our Purpose; wherefore pray look again once. Mercury stood Gazing a while,
and then told Tiresias of a Crow he had discover'd upon a Tree, that was
one while looking up into the Air, and another while down towards the Ground:
That's enough (says Tiresias) for this Motion of the Crow, is as much as
to say, I do Appeal to Heaven, and to Earth, that the Man that is now with
Tiresias, can help him to his Oxen again if he pleases.
This Fable is of a General Application to all Bold and Crafty Thieves and
impostors. It serves also to set forth the Vanity of Wizards, Fortune-Tellers,
and the like.
Mercury and Tiresias
Mercury had a great Mind to try it Tiresias was so Famous a Diviner
as the World took him for, or not. So he went and stole Tiresias's
Oxen; and order'd the Matter to be in the Company of Tiresias,
as upon Business by the Bye, when the news should be brought him
of the Loss of his Oxen. Mercury went to Tiresias in the Shape
of a Man; and the Tidings came as Mercury had contriv'd it: Upon
this, he took Mercury up to a high Tower, hard by, and bad him
look well about him, and tell him what Birds he saw. Why, says
mercury, I see an Eagle upon Wing there, that takes her Course
from the Right-hand to the Left. That Eagle (says Tiresias) is
nothing to
