282 FABLES. 



was, that they should accept of him for their king, 

 and invest him with all kingly privilege and pre- 

 rogative over them ; in return for which he pro- 

 mised them protection from all their enemies. The 

 poor simple Pigeons consented: the Kite took the 

 coronation oath, after a very solemn manner, on 

 his part, and the Doves the oaths of allegiance and 

 fidelity on theirs. But much time had not passed 

 over their heads before the good Kite pretended 

 that it was part of his prerogative to devour a 

 Pigeon whenever he pleased; and this he was not 

 contented to do himself only, but instructed the 

 rest of the royal family in the same kingly arts. 

 The Pigeons, reduced to this miserable condition, 

 said one to the other, Ah! we deserve no better! 

 Why did we let him come in ? 



APPLICATION. 



WHAT can this Fable be applied to, but the 

 exceeding blindness and stupidity of that part of 

 mankind, who wantonly and foolishly trust their 

 native rights of liberty without good security ! 

 Who often chuse for guardians of their lives and 

 fortunes, persons abandoned to the most unsociable 

 of vices; and seldom have any better excuse for 

 such an error in politics, than that they were 

 deceived in their expectation, or never thoroughly 

 knew the manners of their king, till he had got 

 them entirely in his power. We ought not to incur 

 the possibility of being deceived in so important a 

 matter as this; an unlimited power should not be 

 trusted in the hands of any one who is not endowed 

 with a perfection more than human. 



