122 FABLES. 



wretch that I am, says she, this was the only way 

 that I could think of to reform the beastly sot ; but 

 instead of gaining my point, I am only convinced 

 that his drunkenness is an incurable habit, which 

 he intends to carry with him into the other world. 



APPLICATION. 



THIS Fable is intended to shew us the prevalence 

 of custom ; and how by using ourselves to any evil 

 practice, we may let it grow into such a habit as 

 we shall never be able to divest ourselves of. " () ! 

 that men should put an enemy into their mouths to 

 steal away their brains!" There is no vice which 

 gains an ascendant over us more insensibly or 

 more incurably, than drunkenness: it takes root by 

 degrees, and comes at length to be past both 

 remedy and shame. Habitual drunkenness stupi- 

 fies the senses, destroys the understanding, fills its 

 votaries with diseases, and makes them incapable 

 of business. It cuts short the thread of life, or 

 brings on an early old age, besides the mischief it 

 does in the mean time to a man's family and affairs, 

 and the scandal it brings upon himself: for a sot is 

 one of the most despicable and disgusting charac- 

 ters in life. After he has destroyed his reasoning 

 faculties, and thus shewn his ingratitude to the 

 giver of them, he flies to palliatives as a remedy for 

 the- diseases which his intemperance has caused, 

 and goes on in a course of taking Avhets and cor- 

 dials, and more drink, till he falls a martyr to the 

 vice, to which through life he has been a slave. 



