The camel, discontented at not having horns, lost its ears likewise. The adage teaches that we should be thankful for those faculties and powers with which it has pleased Providence to endow us, and not to ask for properties inconsistent with our state, and which would be rather injurious to us than beneficial, as horns would be to the camel, whose strength does not lie in his neck. The fable seems to have taken its rise from the camel's having shorter ears than most animals of its size, and to its not being or reputed not to be quick of hearing. Hence the ancients feigned, that Jupiter, offended at their asking for horns, had deprived them of their ears also.

See the camel is dancing, may be said, when we see a very austere person laughing, or any one doing what is contrary to his usual habit or disposition.

Barking dogs rarely bite, and Brag is a good dog, but hold-fast is a better. Cowards are fond of noise and blustering, under which they hope to hide their baseness; but men of couragre, having nothing that they wish to conceal, are sedate and quiet, as the deepest waters flow with the least noise. Churchill has well depicted cowardice in the following lines.

–––«Caution before
With heedful steps the lanthorn bore,
Pointing at graves, while in the rear,
Trembling and talking loud went Fear».

To be always singing the same tune, or telling the same stories, which, though at the first they might be interesting and pleasant, at length become, by repetition, tiresome and disgusting. Dieu nous garde d'un homme qui n'a qu'une affaire; God keep us, the French say, from a man who is only acquainted with one subject, on which he is capable of conversing; he will introduce it on all occasions, though it have no affinity to the subject which the company are discussing. He will lug it in by the neck and shoulders.

It is the perfection of art or of management that every one should conform himself to his circumstances and situation in life, that the rich and great should not descend to the manners of the poor, nor the poor emulate those of the rich; that the aged should not mix in the sports and amusements of the young, nor the young imitate the gravity of those advanced in years.

See the young whelps looking big, and attempting to imitate their elders, was used to be said of servants affecting the state and grandeur of their masters. This is more particularly seen in the conduct of the clerks in public offices, who often expect to be addressed with more ceremony, and to have more attention paid to them than is required by their superiors. «The insolence of office» is recorded by Shakespeare, as constituting no small part of the miseries of this life.