A _Wolfe_ and a _Porcupine_.
Your _Porcupine_ and your _Hedg-Hog_ are somewhat Alike, only the Former
has longer and sharper Prickles then the Other; And these Prickles he can
shoot, and Dart at an Enemy. There was a _Wolfe_ had a Mind to be Dealing
with him, it he could but get him Disarm’d first; and so he told the
_Porcupine_ in a friendly Way, That it did not look so well for People in
a Time of Peace, to go Arm’d, as if they were in a State of War; and so
Advis’d him to lay his Bristles aside; for (says he) You may Take them up
again at Pleasure. Do you talk of a State of War? says the _Porcupine_,
Why That’s my Present Case, and the very Reason of my Standing to my
Arms, so long as a _Wolfe_ is in _Company_.
The MORAL of the Two FABLES above.
_No Man, or State can be safe in Peace, that is not always in Readiness
to Encounter an Enemy in Case of a War._