Without it, that friendship also has passed away.  Thou art by nature my foe.  From circumstances thou becomest my friend.  That state of things has passed away.  The old state of enmity that is natural has come back.  Thoroughly conversant as I am with the dictates of policy that have been thus laid down, tell me, why I should enter today, for thy sake, the net that is spread for me.  Through thy power I was freed from a great danger.  Through my power thou hast been freed from a similar danger.  Each of us has served the other.  There is no need of uniting ourselves again in friendly intercourse.  O amiable one, the object thou hadst hath been accomplished.  The object I had has also been accomplished.  Thou hast now no use for me except to make me your meal.  I am thy food.  Thou art the eater.  I am weak.  Thou art strong.  There cannot be a friendly union between us when we are situated so unequally.  I understand thy wisdom.  Having been rescued from the net, thou applaudest me so that thou mayst succeed in easily making a meal of me.  Thou wert entangled in the net for the sake of food.  Thou hast been freed from it.  Thou feelest now the pangs of hunger.  Having recourse to that wisdom which arises from a study of the scriptures, thou seekest verily to eat me up today.  I know that thou art hungry.  I know that this is thy hour for taking food.  Thou art seeking for thy prey, with thy eyes directed towards me.  Thou hast sons and wives.  Thou seekest still friendly union with me and wishest to treat me with affection and do me services.  O friend, I am incapable of acceding to this proposal.  Seeing me with thee, why will not thy dear spouse and thy loving children cheerfully eat me up?  I shall not, therefore, unite with thee in friendship.  The reason no longer exists for such a union.  If, indeed, thou dost not forget my good offices, think of what will be beneficial to me and be comfortable.  What person is there possessed of any wisdom that will place himself under the power of a foe that is not distinguished for righteousness, that is in pangs of hunger, and that is on the look-out for a prey?  Be happy then, I will presently leave thee.  I am filled with alarm even if I behold thee from a distance.  I shall not mingle with thee, cease in thy attempts, O Lomasa!  If thou thinkest that I have done thee a service, follow then the dictates of friendship when I may happen to rove trustfully or heedlessly.  Even that will be gratitude in thee.  A residence near a person possessed of strength and power is never applauded, even if the danger that existed be regarded to have passed away.  I should always stand in fear of one more powerful than myself.  If thou dost not seek thy own interests (of the kind indicated), tell me then what is there that I should do for thee.  I shall certainly give thee everything except my life.  For protecting one’s own self one should give up one’s very children, and kingdom, and jewels, and wealth.  One should sacrifice one’s