18. THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE OWL. An Owl sat sleeping in a tree when a Grasshopper, who was singing beneath, would not let her be quiet, abusing her with very indecent and uncivil language; telling her she was a scandalous person who plied a-nights to get her living and shut herself up all day in a hollow tree. The Owl desired her to hold her tongue and be quiet: Notwithstanding which she was still impertinent.
She begged of her a second time to leave off; but all to no purpose: The Owl, vext at the heart to find that all she said went for nothing, cast about to inveigle her by stratagem.
Well, said she, since one must needs be kept awake, 'tis a pleasure however to be so by so agreeable a voice; which I must confess is no ways inferior to the finest harp. And, now I think on't, I have a bottle of excellent nectar, which my Mistress Pallas gave me; if you have a mind, I'll give you a dram to whet your whistle.
The Grasshopper, ready to die with thirst, and, at the same time, pleas'd to be so complimented upon account of her voice, skip'd up to the place very briskly: when the Owl advancing to meet her, seiz'd and without much delay made her a sacrifice to her revenge: securing to her self by the death of her enemy, a possession of that quiet which, during her life-time, she could not enjoy
We have no Right to be impertinent with one another to extremity; and tho' there is no Law to punish such Incivilities, they will scarce fail of meeting with deserved and just chastisement, some way or other. [more info]
She begged of her a second time to leave off; but all to no purpose: The Owl, vext at the heart to find that all she said went for nothing, cast about to inveigle her by stratagem.
Well, said she, since one must needs be kept awake, 'tis a pleasure however to be so by so agreeable a voice; which I must confess is no ways inferior to the finest harp. And, now I think on't, I have a bottle of excellent nectar, which my Mistress Pallas gave me; if you have a mind, I'll give you a dram to whet your whistle.
The Grasshopper, ready to die with thirst, and, at the same time, pleas'd to be so complimented upon account of her voice, skip'd up to the place very briskly: when the Owl advancing to meet her, seiz'd and without much delay made her a sacrifice to her revenge: securing to her self by the death of her enemy, a possession of that quiet which, during her life-time, she could not enjoy
We have no Right to be impertinent with one another to extremity; and tho' there is no Law to punish such Incivilities, they will scarce fail of meeting with deserved and just chastisement, some way or other. [more info]
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