A PHILOSOPHER witnessed from the shore the shipwreck1 of a vessel,

　　of which the crew and passengers were all drowned. He inveighed

　　against the injustice2 of Providence3, which would for the sake of

　　one criminal perchance sailing in the ship allow so many innocent

　　persons to perish. As he was indulging in these reflections, he

　　found himself surrounded by a whole army of Ants, near whose nest

　　he was standing4. One of them climbed up and stung him, and he

　　immediately trampled5 them all to death with his foot. Mercury

　　presented himself, and striking the Philosopher with his wand,

　　said, "And are you indeed to make yourself a judge of the

　　dealings of Providence, who hast thyself in a similar manner

　　treated these poor Ants?'