2C)6 FABLES. 



upon his country friend to accompany him to town, 

 and about midnight they safely entered a certain 

 great house, where there had been an entertain- 

 ment the day before. Here it was the courtier's 

 turn to entertain, and placing his guest on a rich 

 Persian carpet, they both began to regale most 

 deliciously, when on a sudden the noise of some- 

 body opening the door, made them scuttle in 

 confusion about the dining-room. The rustic in 

 particular \vas ready to die with fear at the many 

 hair-breadth escapes which followed. At last, 

 recovering himself, Well, says he, if this be 

 your town-life, much good may it do you. Give 

 me my poor quiet hole again, with my homely, 

 but comfortable grey pease. 



APPLICATION. 



A moderate fortune, with a quiet retirement in 

 the country, is preferable to the greatest affluence, 

 attended with the care and the perplexity of busi- 

 ness, How often are we deceived by the specious 

 shows of splendour and magnificence; and what a 

 poor exchange does he make, who gives up ease 

 and content in an humble situation, to engage in 

 difficulties, and encounter perils in affluence and 

 luxury! The ploughman in the field, who labours 

 for his daily pittance, earns his bread with less 

 uneasiness and fatigue, than the man who haunts 

 levees to obtain wealth and preferment. Riches, 

 properly used, are indeed very conducive to ease 

 and happiness; but if we leave any comfortable 

 situation to procure them, or abuse the possession 

 of them by riot and intemperance, we resign the 

 end for the means, mistake the shadow for the 

 substance, and convert the instruments of good 

 fortune into the engines of anxiety and solicitude. 



