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Abstemius's Fables (Sir Roger L'Estrange)

347. (Abstemius 96) Pigeons Reconcile the Hawks.

There happen'd a Bloody Civil War once among the Hawks; and what did the poor peaceable, innocent Pigeons, but in pure Pity, and good Nature, send their Deputies and mediators to do the best they could to make 'em Friends again: So long as this Feud lasted, they were so intent upon killing one another, that they minded nothing else; but no sooner was the Quarrel taken up among themselves, than they fell to their old Sport again of Destroying the Pigeons. This brought them to a Sight of their Error, and to understand the Danger of uniting a Common Enemy to their own Ruin.
Good Men are never safe but when Wicked Men are at Odds. So that the Divisions of the One, are the Security of the Other.