’Tis Foolish to Appeal to Witnesses for the Proof of any thing, when ’tis
not a Pin Matter, whether the Fact in Question be True or False; and so
it is also to talk of Proofs that are not within Call: But Vain Boasters
are Naturally Impertinent; for they Talk at Random, without any Regard to
Truth and Judgment. There may be a Double Use made of this Fable: First,
as a Dissuasive to Those that spend their Time in Idle Insipid Company.
Secondly, As a Caution to Those that are Tainted with this Levity, not
to make Themselves Ridiculous any longer. Nature has Written Fool upon
the Tip of That Man’s Tongue that will be always telling Stories with
an [_I did This_,] and [_I did That_.] Travellers, they say, may lie by
Authority; and yet our Traveller’s Privilege here was not sufficient to
Protect him in his Vanity from making Sport to the Company.