254 FABLES. 



tiously what grounds they proceed upon, and 

 whether their pretensions are not intended to 

 render us their tools, or the dupes of their artifices. 

 It likewise teaches us not to rely implicitly upon 

 those constant declarations for liberty and the pub- 

 lic good, which artful politicians use as stepping- 

 stones to power ; but who having raised the 

 people's expectations to the highest pitch, and 

 obtained their desire by the public enthusiasm, 

 then turn their whole art and cunning to em- 

 bezzling the public treasure for their own private 

 wicked ends, or to ruin and enslave their country; 

 or at best but imitate the bad conduct of those whom 

 they turned out by their clamour, while the san- 

 guine hopes of all those that wished well to virtue, 

 and flattered themselves with a reformation of 

 every thing that opposed the well-being of the 

 community, vanish away in smoke, and are lost 

 in a gloomy uncomfortable prospect. The Fable 

 likewise intimates, that the uncertain issue of all 

 human undertakings should induce us not to make 

 pompous boasts of ourselves, but to guard against 

 promising any thing exceedingly great, for fear of 

 coming off with a production ridiculously little. If 

 we set out modestly, and perform more than we 

 engaged to do, we shall find our fame grow upon 

 us, and every unexpected addition we make to our 

 plan will raise us more and more in the good 

 opinion of the world; but if, on the contrary, we 

 make ample professions of the greatness of our 

 designs, and the excellence of our own abilities, 

 it will too often happen, that instead of swelling 

 our reputation, we shall only blow the trumpet to 

 our shame. 



