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and dexterity in arms； easily overcoming the greater and more awkward
strength of the younger）； and of which the knowledge； as I experimentally
know； has inspired some with courage above their natural measure； but
this is not properly valour； because it supports itself upon address； and
is founded upon something besides itself。 The honour of combat consists
in the jealousy of courage； and not of skill； and therefore I have known
a friend of mine； famed as a great master in this exercise； in his
quarrels make choice of such arms as might deprive him of this advantage
and that wholly depended upon fortune and assurance； that they might not
attribute his victory rather to his skill in fencing than his valour。
When I was young； gentlemen avoided the reputation of good fencers as
injurious to them； and learned to fence with all imaginable privacy as a
trade of subtlety； derogating from true and natural valour：
〃Non schivar non parar； non ritirarsi；
Voglion costor； ne qui destrezza ha parte；
Non danno i colpi or finti； or pieni； or scarsi！
Toglie l'ira a il furor l'uso de l'arte。
Odi le spade orribilmente utarsi
A mezzo il ferro； il pie d'orma non parte；
Sempre a il pie fermo； a la man sempre in moto；
Ne scende taglio in van； ne punta a voto。〃
＇〃They neither shrank； nor vantage sought of ground；
They travers'd not； nor skipt from part to part；
Their blows were neither false； nor feigned found：
In fight； their rage would let them use no art。
Their swords together clash with dreadful sound；
Their feet stand fast； and neither stir nor start；
They move their hands； steadfast their feet remain。
Nor blow nor foin they strook； or thrust in vain。〃
Tasso； Gierus。 Lib。； c。 12； st。 55； Fairfax's translation。＇
Butts； tilting； and barriers； the feint of warlike fights； were the
exercises of our forefathers： this other exercise is so much the less
noble； as it only respects a private end； that teaches us to destroy one
another against law and justice； and that every way always produces very
ill effects。 It is much more worthy and more becoming to exercise
ourselves in things that strengthen than that weaken our government and
that tend to the public safety and common glory。 The consul； Publius
Rutilius； was the first who taught the soldiers to handle their arms
with skill； and joined art with valour； not for the rise of private
quarrel； but for war and the quarrels of the people of Rome； a popular
and civil defence。 And besides the example of Caesar； who commanded his
men to shoot chiefly at the face of Pompey's soldiers in the battle of
Pharsalia； a thousand other commanders have also bethought them to invent
new forms of weapons and new ways of striking and defending； according as
occasion should require。
But as Philopoemen condemned wrestling； wherein he excelled； because the
preparatives that were therein employed were differing from those that
appertain to military discipline； to which alone he conceived men of
honour ought wholly to apply themselves； so it seems to me that this
address to which we form our limbs； those writhings and motions young men
are taught in this new school； are not only of no use； but rather
contrary and hurtful to the practice of fight in battle； and also our
people commonly make use of particular weapons； and peculiarly designed
for duel； and I have seen； when it has been disapproved； that a gentleman
challenged to fight with rapier and poignard appeared in the array of a
man…at…arms； and that another should take his cloak instead of his
poignard。 It is worthy of consideration that Laches in Plato； speaking
of learning to fence after our manner； says that he never knew any great
soldier come out of that school； especially the masters of it： and；
indeed； as to them； our experience tells as much。 As to the rest； we may
at least conclude that they are qualities of no relation or
correspondence； and in the education of the children of his government；
Plato interdicts the art of boxing； introduced by Amycus and Epeius； and
that of wrestling； by Antaeus and Cercyo； because they have another end
than to render youth fit for the service of war and contribute nothing to
it。 But I see that I have somewhat strayed from my theme。
The Emperor Mauricius； being advertised by dreams and several
prognostics； that one Phocas； an obscure soldier； should kill him；
questioned his son…in…law； Philip； who this Phocas was； and what were his
nature； qualities； and manners； and so soon as Philip； amongst other
things； had told him that he was cowardly and timorous； the emperor
immediately concluded then that he was a murderer and cruel。 What is it
that makes tyrants so sanguinary？ 'Tis only the solicitude for their own
safety； and that their faint hearts can furnish them with no other means
of securing themselves than in exterminating those who may hurt them；
even so much as women； for fear of a scratch：
〃Cuncta ferit； dum cuncta timer。〃
＇〃He strikes at all who fears all。〃
Claudius； in Eutrop。； i。 182。＇
The first cruelties are exercised for themselves thence springs the fear
of a just revenge； which afterwards produces a series of new cruelties；
to obliterate one another。 Philip； king of Macedon； who had so much to
do with the people of Rome； agitated with the horror of so many murders
committed by his order； and doubting of being able to keep himself secure
from so many families； at divers times mortally injured and offended by
him； resolved to seize all the children of those he had caused to be
slain； to despatch them daily one after another； and so to establish his
own repose。
Fine matter is never impertinent； however placed； and therefore I； who
more consider the weight and utility of what I deliver than its order and
connection； need not fear in this place to bring in an excellent story；
though it be a little by…the…by； for when they are rich in their own
native beauty； and are able to justify themselves； the least end of a
hair will serve to draw them into my discourse。
Amongst others condemned by Philip； had been one Herodicus； prince of
Thessaly； he had； moreover； after him caused his two sons…in…law to be
put to death； each leaving a son very young behind him。 Theoxena and
Archo were their two widows。 Theoxena； though highly courted to it；
could not be persuaded to marry again： Archo married Poris； the greatest
man among the AEnians； and by him had a great many children； whom she；
dying； left at a very tender age。 Theoxena； moved with a maternal
charity towards her nephews； that she might have them under her own eyes
and in her own protection； married Poris： when presently comes a
proclamation of the king's edict。 This brave…spirited mother； suspecting
the cruelty of Philip； and afraid of the insolence of the soldiers
towards these charming and tender children was so bold as to declare hat
she would rather kill them with her own hands than deliver them。 Poris；
startled at this protestation； promised her to steal them away； and to
transport them to Athens； and there commit them to the custody of some
faithful friends of his。 They took； therefore； the opportunity of an
annual feast which was celebrated at AEnia in honour of AEneas； and
thither they went。 Having appeared by day at the public ceremonies and
banquet； they stole the night following into a vessel laid ready for the
purpose； to escape away by sea。 The wind proved contrary； and finding
themselves in the morning within sight of the land whence they had
launched overnight； and being pursued by the guards of the port； Poris
perceiving this； laboured all he could to make the mariners do their
utmost to escape from the pursuers。 But Theoxena； frantic with affection
and revenge； in pursuance of her former resolution； prepared both weapons
and poison； and exposing them before them； 〃Go to； my children；〃 said
she； 〃death is now the only means of your defence and liberty； and shall
administer occasion to the gods to exercise their sacred justice： these
sharp swords； and these full cups； will open you the way into it；
courage； fear nothing！ And thou； my son； who art the eldest； take this
steel into thy hand； that thou mayest the more bravely die。〃 The
children having on one side so powerful a counsellor； and the enemy at
their throats on the other； run all of them eagerly upon what was next to
hand； and； half dead； were thrown into the sea。 Theoxena； proud of
having so gloriously provided for the safety of her children； clasping
her arms with great affection about her husband's neck。 〃Let us； my
friend；〃 said she； 〃follow these boys； and enjoy the same sepulchre they
do〃； and so； having embraced； they threw themselves headlong into the
sea； so that the ship was carriedback without the owners into the
harbour。
Tyrants； at once both to kill and to make their anger felt； have employed
their capacity to invent the most lingering deaths。 They will have their
enemies des