’Tis Dangerous Trusting to specious Pretexts of Civility and Kindness,
where People are not well assur’d of the Faith and Good Nature of Those
they have to do withal; In which case, the Butchery, and the Breach of
Hospitality Represented in This Fable, under a Masque of Friendship,
was no more, then what might Reasonably enough be Expected under such
Circumstances. There are Men of Prey as well as Beasts and Birds of Prey,
and for Those that Live upon, and Delight in Bloud, there’s no Trusting
of them: For let them pretend what they will, they Govern themselves,
and take their Measures according to their Interests and Appetites. ’Tis
a Hard Case yet, for Men to be forc’d upon Ill Nature, in their Own
Defence, and to suspect the Good Faith of Those, that gives us All the
Protestations and Assurance of Friendship, and Fair Dealing that One
Man can give Another. Nay the very Suspicion is an Affront, and almost
sufficient to Authorize some sort of Revenge. He that Violates the
Necessary Trust and Confidence that One Man ought to Repose in Another,
does what in Him lies, to Dissolve the very Bond of Humane Society; for
there’s no Treachery so Close, so Sure, and so Pernicious, as That which
Works under a Veil of Kindness. We set Toyls, Nets, Gins, Snares, and
Traps for Beasts and Birds ’tis True; and we Bait Hooks for fishes; But
All This is done in their Own Haunts, and Walks, and without any Seal of
Faith and Confidence in the Matter: But to break the Laws of Hospitality
and Tenderness; To betray our Guests under our Own Roofs, and to Murder
them at our Own Tables; This is a Practice only for _Men_ and _Vulturs_
to be guilty of.