It is Wisdom to Consider the End of Things before we Embarque, and to
Forecast Consequences. It is also to be Expected that Men in Distress
will look to themselves in the First Place, and leave their Companions
to Shift as well as they can. When a Knave, and an Honest Man happen
to be Embarqu’d together in the same Common Interest, the Sharper will
be sure, if ever it comes to a Pinch, to shift for Himself; and leave
T’other in the Lurch. It is the way of the World for Men to Abandon their
Benefactors, and to make sport with Those that Rais’d them. This was the
Trick, that the _Fox_ serv’d the _Goat_ here in the _Well_; to shew us
that He that Helps Another out at a Plunge, runs the Risque of being left
in the Mire himself. No Matter for the Morality of the Thing, so long as
it is the Fashion; And that He that Advances himself upon the Ruine of
Another gets the Reputation of a Man of Art, and Address. The Facility,
in fine, and the Simplicity of the _Goat_, shews us what an Honest Man is
to Trust to that keeps a Knave company.
We find in This _Fox_, the Roguery, the Invention, and the Wilyness of
the Crafty People we meet with Abroad, and a Lively Image of the Faith,
Friendship, Good Nature, and Justice that we are to Expect from them. We
cannot therefore keep too strict an Eye upon the Life and Conversation
of Those we have to do withall. If they be Men of Fraud, they’ll never
stick at bringing their Friends and Companions into Dangers, Losses, and
Inconveniences; Scoure off themselves, and leave Those that Trust them
to pay the Reck’ning. But, in a Word, This Application extends to Men of
Trick and Design of All Sorts; let it be in Pleasure, Fortune, Pride,
Envy, Vain-Glory, Trade, Law, Marriages, Quarrels, Travels, Ambition,
_&c._ Wherefore it Behoves us to _Look before we Leap_, and in Case of
the Worst that can befall us, to secure an After-Game. The Want of this
Foresight was the _Goats_ Ruine.