64 FABLES. 



i 



and penetration, upon meeting with a few difficul- 

 ties, does not drop his pursuits, but if he cannot 

 succeed in -one way, sets his mind to work upon 

 another, and does not hesitate about stepping out 

 of the old beaten track which had been thought- 

 lessly pursued in a roundabout way by thousands 

 before him. The present state of the world, en- 

 lightened by arts and sciences, is a proof that 

 difficulties seemingly insurmountable, and under- 

 takings once imagined to be impossible, have been 

 accomplished; and this ought to be kept in mind 

 as a spur to continued exertion : for we are not ac- 

 quainted with the strength of our own minds till 

 we exercise them, nor to what length our abilities 

 will carry us, till we put them to the trial. 



" What is discovered only serves to shew, 

 That nothing's known to what is yet to know. 



The man who enriches the present fund of know- 

 ledge with some new and useful improvement, does 

 an honour to himself, and ought invariably to be 

 rewarded by the public: for, like a happy adven- 

 turer by sea, he discovers as it were an unknown 

 land, and imports an additional treasure to his own 

 country. 



