68 FABLES. 



moment, and trotted away, laughing- at the easy 

 credulity of the Crow. 



APPLICATION. 



" It is a maxim in the schools, 

 That flattery is the food of fools." 



THEY that love flattery will have cause to repent 

 of their foible in the long run; and yet how few 

 there are among the whole race of mankind, who 

 are proof against its attacks. The gross way in 

 which it is managed by some silly practitioners, is 

 enough to alarm the dullest apprehension; but let 

 the ambuscade be disposed with judgment, and it 

 will scarcely fail of seizing the most guarded heart. 

 How many are tickled to the last degree with the 

 pleasure of flattery, even while they are applauded 

 for their honest detestation of it. There is no way 

 to baffle the force of this engine, but by every one's 

 examining impartially for himself, the true estimate 

 of his own qualities. If he deal sincerely in the 

 matter, nobody can tell so well as him. self what 

 degree of esteem ought to attend any of his actions ; 

 and therefore he should be entirely easy as to the 

 opinion others have of them. If they attribute 

 more to him than is his due, they are either design- 

 ing or mistaken; if they allow him less, they are 

 envious, or possibly still mistaken; and in either 

 case are to be despised or disregarded : for he that 

 flatters without designing to make advantage of it, 

 is a fool; and whoever encourages that flattery 

 which he has sense enough to see through, is a 

 vain coxcomb. 



