Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-22
MIDDLESEX
COMM U.NICIIED.
xESOP'S FABLES

GOWN U.NICdTED.
ESOP'S FABLES
have always been much taken ~ itb tbrse nre
cious relics of a sogacons heather. Ii il matte,
OF regret, that the on'pourings OF modern genius
should IN their abundance have washed from our
memories 90 much OF that wisdom " hich time has
consecraed, and experience has contirmeJ.-
Among others my old fiiend 4E:sop is forgotten by
most and despised by ali. His Apologies which
Telsed HIM TO high emneHce among the wise men
OF Greece, instead Of being in the hands of States
men and Philosophers, longer deemed wor-
my even TO be humbed by children & schoolboys &.
my old friend Gay tSo,s thrust back upon the shelf
cutie out OF view 10 make room for as Broad
6rins' aad" Tales of W onder;" so that unI.,.
some strong, effort be made 10 keep alive the me-
mory OF their wit, they ~ find their iuInlortai
~ but OF circun'Scri5ed duration
10 DO justice to The dead and TO edify the Iiv.
ing, have, therefore, veniured upon this atte,po,
TO ofing these forgotten Wis and Ssge- once NOR.
INTO notice / would recommend them TO the d.
ilgent study, even OF those who think themselves
most wise. FOR, their works fuTm sort of mo
raj mirror IN which IT any man Will earnestly look
he VIII soon see what manner OF beast he mos,
resembles and what may be equally interesting.
he may De able to discern, perhaps what kind of
beasts ms neighbours are Thus The tribe al
eycolhaDts and parasites that hover around eve
ry court, may see their portraits ia the SPANIEL
and Cameiion;" the frivolous ups,art NAV find
himself portrayed in the Butterfly and the
ohaD; * the trimmer my read his history ia the
appropriate fable of the Birds and the bat,
This honest bat 1--WE are tcld) at the beginning of
the hgh' between The birds and the beasts, 8 kent
huuerIng at little distance, that he nigh: the
be'ier observe and take his accordinyly:"
q give you the words of Ksop) - but after some
une spent In action, the army OF the beasts begin
ming 10 prevail, he went over to them and endea-
voured to convince them by bis affinity 10 The
mouse that he was more by nature of beast than
bird; AID tina; he would be faithful and true n
their Cause" Ia the end the victory declared for
the birds, " through the admirable conduct and cou
rage OF their generai, the Eagle" and to save
himself from falling into the lands of friend. he
had abandoned, he betook bims-lf to fight, and
ever since has skulked about deserted buildings,
ashamed to show himself. Our modern lrimmers,
indeed litter herein from their great progenit.rs
the bats; tor they never be Justly charged
with Hooking TO deserted houses, from which on
The contrary they always flee as from a pesu
fence Ihey are TO be seen forever hutering
about the palaces OF The great or clingng to their
Lofty walls, and nesting under their rich and ample
cofnices. tor this reason hey have always been
regarded as birds OF iii omen In a republic; and
where their flight is very numerous, the auours
generally iorebode he ruin o. the common estb
n is tito the small fry alone, that / would
confine the study of my friends, Gay & HJsop. -
Theirs ere not fables for groom children only
but Tor title great men also. Thus from .the
ant In Office, member Of Parliament might take
lessons on secret seTUice money; and first lord
OF me treasury nlsht d-coyer," Why the nation :
hoard is low" In the " Jacksll and the Leon
ard" prime minister might read an boniIy m
corruption and ministerial pdh Onage, and The
rash sdventurer who SEXES he helm OF State may
IN " the bear and the boat" d,eceTn his certain
destiny; while the sturdy patriot sees his fortunes
portrayed in " the Hare and many friends or
draws consolation from the moral o" the Deeen-
crate Bees
To some of my particular friends would ear.
nesily recommend the stag who fell in love
with his hnTos, add " the honest sss.' who as
pred 10 the tricks Of his masters lapdog There j.
peculi ar PfoDeness 10 aim at what does not iump
With our capacities. Thus, good fellow OF late
WHO has some right 10 pride himself on plain
sense and retenive memory, has discovered that
wit and fepartee and caustie satire are bis forte
lie does not perceive that his jokes sit as hi upon
him as the tricks of monkey on an African Lii
On. or the Appsney ola Frenchman on the Cas,is
Ian gravity OF Spanish Don, or the frisking an
TICS OF my lady 8 lapdog the AsiDine dignity Of
The hero OF the fable. Accordingly we find him
aspiring TO display OF bis wit. Tired of PLAYING
the part OF scene shi6ter, he assumes 10 be =
manager oil the political theatre, casting the cha
rscieis OF the drama with as much skill as thelAthe
man bird displayed in one OF tie last Of the fables
oil my Old friend Gay The combination or plot,
which he PROCESSES 10 have detectsd-the yery
coinage OF his own sprightly Imagination, -sue-
gssts at once bin the idea Of the impetuous Percy
and Of all men on earth Mr.. r.. - il according.
= assigned to the part Of Harry Hotspur. Mr..
Van Buren, we should have presumed would in his
opinion at least have bad unqussions,l tile 70 the
part OF the gres, magician damned Glendower, -
bu; happening 10 be from New YoRK, he is by =
very happy turn Of right fsceiious honour. con-
verted into my LORD OF York - In this con-
sists the wit and ,everi,y Of the piece, and unlor
lunaiely be IS so much pleased WITH IL, asfo bav,
disappointed Us Of the residue Of the plan blu
/ u we're much 10 be wished that be had condeseend
ed TO Inform U.s. who in this fsvorite Drama Is 4,
rersonate The eaye-tooyn King, or the eallsn, ss
absolute Prince Harry; or who shsl enact Glen
DOVER the gFest magician, sincs the Senator ircp