Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CLXXXVII

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CLXXXVI.

Hares, Foxes, and Eagles.

THere goes an Old Story of a Bloudy War betwixt the Hares; and the Eagles; and the Hares would fain have drawn the Foxes into their Alliance, but very Franckly and Civilly, they gave them this Answer, That they would serve them with all their Hearts, if they did not Perfectly Understand both the Hares themselves, and the Enemy they were to Cope withal.

The Moral.

There’s no Ent'ring into any League, without well Examining the Faith, and Strength of the Parties to't.

REFLEXION.

'TIS a Folly, to the Highest Degree, for Men to run the Risque of their Lives and Fortunes, by Entring into Leagues with the Weak, against an Adversary that is Manifestly too Strong for them Both. 'Tis Hazzardous to Contract Unequal Friendships and Alliances, and there’s an Inequality of Disposition an Humour, as well as of Power. The False are as Dangerous as the Fearful: Only with this Difference, that the One will do a Man Hurt, and the Other can do him no Good. The End of Leagues is Common Assistance and Defence; And he that joyns Interest with those that cannot Help him, stands as single as he did before; which destroys the End of Common Union; for where there’s no Hope of a Reciprocal-Aid, there can be no Reason for a Mutual Obligation: And it is the same Thing in Bus'ness, Councel, and Commerce, that it is in Arms and Force. The Case of the Hares and Foxes in a Confederacy against the Eagles, is a Common Case betwixt Kingdoms and Common-wealths.