A Man having caught a Weasel in his pantry, was just going to kill it,
when the little captive begged that he would not do so cruel a deed,
but spare his life; and he assured the Man that he was his friend, and
only entered his pantry with a view of destroying the mice with which
it was infested. That may be, said the Man, but you do not do this
with the intention of serving me, nor with any other view but that
of serving yourself; and besides, you are so ferocious and cruel a
little creature, that you kill every animal you have within your power,
without the least compunction, and seem to delight in killing for
killing’s sake; therefore, your pretensions to serve me, and your plea
for mercy, are good for nothing.