108 FABLES. 



sat securely among the branches, whence she 

 beheld Reynard, who had not been able to get out 

 of sight, overtaken with his thousand tricks, and 

 torn into as many pieces by the Dogs, which had 

 surrounded him. 



APPLICATION. 



ONE good discreet expedient made use of upon 

 an emergency, will do a man more real service, 

 and make others think better of him, than to have 

 passed all his life for a shrewd crafty fellow, full of 

 Ids stratagems and expedients, and valuing himself 

 upon his having a deeper knowledge of the world 

 than his neighbours. Plain good sense, and a 

 downright honest meaning, are a better guide 

 through life, and more trusty security against 

 danger, than the low shifts of cunning, and the 

 refinements of artifice. Cunning is of a deep 

 entangling nature, and is a sign of a small genius; 

 though when it happens to be successful, it often 

 makes an ostentatious pretension to wisdom; but 

 simplicity of manners is the ally of integrity, and 

 plain common sense is the main requisite of 

 wisdom. 



