Fable XXV. The Owl That Wanted a Wife

J\ Young owl, who had fecn himself ifl a fountain, -^ -*■ thought himself more beautiful, not to say, than the day, for that he thought very difagrceable, but than the nighty which for him had wondrous chamis; he said within himself, I have surely sacrificed to the Graces; Venus hath at my birth infolded me in her girdle; the tender Loves, accompanied by the Sports and Smiles, flutter around to caress me; it is time that fair Hymen give me children, graceful as myself; they will be the ornament of the groves, and darlings of the night, what pity that the race of the most perse<fl birds should fail! happy the brjde who shall pass her life in my company! big with these cogitations, he dispatches the crow to demand, in his name, a little eaglet, daughter to the eagle. King of air. the crow had some difficulty to undertake the cmbafly; I shall be but badly received, said she, to propose fo unsuitable a marriage: what? the eagle! who dares to flare the sun full in the face, make a match with you, who cannot fo much as open your eyes while it is day; that

O

^8 TBE OWL THAT WASTED A WIPI.

it ibe WSJ fbrtbe an aad vise Kfcr ta be togedier; the (MK wiD fo ahnoad saj d^, the other by oi^t. the Yui and tdf-amcdttd ovl would hear iiothiog. the crow, to please lum, west at last to demand the eaglet, the wile demand orrafinprd mirth at the aerial ODort. the ea^ gaTC her for answer; if his owUhip means to be my ibn-in-law, let him come after sonfiie, and lalote me in the middle of die air. the pre- (ampcnoos oid would needs fo and keep the j^poiotment; his eyes were imrnrdiatriy dazzled; he was ftmck blind by the son*s rays, and tnmbled hfadiong from the height of air upon a craggy rodi. all the birds fell upon him, and plodded olf his feathen. he was now too happy to dink into his hole, and to efyxak the choogb, a worthy lady of the place: their marriage was celebrated by night; and they thought each other extremely handsome and agreeable.

We (hould nerer aim at any thing aboTe our lpheie» nor flatter ourfelyes upon our adyantages*

SHEPHERD CLEOBULUS

NYMPH PHILIDA.