Boothby: The Man and the Serpent

Who to the wicked aid has lent,
Will soon find reason to repent.
A Man a frozen Snake caress'd,
And plac'd, imprudent, on his breast.
Reviv'd, he stung him to the heart.
When ask'd his motive to impart;
"That all," he said, "may learn to know
No pity to the bad to show."

Source: Boothby - Phaedrus 4.17.

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