I shall produce another Heathen Fable relating to Prayers, which is of a more diverting kind.  One would think by some Passages in it, that it was composed by Lucian, or at least by some Author who has endeavourd to imitate his Way of Writing; but as Dissertations of this Nature are more curious than useful, I shall give my Reader the Fable, without any further Enquiries after the Author.

Menippus [2] the Philosopher was a second time taken up into Heaven by Jupiter, when for his Entertainment he lifted up a Trap-Door that was placed by his Foot-stool.  At its rising, there issued through it such a Din of Cries as astonished the Philosopher.  Upon his asking what they meant, Jupiter told him they were the Prayers that were sent up to him from the Earth.  Menippus, amidst the Confusion of Voices, which was so great, that nothing less than the Ear of Jove could distinguish them, heard the Words, Riches, Honour, and Long Life repeated in several different Tones and Languages.  When the first Hubbub of Sounds was over, the Trap-Door being left open, the Voices came up more separate and distinct.  The first Prayer was a very odd one, it came from Athens, and desired Jupiter to increase the Wisdom and the Beard of his humble Supplicant.  Menippus knew it by the Voice to be the Prayer of his Friend Licander the Philosopher.  This was succeeded by the Petition of one who had just laden a Ship, and promised Jupiter, if he took care of it, and returned it home again full of Riches, he would make him an Offering of a Silver Cup.  Jupiter thanked him for nothing; and bending down his Ear more attentively than ordinary, heard a Voice complaining to him of the Cruelty of an Ephesian Widow, and begging him to breed Compassion in her Heart:  This, says Jupiter, is a very honest Fellow.  I have received a great deal of Incense from him; I will not be so cruel to him as to hear his Prayers.  He was [then] interrupted with a whole Volly of Vows, which were made for the Health of a tyrannical Prince by his Subjects who pray’d for him in his Presence.  Menippus was surprized, after having listned to Prayers offered up with so much Ardour and Devotion, to hear low Whispers from the same Assembly, expostulating with Jove for suffering such a Tyrant to live, and asking him how his Thunder could lie idle?  Jupiter was so offended at these prevaricating Rascals, that he took down the first Vows, and puffed away the last.  The Philosopher seeing a great Cloud mounting upwards, and making its way directly to the Trap-Door, enquired of Jupiter what it meant.  This, says Jupiter, is the Smoke of a whole Hecatomb that is offered me by the General of an Army, who is very importunate with me to let him cut off an hundred thousand Men that are drawn up in Array against him:  What does the impudent Wretch think I see in him, to believe that I will make a Sacrifice of so many Mortals as good as himself, and all this to his Glory, forsooth?  But hark, says Jupiter, there is a Voice I never heard but in