An _Impostor_ to the _Oracle_.
There was a certain _Bantering Droll_ that took a Journey to _Delphos_,
a purpose to try if he could put a Trick upon _Apollo_. He carry’d a
Sparrow in his Hand under his Coat, and told the God, _I have somewhat
in my Hand_, says he, _Is it dead or Living?_ If the _Oracle_ should say
’twas Dead, he could shew it Alive; If Living, ’twas but squeezing it,
and then ’twas Dead. Now He that saw the Malice of his Heart gave him
this Answer: It shall e’en be which of the Two you please; for ’tis in
Your Choice to have it either the One or the Other.
The MORAL.
_Presumption leads People to Infidelity in a Trice, and so by Insensible
Degrees to Atheism: for when Men have once cast off a Reverence for
Religion, they are come within One Step of Laughing at it._