A _Spider_ and the _Gout_.
A _Spider_ that had been at Work a Spinning, went Abroad once for a
little Country Air to Refresh her self, and fell into Company with the
_Gout_, that (by the way) had much ado to keep Pace with her. When they
came at Night to take up their Lodging, very inquisitive they were into
the Character and Condition of their Host: But the _Spider_ without any
more Ceremony, went into the House of a Rich Burgher, and fell presently
to her Net-work of Drawing Cobwebs up and down from one side of the Room
to the other; but there were so many Brooms, and Devillish House-wenches
still at hand, that whatever she set up this Moment, was swept away the
next: So that this miserable _Insect_ was the only Creature within those
Walls that felt either Want or Trouble. But the _Gout_ all this while,
was fain to Kennel in the very _Rendezvous_ of common Beggars, where she
was as uneasie, as Hard Lodging, Course Bread, and Puddle-Water could
make her. After a tedious and a restless Night on’t, they met again next
Morning by Sun Rise, and gave one another the History of their Adventure.
The _Spider_ tells first how Barbarously she had been us’d; how cursedly
Nice and Cleanly the Master of the House was; how impertinently Diligent
his Servants were, _&c._ And then the _Gout_ Requited the _Spider_ with
the Story of her Mortifications too. They were in short so unsatisfied
with their Treatment, that they resolved to take quite contrary Measures
the next Night; The _Spider_ to get into a Cottage, and the _Gout_ to
look out for a Palace. They did what they Propos’d, and never were
Creatures better pleas’d with their Entertainment. The _Gout_ had her
Rich Furniture, Down-Beds, _Beccasica_’s, Pheasants, Partridges, Generous
Wines; the best in fine, of every thing that was to be had for Mony, and
all with _Pure Heart and Good will_ as we say. The _Spider_ was as much
at Ease on the other hand; for she was got into a House where she might
draw her Lines, Work, Spin, Mend what was Amiss, Perfect what she had
Begun, and no Brooms, Snares or Plots to Interrupt or disturb her. The
Two Travellers after this met once again, and upon conferring Notes, they
were both so well satisfied, that the _Gout_ took up a Resolution for
ever after to keep Company with the Rich, the Noble, and the Voluptuous;
and the _Spider_ with the Poor and Needy. What Wise Man I say, upon these
Terms; would not rather take up his Lodging with the _Spider_ in the
Fable here, then with the _Gout_?
The MORAL.
_An Industrious Poverty in a Cell, with Quiet Thoughts, and Sound Sleeps,
is infinitely to be Prefer’d before a Lazy Life of Pomp and Pleasure: For
Courts are but Nurseries of Diseases and Cares._