This I take to be part of the Moral of his Fable. If we look farther into him we shall see more of his Mind. His _Ranæ_ makes Merry with the Heathen Scheme of Heaven and Hell. Here _Charon_ and the _Stygian Frogs_ are brought in Comically enough. And that you may understand his opinion more perfectly we are told, that He that Bilks his _Catamite_ after a _Sodomitical_ Abuse, is thrown into the Common shore of _Hades_. And what Company do you think he is lodg'd with? Why with those who Perjure themselves, with those who Kick their Fathers and Mothers? It seems in the _Poets_ Justice a Man might as good be false to his Oath, as to his Lewdness.[75] To disappoint the _Stews_, is every jot as great a Crime; as to fly in the Face of Nature, and outrage our Parents. His Quartering his Malefactors thus critically, was without question on purpose to Banter the perswasion of future Punishment. In the same _Play_ _Xanthias_ bids _Æacus_ answer him by _Jove_, [Greek: Hos hêmin estin homomastigias]. This little Scoundrel of a Slave has the Manners to make _Jupiters_ Quality no better than his own. To go on with him: In his _Aves_ he speaks out to purpose. Here _Pisthetærus_ tells _Epops_ that if the _Birds_ would build a Castle in the Air, they might intercept the Fumes of the Sacrifices, and starve the Gods unless they would come too, and be Tributary. It seems the _Birds_ had very good Pretences to execute this project; for they were ancienter than _Jupiter_ and _Saturn_, and Govern'd before the Gods. And to speak truth were more capable of the Function. Their Adviser goes on to inform them,[76] that after they had built their pensile City, and fortifyed the Air, their next business was to demand their ancient Soveragnity: If _Jupiter_ refused to quit, they were to declare a Holy War against Him, and the rest of the Confederate Gods, and to cut off the Communication between Heaven and Earth. _Pisthæterus_[77] grows very warm in his new Interest, and swears by _Jove_ that Men ought to Sacrifice to the _Birds_, and not to _Jupiter_. And if things came to a Rupture, and _Jupiter_ grew Troublesome, he undertakes[78] to send a Detachement of Eagles against Him; with Orders to storm his Palace with Flambeaux, and fire it about his Ears. At last to prevent the Calamities of a War, _Hercules_ proposes an Accomodation,[79] and is willing _Jupiter_ should Resign. _Neptune_ calls him a Block-head for his pains, because he was Heir at _Law_, and after _Jupiters_ Decease was of Course to succeed in his Dominions: Once more, and I have done: In _Eirene_, _Trygæus_ speaks in a menacing way.[80] That unless _Jupiter_ gave him Satisfaction in his business, he would inform against Him as a disaffected Person, and a betrayer of the Liberties of _Greece_.[81] I might add many other Instances, and some more Scandalous than any I have mentioned; But these are sufficient to shew the Authors Sentiment: And is