Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 3.djvu/340



HE motives that may engage a wise prince or state in a war, I take to be one or more of these: either to check the overgrown power ot some ambitious neighbour; to recover what has been unjustly taken from them; to revenge some injury they have received, which all political casuists allow; to assist some ally in a just quarrel; or, lastly, to defend themselves when they are invaded. In all these cases, the writers upon politicks admit a war to be justly undertaken. The last is, what has been usually called pro arts et focis; where no expense or endeavour can be too great, because all we have is at stake, and consequently our utmost force to be exerted; and the dispute is soon determined, either in safety, or utter destruction. But in the other four, I believe, it will be found, that no monarch or commonwealth did ever engage beyond a certain degree; never proceeding so far as to exhaust the strength and substance of their country by anticipations and loans, which,