48 FABLES. 



setting a proper value upon the Jewel, to ignorance, 

 and say: 



"To fools, the treasures dug from wisdom's mine 

 " Are jewels thrown to Cocks, and Pearls to Swine." 



But the most obvious meaning of the Fable is 

 surely to shew, that men who weigh well their own 

 real wants, and shape their pursuits to their abili- 

 ties, will always prefer those things which are 

 necessary, to such as are merely ornamental or 

 superfluous, and will not easily suffer themselves 

 to be led astray by the gaudy allurements of glitter 

 or show, which have no other value than what 

 vanity, pride, or luxury may have set upon them; 

 but governing their minds by their own reason, 

 judge of every thing by its intrinsic worth. 



