Treaty, the Whelps fell a Howling; The Wolves cryed out Treaſon; and pretending an Infraction in the Abuſe of their Hoſtages, fell upon the Sheep immediately without their Dogs, and made them pay for the Improvidence of leaving themſelves without a Guard.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
To take This Fable in a Political Senſe; a Peace that puts People out of Condition of Defence, in caſe of a War, muſt expect a War; and ſuch a State as leaves them at the Mercy of an Enemy, is Worſe then War it ſelf. There's no Truſting to the Articles and Formalities of an Out-ſide Peace, upon the pretended Reconciliation of an Implacable Enemy. Chriſtian Religion bids us Forgive: But Chriſtian Prudence bids us have a Care too, whom we Truſt. 'Tis juſt in the World as it is in the Apologue. Truces, and Ceſſations, are both Made, and Broken, for Preſent Convenience; and where the Allies find they may be the Better for't, we may lay down this for an undoubted Truth, that there can never want a Colour for a Rupture, where there's a Good Will to't. 'Tis No New Thing ing in the World for the Dogs that are to keep the Wolves from Worrying the Sheep, to bedeliver'd up to the Enemy for Hoſtages, for fear the Sheep ſhould Worry the Wolves. This was our very Caſe within the Memory of Man, when Matters were brought to the ſame Iſſue in the Kingdom by't, that they are here in the Fable: Witneſs the ſeveral and ſeveral Treaties and Propoſals that were let a foot under the Countenance of a Good Will to Peace: Where only ſuch Conditions were inſiſted upon by the Deſigning Party, as would be almoſt Equally Deſtructive to all Honeſt Men, whether they were Granted or Refuſed. The One Way the Wolves were to have the Sheep left at Mercy; and the Other Way, the Scandal was turn'd upon the Refuſers, as the Enemies of an Accommodation; Nay and the very Dogs were turn'd into Wolves too; while Lawyers, and Divines, made the Law and the Goſpel Felons of themſelves, and ſuborn'd the Scriptures againſt the very Doctrine of Chriſt and his Apoſtles,
Fab. XLVI.
An Axe and a Forreſt.
A Carpenter that had got the Iron-Work of an Axe all-ready, went to the Next Forreſt to beg only ſo much Wood as would make a Handle to't. The Matter ſeem'd ſo
ſmall,
