136 FABLES. 



them up whenever his craving appetite required a 

 supply. 



APPLICATION. 



THIS Fable is said to have been spoken by ^Esop 

 to the Athenians, who had flourished under their 

 commonwealth, and lived under good and whole- 

 some laws of their own enacting, until, in process 

 of time, they suffered their liberty to run into licen- 

 tiousness; and factious designing men fomented 

 divisions, and raised animosities among them. 

 When thus rendered weak, Pisistratus took the 

 advantage, and seized upon their citadel and liber- 

 ties both together. The Athenians finding them- 

 selves in a state of slavery, though their tyrant 

 happened to be a merciful one, could not bear the 

 thoughts of it; but ^Esop in reciting the Fable to 

 them, prescribes patience where there was no other 

 remedy, and adds, at last, "Wherefore, my dear 

 countrymen, be contented with your present con- 

 dition, bad as it is, for fear a change should make 

 it worse." 



