FAB. XLII. The Shipwrack'd Man and the Sea.

TIred, and half Dead with Swimming, came a poor Shipwrack'd Man to Shoar, where he had no sooner laid him down, but he fell asleep; and at his waking found the Tempest ceased, and the Water calm. This moving his Patience, he began to accuse the Sea of Treachery, that allu∣ring Men with its smooth Looks, tempts them to venture on it, and then swallows them up in its insatiate Waves. But the Sea taking the Shape of a Woman, thus answered him: Be not, Inconsiderate Man, so ready to accuse me, but rather blame the Winds; for I am naturally what thou seest me now, till they come rushing vio∣lently upon me, raise my Billows, and make me commit these Out-rages.

We should not Quarrel with such Persons for doing us Injuries, as but obey the Commands of others; but we should rather blame those who set them on work to wrong us. It also may serve as a Cau∣tion to those who without being compelled by Ne∣cessity, expose themselves to the continual Dangers of the Sea. The old Poet Antiphanes very well said,