Wholesome Advice is worth nothing, unless it be (in Truth,) Given as
well as taken in Season. This Fable shews the Danger and the Mischief of
either Rejecting, not Heeding, or not Entertaining it; and likewise at
the same time, sets forth how hard a thing it is to fasten Profitable
Advice upon Men that Indulge themselves in Ease and Pleasure. They look
upon it as so much time lost to employ the Present upon the Thought of
the Future; and so by one Delay after another, they Spin out their whole
lives, till there’s no more Future left before ’em. This Dilatory Humour
proceeds partly from a Slothful Laziness of Temper; as I knew a Man that
would not be got out of his Bed when the House was a-Fire over his Head.
Action is Death to some sort of People, and they’d as live Hang as Work.
It arises in a great measure too from an Habitual Heedless Inadvertency,
when Men are so Intent upon the Present, that they mind nothing else;
and Councel is but cast away upon them. _Birds of Pleasure_, and _Men of
Pleasure_ are too Merry to be Wise; and the Case of this _Fable_ is but
the Common Case of the _World_. Wholesome Advice comes in at one Ear, and
goes out at t’other. Men, in short, of _Blood_ and Appetite, have no
Foresight; and oft _Postpone_ Prudence as a Virtue of another Season.