220 FABLES. 



what will become of me then r O dear, says Rey- 

 nard, is it possible you do not know of the peace 

 that has been so lately proclaimed between all 

 kinds of birds and beasts ; and that we are for the 

 future to forbear hostilities, and to live in harmony, 

 under the severest penalties. All this while the 

 Cock seemed to give little attention to what was 

 said, but stretched out his neck as if he saw some- 

 thing at a distance. Cousin, says the Fox, what is 

 that you look at so earnestly? Why, says the 

 Cock, I think I see a pack of hounds yonder, a 

 good way off. O then, says the Fox, your humble 

 servant, I must be gone. Nay, pray cousin do not 

 go, says the Cock, I am just coming down; sure 

 you are not afraid of the dogs in these peaceable 

 times. No, no, says he; but ten to one whether 

 they have yet heard of the proclamation! 



APPLICATION. 



THE moral of this Fable principally instructs us 

 not to be too credulous in believing the insinuations 

 of those who are already distinguished by their 

 want of faith and honesty, for perfidious people 

 ought ever to be suspected in the reports that 

 favour their own interest. When, therefore, any 

 such would draw us into a compliance with their 

 destructive measures, by a pretended civility, or 

 plausible relation, we should consider such pro- 

 posals as a bait, artfully placed to conceal some 

 fatal hook, which is intended to draw us into dan- 

 ger; and if by any simple counterplot we can 

 unmask the design and defeat the schemes of the 

 wicked, it will not only be innocent, but praise- 

 worthy. 



