was. As for what he mentions, it is not in the power of the greatest tyrant that lives to deprive us of it. If the Wolf was only sensible how sweet the freedom of mind was, and had no concern for the liberty of his person, he might have ventured to have gone with the Dog well enough: but then he would have saved Lestrange the spoiling of one of the best fables in the whole collection. However, this may serve as a pattern to that gentleman's candour and ingenuity in the manner of drawing his reflection. Esop breathed liberty in a political sense, whenever he thought fit to hint any thing about that unhappy state. And Phædrus, whose hard lot it once was to have been a domestic slave, had yet so great a veneration for the liberty I am speaking of, that he made no scruple to write in favour of it, even under the usurpation of a tyrant, and at a time when the once glorious free people of Rome had nothing but the form and shadow of their ancient constitution left. This he did particularly in the Fable of The Frogs desiring a king: as I have observed in the application* to it. After which, I leave it to the decision of any indifferent person, whether Lestrange, in the tenor of his reflections, has proceeded without straining most things, in point of politics, beyond the strictest equity of a fair and an honest meaning. Whether I have the faults I mention finding with him, in this or any other respect, I must leave to * Fab. III. the judgment of the reader: professing (according to the principle upon which the following applications are built) that I am a lover of liberty and truth; an enemy to tyranny, either in church or state; and one who detests party animosities and factious divisions, as much as I wish the peace and prosperity of my country. ་ 71 Angler and the little Fish 142 121 Ant and the Grasshopper 220 191 Deer and the Lion 186 Ape and her two Young 224 99 One eyed Doe 188 81 170 Esop and the Imperti 109 Two Crabs 201 306 53 Crow and the Pitcher 111 27 Ant and the Fly 67 132 Death and Cupid 240 342 123 Ape and the Fox 185 32 55 98 236 237 322 242 44 155 243 122 Ass, the Lion, and the 124 Ass and the little Dog 126 Bear and the Bee-hives 37 Belly and the Members 180 Dog invited to Supper 127 134 Eagle and the Crow 46 83 Fir-Tree and the Bramble 160 217 100 River Fish and the Sea : 93 Fox and the Ape 258 31 Lark and her young ones 88 300 59 Leopard and the Fox 301 348 52 Lion and the four Bulls 4182 Lion and the Frog 192 Gardener and his Dog 159 Hare and the Tortoise 64 Hawk and the Nightin- 134 Horse and the Stag Fox 33 110 138 158 210 256 196 Master and his Scholar 350 79 279 145 Old Lion 264 31 189 4 Vain Jackdaw 118 Jupiter and the Ass 99 147 Old Woman and her 215 98 Owl and the Grasshopper 183 151 Parrot and his Cage 71 59 49 Peacock and the Crane 105 196 41 Wind and the Sun 2 Wolf and the Lamb 7 Wolf and the Crane 191 117 Wolf, the Fox, and the 192 160 Wolf in Sheep's Clothing 289 120 Wolves and the sick Ass 219 140 Two Young Men and the 107 Thief and the Dog 198 162 212 183 |