A _Swallow_ and other _Birds_.
There was a country Fellow at work a Sowing his Grounds, and a _Swallow_
(being a Bird famous for Providence and Foresight) call’d a company of
_Little Birds_ about her, and bad ’em take Good Notice what that Fellow
was a doing. You must know (says the _Swallow_) that all the Fowlers Nets
and Snares are made of _Hemp_, or _Flax_; and that’s the Seed that he
is now a Sowing. Pick it up in time for fear of what may come on’t. In
short, they put it off, till it took Root; and then again, till it was
sprung up into the Blade. Upon this, the _Swallow_ told ’em once for All,
that it was not yet too Late to prevent the Mischief, if they would but
bestir themselves, and set Heartily about it; but finding that no heed
was given to what she said; She e’en bad adieu to her old Companions in
the Woods, and so betook her self to a City Life, and to the Conversation
of Men. This _Flax_ and _Hemp_ came in time to be gather’d, and
Wrought, and it was this _Swallows_ Fortune to see Several of the very
same _Birds_ that she had forewarn’d, taken in Nets, made of the very
Stuff she told them of. They came at last to be Sensible of the folly
of slipping their Opportunity; but they were Lost beyond All Redemption
first.
The MORAL.
_Wise Men read Effects in their Causes, but Fools will not Believe them
till ’tis too late to prevent the Mischief. Delay in these Cases is
Mortal._