A _River_ and a _Fountain_.
There Happen’d a Dispute betwixt a _River_ and a _Fountain_, which of
the two should have the Preference. The _River_ Valu’d it self upon
the Plenty and Variety of Fish that it Produc’d; The Advantages of
Navigation; The many Brave Towns and Palaces that were Built upon the
Banks of it; purely for the Pleasure of the Situation. And then for
the General Satisfaction, in fine, that it Yielded to Mankind, in the
Matter both of Convenience and Delight: Whereas (says the _River_) the
_Fountain_ passes Obscurely through the Caverns of the Earth; lies Bury’d
up in Moss, and comes Creeping into the World, as if it were asham’d
to shew the Head. The _Fountain_ took the Insolence and the Vanity of
This Reproche so Heinously, that it presently Choak’d up the _Spring_,
and Stopt the Course of its Waters: Insomuch that the Channel was
immediately dry’d up, and the Fish left Dead and Stinking in the Mud; as
a Just Judgment upon the _Stream_ for Derogating from the _Original_ and
_Author_ of All the Blessings it Enjoy’d.
The MORAL.
_He that Arrogates any Good to Himself, detracts from the Author of all
the Good he Enjoys._