156 FABLES. 



APPLICATION. 



Who serves a villain, might as wisely free 

 The hardened murderer from the fatal tree. 



THERE are people in the Avorld to whom it may 

 be wrong to do services, upon a double score : first, 

 because they never deserve to have a good office 

 done them; and secondly, because when once en- 

 gaged, it is so hard a matter to get well rid of their 

 acquaintance. We ought to consider what kind of 

 people they are, to whom we are desired to do good 

 offices, before we do them ; for he that grants a 

 favour, or even confides in a person of no honour, 

 instead of finding his account in it, comes off well, 

 if he be no sufferer in the end. 



