310 FABLES. 



was no sooner done, than the Horse gave him so 

 violent a blow on the nose, as quite stunned him, 

 and scampered off, neighing at the success of a 

 trick, which had defeated the purpose of one who 

 intended to have tricked him out of his life. 



APPLICATION. 



WE ought never to put trust in the fair words and 

 pretensions of those who have both an interest and 

 inclination to ruin us; and where we find foul play 

 thus intended against us, it is not in the nature of 

 things to expect that we should not, if we can, turn 

 the tables upon the plotters. Treachery has some- 

 thing so wicked and worthy of punishment in its 

 nature, that it deserves to meet with a return of its 

 own kind. An open revenge is too liberal for it, 

 and nothing matches it but itself. Though a man 

 of sense and honour will always view tricking and 

 fraud of all kinds as mean and beneath him, and 

 will despise setting such an example, yet it can- 

 not be inconsistent with virtue to counteract the 

 schemes of those who are taking all manner of 

 undue advantages, and hatching wicked plots to 

 undermine us. 



