FABLES. 



28l 



THE KITE AND THE PIGEONS. 



A Kite who had kept sailing in the air for many 

 days near a dove-house, and made a stoop at 

 several Pigeons to no purpose, for. they were too 

 nimble for him, at last had recourse to stratagem, 

 and made a declaration to them, in which he set 

 forth his own just and good intentions, and that he 

 had nothing more at heart than the defence and 

 protection of the Pigeons in their ancient rights 

 and liberties, and how concerned he was at their 

 unjust and unreasonable suspicions of himself, as if 

 he intended by force of arms to break in upon their 

 constitution, and erect a tyrannical government 

 over them. To prevent all which, and thoroughly 

 to quiet their minds, he thought proper to propose 

 such terms of alliance, as might for ever cement a 

 good understanding between them ; one of which 



VOL. iv. 20 



