In a war with Eagles, the Hares called for Foxes to help. The Foxes said they did not know the Hares or who they were fighting and so demurred.
Count the cost before you commit yourselves.
Townsend version
The hares waged war with the Eagles, and called upon the Foxes to help them. They replied, “We would willingly have helped you, if we had not known who you were, and with whom you were fighting.”
Moral
Count the cost before you commit yourselves.
L’Estrange version
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.
Moral
There’s no entering into any league, without well examining the faith, and strength of the parties to’t.
Gherardo Image from 1480
Lepores et Aquilae
Lepores olim cum aquilis bellum gerentes in auxilium vulpes vocarunt. Hae vero hoc illis responsum dedere, “Vobis quidem suppetias ferremus, nisi qui vos et cum quibus sit decertandum nosceremus.”
Perry #256
