The fables of Pilpay, a famous Indian phylosopher containing many useful rules for the conduct of humane life / made English and address'd to His Highness the Duke of Gloucester.

The Fable of the Merchant and his Friend.

A Certain Merchant, said Kalila, pursuing her Discourse, had a great desire to make a long Journey. Now in regard he was not ve∣ry wealthy, 'tis requisite, said He to himself, that before my departure I should leave some part of my Estate in the City, to the end that if I meet with ill luck in my Travels, I may have wherewithal to keep me at my Return. To this purpose he deliver'd a great Number of Bars of Iron in trust to one of his Friends, desiring him to keep 'em during his Absence; and then taking his Leave, away he went. Some time after he return'd home; and the first thing he did was to go to his Friend, and demand his Iron. But his Friend who ow'd several Sums of Mony, having sold the Iron to pay his Debts, made him this answer, Truly Friend, said He, I put your Iron into a Room that was close lock'd, imagining it would have been there as secure as my own Gold; but there was a Rat in the Room that eat it up. The Mer∣chant, pretending Ignorance, 'tis very true, said He, Rats love Iron extreamly. This answer pleas'd his Friend; who was glad to hear the Merchant so well enclin'd to believe that the Rats had eaten his Iron; and to remove all his suspicions, he desir'd him to Dine with him the next Day. In the mean time the Merchant met in the Middle of the City one of his Friend's Children, which he carry'd home, and lock'd up in a Room. The next Day he went to his Friend, who seem'd to be in great

Affliction, which he ask'd him the cause of; tho' he were not ignorant of it. Oh my dear Friend, answer'd the other, I beg you to excuse me, if you do not see me so chearful as otherwise I would be: I have lost one of my Children; I have had him cry'd by sound of Trum∣pet, and I now not what is become of him. Oh, said the Merchant, Yesterday in the Evening, as I parted from hence, I saw an Owl in the Air with a Child in his Claws; but whether it were yours I cannot tell. Good∣man Thickscul, cry'd his Friend, are you not asham'd to tell such an egregious Lye? An Owl that weighs, at most, not above two or three Pound, can he carry a Boy that weighs a∣bove Fifty? Why, reply'd the Merchant, d'you make such a wonder at that? As if in a Coun∣try where one Rat can eat a hundred Pound weight of Iron, it were such a wonder for an Owl to carry a Child that weighs not above fifty Pound in all. The Friend then found that the Merchant was no such fool as he took him to be: He begg'd his Pardon for the Cheat which he design'd to have put upon him, restor'd him his Iron, and had his Son again.

This Fable proves, that if you could be so unjust as to deceive the Lion, to whom you were so much beholding, you will with much more Confidence put your Tricks upon those to whom you are less oblig'd. This is the rea∣son why your Company is dangerous.

While Damna and Kalila were thus Confa∣bulating together, the Lion, whose passion was over, made great lamentations for Chotorb••, saying, that he began to be sensible of his Loss, because of his extraordinary Endow∣ments.

I know not, added He, whether I did ill or well, nor whether what was report-of him were true or false. Thus musing for a while in a studious Melancholy, at length he repented his having punish'd a Subject, who might for ought he knew be innocent. Damna observing that the Lion was seiz'd with re∣morse of Conscience, left Kalila, and accost-the King with a most respectful Humility, Sir, said He, what makes your Majesty so Pensive? Consider, that here your Enemy lies at your Feet, and fix your Eyes upon such an Object with delight. When I think upon Chotorbe's virtues, said the Lion, I cannot but bemoan his Loss. He was my Support and my Com∣fort, and it was by his Prudent Counsel that my People liv'd in repose. It becomes not your Majesty, reply'd Damna, to bewail the Death of an unfaithful Subject. 'Tis true, he was profitable to the Public; but in regard he had a design upon your Person, you have done no more then what the wisest of Men advise, which is to cut off a Member that would prove the Destruction of the whole Body. These Admonitions gave the Lion a little com∣fort. However Chotorbe's Innocence crying continually for Vengeance, was the reason that Damna's Artifices were discover'd, and that he receiv'd the Punishment which he deserv'd. For in regard that all his Enterprises were Capital, his End was also Miserable. He that will reap Wheat, must never sow Barly. He that only does good Actions, and thinks just Thoughts, will be happy in this World, and can or fail of being the same in the other.