A _Countryman_ was Feeding his _Flock_ by the Sea-side, and it was so
Delicate a Fine Day, that the Smoothness of the Water Tempted him to
leave his _Shepherd’s_ Business, and set up for a _Merchant_. So that
in All Hast, he puts off his Stock; Buys a Bargain of Figs; gets his
Freight abord, and away presently to Sea. It happened to be very Foul
Weather: so that the Mariners were fain to Cast their Whole Lading
Over-board, to save Themselves and the Vessel. Upon this Miscarriage, our
New _Merchant-Adventurer_ betook himself to his Old Trade again; and it
happen’d One Day, as he was Tending his _Sheep_ upon the very same Coast,
to be Just such a Flattering Tempting Sea again, as That which Betray’d
him Before. _Yes, yes_, says he, _When the Devil’s Blind! You’d ha’ some
more Figs with a Vengeance, Would ye?_
The MORAL.
_Men may be happy in all Estates if they will but suit their Minds to
their Condition. A Shepherd may be as Easy in a Cottage, as a Prince in a
Palace, with a Mind Suited to his Station; but if they will be Launching
out into Trade, or Bus’ness that they do not understand, they have
nothing left them to trust to when they are once Bewilder’d, but the Hope
of some Kind Providence to put them in the Right Way Home again._