The _Shipwrack_ of _Simonides_.
_Simonides_ was a Learned Man, and an Excellent Poet, especially in the
way of _Panegyrick_, or _Encomium_, to the Honour of the Great Men of
his Age; insomuch that he made his Fortune by’t. After some time spent
abroad, and a great deal of Mony got by his _Encomia_ upon the _Hero’s_
of those Times, he put Himself and his Treasure Aboard for his own
Countrey again, in an Old Rotten Vessel. They fell into Foul Weather, and
the Ship Miscary’d. In the Hurry of the Shipwrack, while the Passengers
were at their Wits end how to Save that which they took to be of the
most Value, _Simonides_ was the only Man that appeared Unconcern’d,
notwithstanding that his whole Fortune was at Stake in the _Cargo_. One
Ask’d him why he did not look after his Goods. Why, so I do, says he, for
all the Goods that I pretend to, I have now about me. In this Extremity,
some made a shift to Swim A-shore; the greater Part sunk under the weight
of what they thought to Preserve; and in the mean time came in a Crew of
Free-Booters, that Rifled and Stript those that Scap’d. The Men that were
Paddling for their Lives, made a Port, where by great Providence there
liv’d a Famous Philosopher that was a Passionate Admirer, and a Diligent
Reader of _Simonides_, and his Writings. This Philosopher, upon the First
Encounter, found out _Simonides_ by his very Discourse; took him into
his House Cloath’d him, Furnish’d him with Mony, Provided him Servants,
and put him into a Condition in fine, to Live in Honour and Plenty. As
_Simonides_ was walking the Streets a while after, he saw several of
his Shipwrack’d Companions begging their Bread from Door to Door, with
a Certificate of their Misfortune. Well, says _Simonides_, and d’ye not
find it True now as I told ye, that a Man of Letters and of Integrity,
carries all his Goods about him?
The MORAL.
_The Moral is no more then this, that Virtue shall never Fail of a Reward
in the Conclusion._