FABLE OF A BEAUTIFUL BIRD. 4 THEME was once in the world a bird without feathers. _ As foon as "the other birds heard this, they came to fee him; and, as they found that he was beautiful and agreeable, they confulted amongfl themfelves what was to be done in this cafe ; fince, being ftill without feathers, he could not fly, and without flying he could not live. They refoived alfo, as he was fo furprifingly beautiful, to fupport him with food and clothing : all the birds gave him of their feathers, and the good-natured ones larger quantities. As this bird was now quite fledged, he began to fly, which afforded all birds who had given him of their feathers great pleafure. But as the bird, now faw that he was quite fledged, and all birds honoured him, he took it into his head to be proud on the occafion, and efteemed thofe no more from whom, however, it proceeded: he even pecked at them, beat them, and totally oppofed them. Thereupon, the birds who had feathered him, and raifed him up, aflerabled together, and inquired one of another what was beft to be done ; for that fince they had given him fo much of theirs, and made him fo great and haughty, he valued them no longer. The peacock anfwered, « He is too much adorned with my feathers : I will take them from him again.* 4 By God,' faid the falcon, ' I will do the fame with mine/ And fo faid all the birds, one after the other, that they would take from him the feathers which they had given him,—confequcntly would pluck from him his covering of feathers. When he found this, he humbled himfelf mightily, and, confulting his reafon, found that the honour he enjoyed, and his beautiful plumage', did not originate from himfelf ; for he had come into the world naked and without feathers, fo alfo might they who had given him them take them away, if they chofe it. He cried to them for jnercy, and promifed to amend himfelf, and to treat them more refpeétfully in future. When the better-natured birds, who had feathered Um9 2.