This Fable shews us the impropriety and inconvenience of running
into extremes, and teaches us, that under all the various and sudden
vicissitudes of human life, we ought to bear success with moderation,
and misfortune with fortitude and equinamity; to repress immoderate
exultation, and unmanly despair. Much of our happiness depends upon
keeping an even balance in our words and actions, and in not suffering
circumstances to mount us too high in time of prosperity, nor to sink
us too low with the weight of adverse fortune. A wise man will not
place too high a value on blessings which he knows to be no more than
temporary; nor will he repine at evils, whose duration may perhaps be
but short, and cannot be eternal. He will submit himself with humility
and resignation to the decrees of providence, and the will of heaven.
In prosperity, the fear of evil will check the insolence of triumph;
and in adversity, the hope of good will sustain his spirit, and teach
him to endure his misfortunes with constancy and fortitude.
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