The Wild Boar and the Fox
A wild boar was whetting his tusks against a tree when a fox came by and asked why he did so. "For," said he, "I see no reason for it; there is neither hunter nor hound in sight, nor any other danger that I can see at hand." "True," replied the boar, "but when that danger does arise, I shall have something else to do than to sharpen my weapons."
It is too late to whet the sword when the trumpet sounds to draw it.