JliSOTS FABLES. (d) M DtubtiA in Etirus w-s the molt ancient and famous Oracle of fi-fitrr. The Story of it is thus related by' Helens, the antiemelr of the Grttk Hifioriant, whofeems to have b;tn irq;:ifitivc after the original of it. (he Pneflsof 7*^><-r, ztThtbe, a City in Efjft, told me that the Phe-mei.-.ns hnfilonaway formerly two Oftl.ai [Vieflefles, & fold one of them into Litjn,the other into Crtt. f,which Women firft conftituted.anhey under. Rood,Oracles in ihofe places. But the PrielUflVs ac Didona fay , that tliere flew two bbek Pigeons from Th. bes of Eipt ; the one into Libya, the other to il.rm, uhuh lighting on an Oak, faid with a humane voice, that there ought to be an Oracle of Jupiter there. '! :>ey, (iippo!;ng itto be a Divine com-nur.d, u>'d one to be built there. The reft of the Doimtans agreed with them in their i elation. My opinion of them, flits t-hrcdotHi , is this; If it be true tb f/fcPhenicuns ctrritd aV/ay theft w/o Libya, the ctbtr into Hellas itfecms t? me th.it tbisvomM-nxuftld to the Ihcfp:-o:ians in tfoCountnj how lal-W Hellas, ^ffcrt Pelafgia, wbire during kr SUvtrj fhe cenftcrated the fUi. i mtr x neighbourinr O.ik., it being rnbMt llut fluluv.ng ho,operated to Jup:ter, Egypt "wcMnuhthe minor] of him ben Not* thefe m-n>, vert etll'd bj the Dodoneans mmxJ'H Pigeons , facasfe nfin o unknown Language, thtjfeem'd totally like Buds, tuttlutlbii f'er White fpk_? mthah^m^e voice, baaufe Jbi by cojtverfation hid lurn'd the Greek. T',**:<e ; when th;] fa] the Piytu was ,tby t-gmfiethttthefromtnwts .- I gypiian. The Oracle nt Thebes i pyi'r, .>,./ th.:tm Dodona art very lk h J Here highly honour'd flood the facred Whom Swains invoke^ Which Oracles^ like that of W Dodony /poke. But in the neighbouring Commons dwelt a Swain That to his Hatchet long did want a Heft; Which only was the R oyal Cedars Gift: When to the under Cops (that did complain Their Soveraign A Tyrant was) he fu'd., they promis'd Aid : No Helve of Brier} or Thorn,ivas ever made. Some rotten-hearted Elms, and Wooden Peers, R un wiffi the Stream, fpurr'd up by Hopes or Fears; Avarice, Pride, Make others fide; Hoping more wide, Some mighty Trees remov'd, they in their ftead Branches might /pread From Sea to Sea, and raife to Heaven their Head. Then to theCedar he his Sute prcfents, About whom round his whifpering Counfel grows; Hot they debate^ fome fide,and fbme oppofe,' Whenj but unwilling, the fore'd King consents, And loon repents : Arm'd by his Gift, Trees fall in Ranks and Files, Friends, Foes, in Stacks to Heaven the Ruftick piles; Then hollow Vines firft cut with Sails unfurl'd Lines, that, like Nets, are drawn about the World; Great Trees and /mall Together fall, He ruins all: But fir/I the Grove told Oracles expires, And all their Quires, Enough t* have made twelve Cafars Funeral Fires. At