134 FABLES. 



APPLICATION. 



WHEN an entire stranger, or any one of whom 

 we have no reason to entertain a good opinion, 

 obtrudes upon us an offer of his services, we ought 

 to look to our own safety, and shew a shyness and 

 coldness towards him. But there are also many 

 men with whom it is dangerous to have the least 

 connection, and with whom any commerce or 

 correspondence will certainly be to our detriment. 

 From these we should, therefore, resolve not to 

 accept even favours, but carefully avoid being 

 under any obligation to them : for in the end, their 

 apparent kindness will shew itself to be a real 

 injury ; and there is no method of guarding so 

 effectually against such people, as that of entirely 

 avoiding their society, or shutting our doors against 

 them, as we would do against a thief. 



