer infirmity of temper 

 to embitter our lives ; but, above all, we should 

 never aim at mending our fortunes by fraud and 

 violence. 



