It is the nature of ingrates to return evil for good: and the moralists,
in all ages, have incessantly declaimed against the enormity of this
crime, concluding, that they who are capable of hurting their
benefactors, are not fit to live in a community; being such, as the
natural ties of parent, friend, or country, are too weak to restrain
within the bounds of society. Indeed, the sin of ingratitude is so
detestable, that as none but the most inhuman temper can be guilty of
it, so, in writing to men, there is no occasion to use many words,
either in exposing the vice itself, or dissuading people from the
commission of it. Therefore it is not likely that a person of Æsop's
sagacity would have compiled this fable, without having something else
in view besides this trite and obvious subject. He certainly intended to
put us in mind that, as none but a poor silly clown would go to take up
a Snake and cherish it, so we shall be very negligent and ill-advised
if, in doing good offices, we do not take care to bestow our benevolence
upon proper objects. It was not at all unnatural in the Snake to hiss,
and brandish his tongue, and fly at the first that came near him; as
soon at the person that saved his life as any other; indeed, more
likely, because nobody else had so much to do with him. Nor is it
strange at any time to see a reprobate fool throwing his poisonous
language about, and committing his extravagancies against those, more
especially, who are so inadvertent as to concern themselves with him.
The Snake and the reprobate will not appear extraordinary in their
malevolence: but the sensible part of mankind cannot help thinking those
guilty of great indiscretion, who receive either of them into their
protection.