This Fable points out the danger of entering into any degree of
friendship, alliance, or partnership with any person whatever,
before we have thoroughly considered his nature and qualities, his
circumstances, and his humour; and also the necessity of examining
our own temper and disposition, to discover, if we can, how far these
may accord with the genius of those with whom we are about to form
a connection; otherwise our associations, of whatever kind they be,
may prove the greatest plague of our life. Young people, who are warm
in all their passions, and suffer them, like a veil, to hoodwink
their reason, often throw open their arms at once, and admit into the
greatest intimacy persons whom they know little of, but by false and
uncertain lights, and thus, perhaps, take a Porcupine into their bosom,
instead of an inmate who might sooth the cares of life, as an amiable
consort, or a valuable friend.
[Illustration]
[Illustration] [Page 133]