CHAPTERXLIII
OFSUMPTUARYLAWS
Thewaybywhichourlawsattempttoregulateidleandvainexpensesinmeatandclothes,seemstobequitecontrarytotheenddesigned。Thetruewaywouldbetobegetinmenacontemptofsilksandgold,asvain,frivolous,anduseless;whereasweaugmenttothemthehonours,andenhancethevalueofsuchthings,which,sure,isaveryimproperwaytocreateadisgust。Fortoenactthatnonebutprincesshalleatturbot,shallwearvelvetorgoldlace,andinterdictthesethingstothepeople,whatisitbuttobringthemintoagreateresteem,andtoseteveryonemoreagogtoeatandwearthem?Letkingsleaveofftheseensignsofgrandeur;theyhaveothersenoughbesides;thoseexcessesaremoreexcusableinanyotherthanaprince。Wemaylearnbytheexampleofseveralnationsbetterwaysofexteriordistinctionofquality(which,truly,Iconceivetobeveryrequisiteinastate)enough,withoutfosteringtothispurposesuchcorruptionandmanifestinconvenience。
’Tisstrangehowsuddenlyandwithhowmucheasecustomintheseindifferentthingsestablishesitselfandbecomesauthority。Wehadscarcewornclothayear,incompliancewiththecourt,forthemourningofHenryII。,butthatsilkswerealreadygrownintosuchcontemptwitheveryone,thatamansocladwaspresentlyconcludedacitizen:silksweredividedbetwixtthephysiciansandsurgeons,andthoughallotherpeoplealmostwentinthesamehabit,therewas,notwithstanding,inonethingorother,sufficientdistinctionoftheseveralconditionsofmen。
Howsuddenlydogreasychamoisandlinendoubletsbecomethefashioninourarmies,whilstallneatnessandrichnessofhabitfallintocontempt?
Letkingsbutleadthedanceandbegintoleaveoffthisexpense,andinamonththebusinesswillbedonethroughoutthekingdom,withoutedictorordinance;weshallallfollow。Itshouldberatherproclaimed,onthecontrary,thatnooneshouldwearscarletorgoldsmiths’workbutcourtesansandtumblers。
ZeleucusbythelikeinventionreclaimedthecorruptedmannersoftheLocrians。Hislawswere,thatnofreewomanshouldbeallowedanymorethanonemaidtofollowher,unlessshewasdrunk:norwastostiroutofthecitybynight,wearjewelsofgoldabouther,orgoinanembroideredrobe,unlessshewasaprofessedandpublicprostitute;that,bravosexcepted,nomanwastowearagoldring,norbeseeninoneofthoseeffeminaterobeswoveninthecityofMiletus。Bywhichinfamousexceptionshediscreetlydivertedhiscitizensfromsuperfluitiesandperniciouspleasures,anditwasaprojectofgreatutilitytoattractthenbyhonourandambitiontotheirdutyandobedience。
Ourkingscandowhattheypleaseinsuchexternalreformations;theirowninclinationstandsinthiscaseforalaw:
"Quicquidprincipesfaciunt,praeciperevidentur。"
["Whatprincesthemselvesdo,theyseemtoprescribe。"
——Quintil。,Declam。,3。]
WhateverisdoneatcourtpassesforarulethroughtherestofFrance。
Letthecourtiersfalloutwiththeseabominablebreeches,thatdiscoversomuchofthosepartsshouldbeconcealed;thesegreatbellieddoublets,thatmakeuslooklikeIknownotwhat,andaresounfittoadmitofarms;theselongeffeminatelocksofhair;thisfoolishcustomofkissingwhatwepresenttoourequals,andourhandsinsalutingthem,aceremonyinformertimesonlyduetoprinces。Letthemnotpermitthatagentlemanshallappearinplaceofrespectwithouthissword,unbuttonedanduntrussed,asthoughhecamefromthehouseofoffice;andthat,contrarytothecustomofourforefathersandtheparticularprivilegeofthenoblesofthiskingdom,westandalongtimebaretotheminwhatplacesoever,andthesametoahundredothers,somanytierceletsandquarteletsofkingswehavegotnowadaysandotherlikeviciousinnovations:theywillseethemallpresentlyvanishandcrieddown。
Theseare,’tistrue,butsuperficialerrors;buttheyareofillaugury,andenoughtoinformusthatthewholefabriciscrazyandtottering,whenweseetheroughcastofourwallstocleaveandsplit。
PlatoinhisLawsesteemsnothingofmorepestiferousconsequencetohiscitythantogiveyoungmenthelibertyofintroducinganychangeintheirhabits,gestures,dances,songs,andexercises,fromoneformtoanother;shiftingfromthistothat,huntingafternovelties,andapplaudingtheinventors;bywhichmeansmannersarecorruptedandtheoldinstitutionscometobenauseatedanddespised。Inallthings,savingonlyinthosethatareevil,achangeistobefeared;eventhechangeofseasons,winds,viands,andhumours。Andnolawsareintheirtruecredit,butsuchtowhichGodhasgivensolongacontinuancethatnooneknowstheirbeginning,orthatthereeverwasanyother。
CHAPTERXLIV
OFSLEEP
Reasondirectsthatweshouldalwaysgothesameway,butnotalwaysatthesamepace。And,consequently,thoughawisemanoughtnotsomuchtogivethereinstohumanpassionsastolethimdeviatefromtherightpath,hemay,notwithstanding,withoutprejudicetohisduty,leaveittothemtohastenortoslackenhisspeed,andnotfixhimselflikeamotionlessandinsensibleColossus。Couldvirtueitselfputonfleshandblood,Ibelievethepulsewouldbeatfastergoingontoassaultthaningoingtodinner:thatistosay,thereisanecessitysheshouldheatandbemoveduponthisaccount。Ihavetakennotice,asofanextraordinarything,ofsomegreatmen,whointhehighestenterprisesandmostimportantaffairshavekeptthemselvesinsosettledandsereneacalm,asnotatalltobreaktheirsleep。AlexandertheGreat,onthedayassignedforthatfuriousbattlebetwixthimandDarius,sleptsoprofoundlyandsolonginthemorning,thatParmeniowasforcedtoenterhischamber,andcomingtohisbedside,tocallhimseveraltimesbyhisname,thetimetogotofightcompellinghimsotodo。TheEmperorOtho,havingputonaresolutiontokillhimselfthatnight,afterhavingsettledhisdomesticaffairs,dividedhismoneyamongsthisservants,andsetagoodedgeuponaswordhehadmadechoiceofforthepurpose,andnowstayingonlytobesatisfiedwhetherallhisfriendshadretiredinsafety,hefellintososoundasleepthatthegentlemenofhischamberheardhimsnore。ThedeathofthisemperorhasinitcircumstancesparallelingthatofthegreatCato,andparticularlythisjustrelatedforCatobeingreadytodespatchhimself,whilstheonlystayedhishandinexpectationofthereturnofamessengerhehadsenttobringhimnewswhetherthesenatorshehadsentawaywereputoutfromthePortofUtica,hefellintososoundasleep,thattheyheardhimsnoreinthenextroom;andtheman,whomhehadsenttotheport,havingawakenedhimtolethimknowthatthetempestuousweatherhadhinderedthesenatorsfromputtingtosea,hedespatchedawayanothermessenger,andcomposingagainhimselfinthebed,settledtosleep,andslepttillbythereturnofthelastmessengerhehadcertainintelligencetheyweregone。WemayherefurthercomparehimwithAlexanderinthegreatanddangerousstormthatthreatenedhimbytheseditionofthetribuneMetellus,who,attemptingtopublishadecreeforthecallinginofPompeywithhisarmyintothecityatthetimeofCatiline’sconspiracy,wasonlyandthatstoutlyopposedbyCato,sothatverysharplanguageandbittermenacespassedbetwixttheminthesenateaboutthataffair;butitwasthenextday,intheforenoon,thatthecontroversywastobedecided,whereMetellus,besidesthefavourofthepeopleandofCaesar——atthattimeofPompey’sfaction——wastoappearaccompaniedwitharabbleofslavesandgladiators;andCatoonlyfortifiedwithhisowncourageandconstancy;
sothathisrelations,domestics,andmanyvirtuouspeopleofhisfriendswereingreatapprehensionsforhim;andtothatdegree,thatsometherewerewhopassedoverthewholenightwithoutsleep,eating,ordrinking,forthedangertheysawhimrunninginto;hiswifeandsistersdidnothingbutweepandtormentthemselvesinhishouse;whereas,he,onthecontrary,comfortedeveryone,andafterhavingsuppedafterhisusualmanner,wenttobed,andsleptprofoundlytillmorning,whenoneofhisfellow—tribunesrousedhimtogototheencounter。Theknowledgewehaveofthegreatnessofthisman’scouragebytherestofhislife,maywarrantuscertainlytojudgethathisindifferenceproceededfromasoulsomuchelevatedabovesuchaccidents,thathedisdainedtoletittakeanymoreholdofhisfancythananyordinaryincident。
InthenavalengagementthatAugustuswonofSextusPompeiusinSicily,justastheyweretobeginthefight,hewassofastasleepthathisfriendswerecompelledtowakehimtogivethesignalofbattle:andthiswasitthatgaveMarkAntonyafterwardsoccasiontoreproachhimthathehadnotthecouragesomuchaswithopeneyestobeholdtheorderofhisownsquadrons,andnottohavedaredtopresenthimselfbeforethesoldiers,tillfirstAgrippahadbroughthimnewsofthevictoryobtained。ButastotheyoungMarius,whodidmuchworse(forthedayofhislastbattleagainstSylla,afterhehadmarshalledhisarmyandgiventhewordandsignalofbattle,helaidhimdownundertheshadeofatreetoreposehimself,andfellsofastasleepthattheroutandflightofhismencouldhardlywakenhim,hehavingseennothingofthefight),heissaidtohavebeenatthattimesoextremelyspentandwornoutwithlabourandwantofsleep,thatnaturecouldholdoutnolonger。Now,uponwhathasbeensaid,thephysiciansmaydeterminewhethersleepbesonecessarythatourlivesdependuponit:forwereadthatKingPerseusofMacedon,beingprisoneratRome,waskilledbybeingkeptfromsleep;butPlinyinstancessuchashavelivedlongwithoutsleep。Herodotusspeaksofnationswherethemensleepandwakebyhalf—years,andtheywhowritethelifeofthesageEpimenidesaffirmthathesleptseven—and—fiftyyearstogether。
CHAPTERXLV
OFTHEBATTLEOFDREUX
[December19,1562,inwhichtheCatholics,underthecommandoftheDucdeGuiseandtheConstabledeMontmorenci,defeatedtheProtestants,commandedbythePrincedeConde。SeeSismondi,Hist。
desFrancais,vol。xviii。,p。354。]
OurbattleofDreuxisremarkableforseveralextraordinaryincidents;
butsuchashavenogreatkindnessforM。deGuise,normuchfavourhisreputation,arewillingtohavehimthoughttoblame,andthathismakingahaltanddelayingtimewiththeforceshecommanded,whilsttheConstable,whowasgeneralofthearmy,wasrackedthroughandthroughwiththeenemy’sartillery,hisbattalionrouted,andhimselftakenprisoner,isnottobeexcused;andthathehadmuchbetterhaverunthehazardofchargingtheenemyinflank,thanstayingfortheadvantageoffallinginupontherear,tosuffersogreatandsoimportantaloss。
But,besideswhattheeventdemonstrated,hewhowillconsideritwithoutpassionorprejudicewilleasilybeinducedtoconfessthattheaimanddesign,notofacaptainonly,butofeveryprivatesoldier,oughttoregardthevictoryingeneral,andthatnoparticularoccurrences,hownearlysoevertheymayconcernhisowninterest,shoulddiverthimfromthatpursuit。Philopoemen,inanencounterwithMachanidas,havingsentbeforeagoodstrongpartyofhisarchersandslingerstobegintheskirmish,andthesebeingroutedandhotlypursuedbytheenemy,who,pushingonthefortuneoftheirarms,andinthatpursuitpassingbythebattalionwherePhilopoemenwas,thoughhissoldierswereimpatienttofallon,hedidnotthinkfittostirfromhispostnortopresenthimselftotheenemytorelievehismen,buthavingsufferedthesetobechasedandcutinpiecesbeforehisface,chargedinupontheenemy’sfootwhenhesawthemleftunprotectedbythehorse,andnotwithstandingthattheywereLacedaemonians,yettakingtheminthenick,whenthinkingthemselvessecureofthevictory,theybegantodisordertheirranks;hedidthisbusinesswithgreatfacility,andthenputhimselfinpursuitofMachanidas。WhichcaseisverylikethatofMonsieurdeGuise。
InthatbloodybattlebetwixtAgesilausandtheBoeotians,whichXenophon,whowaspresentatit,reportstobethesharpestthathehadeverseen,Agesilauswaivedtheadvantagethatfortunepresentedhim,tolettheBoeotianbattalionspassbyandthentochargethemintherear,howcertainsoeverhemightmakehimselfofthevictory,judgingitwouldratherbeaneffectofconductthanvalour,toproceedthatway;andtherefore,toshowhisprowess,ratherchosewithamarvellousardourofcouragetochargetheminthefront;buthewaswellbeatenandwellwoundedforhispains,andconstrainedatlasttodisengagehimself,andtotakethecoursehehadatfirstneglected;openinghisbattaliontogivewaytothistorrentofBoeotians,andtheybeingpassedby,takingnoticethattheymarchedindisorder,likemenwhothoughtthemselvesoutofdanger,hepursuedandchargedtheminflank;yetcouldnotsoprevailastobringittosogeneralaroutbutthattheyleisurelyretreated,stillfacingaboutuponhimtilltheyhadretiredtosafety。
CHAPTERXLVI
OFNAMES
Whatvarietyofherbssoeverareshufedtogetherinthedish,yetthewholemassisswallowedupunderonenameofasallet。Inlikemanner,undertheconsiderationofnames,Iwillmakeahodge—podgeofdiversarticles。
Everynationhascertainnames,that,Iknownotwhy,aretakeninnogoodsense,aswithus,John,William,Benedict。Inthegenealogyofprinces,also,thereseemtobecertainnamesfatallyaffected,asthePtolemiesofEgypt,theHenriesinEngland,theCharlesesinFrance,theBaldwinsinFlanders,andtheWilliamsofourancientAquitaine,fromwhence,’tissaid,thenameofGuyennehasitsderivation;whichwouldseemfarfetchedweretherenotascrudederivationsinPlatohimself。
Item,’tisafrivolousthinginitself,butneverthelessworthytoberecordedforthestrangenessofit,thatiswrittenbyaneyewitness,thatHenry,DukeofNormandy,sonofHenryII。,kingofEngland,makingagreatfeastinFrance,theconcourseofnobilityandgentrywassogreat,thatbeing,forsport’ssake,dividedintotroops,accordingtotheirnames,inthefirsttroop,whichconsistedofWilliams,therewerefoundanhundredandtenknightssittingatthetableofthatname,withoutreckoningtheordinarygentlemenandservants。
ItisaspleasanttodistinguishthetablesbythenamesoftheguestsasitwasintheEmperorGetatodistinguishtheseveralcoursesofhismeatbythefirstlettersofthemeatsthemselves;sothatthosethatbeganwithBwereserveduptogether,asbrawn,beef,bream,bustards,becca—
ficos;andsooftheothers。Item,thereisasayingthatitisagoodthingtohaveagoodname,thatistosay,creditandagoodrepute;butbesidesthis,itisreallyconvenienttohaveawell—soundingname,suchasiseasyofpronunciationandeasytoberemembered,byreasonthatkingsandothergreatpersonsdobythatmeansthemoreeasilyknowandthemorehardlyforgetus;andindeedofourownservantswemorefrequentlycallandemploythosewhosenamesaremostreadyuponthetongue。ImyselfhaveseenHenryII。,whenhecouldnotforhishearthitofagentleman’snameofourcountryofGascony,andmoreoverwasfaintocalloneofthequeen’smaidsofhonourbythegeneralnameofherrace,herownfamilynamebeingsodifficulttopronounceorremember;andSocratesthinksitworthyafather’scaretogivefinenamestohischildren。
Item,’tissaidthatthefoundationofNotreDamelaGrandeatPoitierstookitsoriginalfromhencethatadebauchedyoungfellowformerlylivinginthatplace,havinggottohimawench,and,atherfirstcomingin,askinghername,andbeingansweredthatitwasMary,hefelthimselfsosuddenlypiercedthroughwiththeaweofreligionandthereverencetothatsacrednameoftheBlessedVirgin,thathenotonlyimmediatelysentthegirlaway,butbecameareformedmanandsocontinuedtheremainderofhislife;andthat,inconsiderationofthismiracle,therewaserectedupontheplacewherethisyoungman’shousestood,firstachapeldedicatedtoourLadyandafterwardsthechurchthatwenowseestandingthere。Thisvocalandauricularreproofwroughtupontheconscience,andthatrightintothesoul;thisthatfollows,insinuateditselfmerelybythesenses。Pythagorasbeingincompanywithsomewildyoungfellows,andperceivingthat,heatedwiththefeast,theycomplotedtogoviolateanhonesthouse,commandedthesingingwenchtoalterherwantonairs;
andbyasolemn,grave,andspondaicmusic,gentlyenchantedandlaidasleeptheirardour。
Item,willnotposteritysaythatourmodernreformationhasbeenwonderfullydelicateandexact,inhavingnotonlycombatederrorsandvices,andfilledtheworldwithdevotion,humility,obedience,peace,andallsortsofvirtue;butinhavingproceededsofarastoquarrelwithourancientbaptismalnamesofCharles,Louis,Francis,tofilltheworldwithMethuselahs,Ezekiels,andMalachis,namesofamorespiritualsound?Agentleman,aneighbourofmine,agreatadmirerofantiquity,andwhowasalwaysextollingtheexcellencesofformertimesincomparisonwiththispresentageofours,didnot,amongsttherest,forgettodwellupontheloftyandmagnificentsoundofthegentleman’snamesofthosedays,DonGrumedan,Quedregan,Agesilan,which,buttohearnamedheconceivedtodenoteotherkindofmenthanPierre,Guillot,andMichel。
Item,IammightilypleasedwithJacquesAmyotforleaving,throughoutawholeFrenchoration,theLatinnamesentire,withoutvaryingandgarblingthemtogivethemaFrenchcadence。Itseemedalittleharshandroughatfirst;butalreadycustom,bytheauthorityofhisPlutarch,hasovercomethatnovelty。IhaveoftenwishedthatsuchaswritehistoriesinLatinwouldleaveournamesastheyfindthemandastheyare;forinmakingVaudemontintoVallemontanus,andmetamorphosingnamestomakethemsuitbetterwiththeGreekorLatin,weknownotwhereweare,andwiththepersonsofthemenlosethebenefitofthestory。
Toconclude,’tisascurvycustomandofveryillconsequencethatwehaveinourkingdomofFrancetocalleveryonebythenameofhismanororseigneury;’tisthethingintheworldthatthemostprejudicesandconfoundsfamiliesanddescents。Ayoungerbrotherofagoodfamily,havingamanorlefthimbyhisfather,bythenameofwhichhehasbeenknownandhonoured,cannothandsomelyleaveit;tenyearsafterhisdeceaseitfallsintothehandofastranger,whodoesthesame:dobutjudgewhereaboutsweshallbeconcerningtheknowledgeofthesemen。Weneedlooknofurtherforexamplesthanourownroyalfamily,whereeverypartitioncreatesanewsurname,whilst,inthemeantime,theoriginalofthefamilyistotallylost。Thereissogreatlibertytakeninthesemutations,thatIhavenotinmytimeseenanyoneadvancedbyfortunetoanyextraordinaryconditionwhohasnotpresentlyhadgenealogicaltitlesaddedtohim,newandunknowntohisfather,andwhohasnotbeeninoculatedintosomeillustriousstembygoodluck;andtheobscurestfamiliesarethemostaptforfalsification。HowmanygentlemenhaveweinFrancewhobytheirownaccountareofroyalextraction?more,I
think,thanwhowillconfesstheyarenot。Wasitnotapleasantpassageofafriendofmine?Therewere,severalgentlemenassembledtogetheraboutthedisputeofoneseigneurwithanother;whichotherhad,intruth,somepreeminenceoftitlesandalliancesabovetheordinarygentry。Uponthedebateofthisprerogative,everyone,tomakehimselfequaltohim,alleged,thisoneextraction,thatanother;this,thenearresemblanceofname,that,ofarms;another,anoldworm—eatenpatent;
theveryleastofthemwasgreat—grandchildtosomeforeignking。Whentheycametositdown,todinner,myfriend,insteadoftakinghisplaceamongstthem,retiringwithmostprofoundconges,entreatedthecompanytoexcusehimforhavinghithertolivedwiththematthesaucyrateofacompanion;butbeingnowbetterinformedoftheirquality,hewouldbegintopaythemtherespectduetotheirbirthandgrandeur,andthatitwouldillbecomehimtositdownamongsomanyprinces——endingthisfarcewithathousandreproaches:"Letus,inGod’sname,satisfyourselveswithwhatourfatherswerecontentedwith,withwhatweare。Wearegreatenough,ifwerightlyunderstandhowtomaintainit。Letusnotdisownthefortuneandconditionofourancestors,andletuslayasidetheseridiculouspretences,thatcanneverbewantingtoanyonethathastheimpudencetoallegethem。"
Armshavenomoresecuritythansurnames。Ibearazurepowderedwithtrefoilsor,withalion’spawofthesamearmedgulesinfesse。Whatprivilegehasthistocontinueparticularlyinmyhouse?Ason—in—lawwilltransportitintoanotherfamily,orsomepaltrypurchaserwillmakethemhisfirstarms。Thereisnothingwhereinthereismorechangeandconfusion。
Butthisconsiderationleadsme,perforce,intoanothersubject。Letuspryalittlenarrowlyinto,and,inGod’sname,examineuponwhatfoundationweerectthisgloryandreputationforwhichtheworldisturnedtopsy—turvy:whereindoweplacethisrenownthatwehuntafterwithsomuchpains?Itis,intheend,PeterorWilliamthatcarriesit,takesitintohispossession,andwhomitonlyconcerns。Owhatavaliantfacultyishope,thatinamortalsubject,andinamoment,makesnothingofusurpinginfinity,immensity,eternity,andofsupplyingitsmaster’sindigence,atitspleasure,withallthingshecanimagineordesire!Naturehasgivenusthispassionforaprettytoytoplaywithal。AndthisPeterorWilliam,whatisitbutasound,whenallisdone?orthreeorfourdasheswithapen,soeasytobevariedthatI
wouldfainknowtowhomistobeattributedthegloryofsomanyvictories,toGuesquin,toGlesquin,ortoGueaquin?andyettherewouldbesomethingofgreatermomentinthecasethaninLucian,thatSigmashouldserveTauwithaprocess;for"NonleviaautludicrapetunturPraemia;"
["Theyaimatnoslightorjocularrewards。"——AEneid,xii。764。]
thechaseisthereinverygoodearnest:thequestionis,whichoftheselettersistoberewardedforsomanysieges,battles,wounds,imprisonments,andservicesdonetothecrownofFrancebythisfamousconstable?NicholasDenisot——[Painterandpoet,bornatLeMans,1515。]——
neverconcernedhimselffurtherthanthelettersofhisname,ofwhichhehasalteredthewholecontexturetobuildupbyanagramtheCountd’Alsinois,whomhehashandsomelyendowedwiththegloryofhispoetryandpainting。ThehistorianSuetoniuswassatisfiedwithonlythemeaningofhisname,whichmadehimcashierhisfather’ssurname,Lenis,toleaveTranquillussuccessortothereputationofhiswritings。WhowouldbelievethatCaptainBayardshouldhavenohonourbutwhathederivesfromthedeedsofPeterTerrail;andthatAntonioIscalinshouldsufferhimselftohisfacetoberobbedofthehonourofsomanynavigationsandcommandsatseaandlandbyCaptainPaulinandtheBarondelaGarde?Secondly,thesearedashesofthepencommontoathousandpeople。Howmanyarethere,ineveryfamily,ofthesamenameandsurname?andhowmanymoreinseveralfamilies,ages,andcountries?
HistorytellsusofthreeofthenameofSocrates,offivePlatos,ofeightAristotles,ofsevenXenophons,oftwentyDemetrii,andoftwentyTheodores;andhowmanymoreshewasnotacquaintedwithwemayimagine。
WhohindersmygroomfromcallinghimselfPompeytheGreat?Butafterall,whatvirtue,whatauthority,orwhatsecretspringsaretherethatfixuponmydeceasedgroom,ortheotherPompey,whohadhisheadcutoffinEgypt,thisgloriousrenown,andthesesomuchhonouredflourishesofthepen,soastobeofanyadvantagetothem?
"Idcineremetmanescrediscuraresepultos?"
["Doyoubelievethedeadregardsuchthings?"——AEneid,iv。34。]
Whatsensehavethetwocompanionsingreatestesteemamongstme,Epaminondas,ofthisfineversethathasbeensomanyagescurrentinhispraise,"ConsiliisnostrislausestattritaLaconum;"
["ThegloryoftheSpartansisextinguishedbymyplans。
——"Cicero,Tusc。Quaes。,v。17。]
orAfricanus,ofthisother,"AsoleexorientesupraMaeotisPaludesNemoestquifactismeaequipararequeat。"
["FromwherethesunrisesoverthePalusMaeotis,towhereitsets,thereisnoonewhoseactscancomparewithmine"——Idem,ibid。]
Survivorsindeedticklethemselveswiththesefinephrases,andbythemincitedtojealousyanddesire,inconsideratelyandaccordingtotheirownfancy,attributetothedeadthistheirownfeeling,vainlyflatteringthemselvesthattheyshallonedayinturnbecapableofthesamecharacter。However:
"AdhaecseRomanusGraiusque,etBarbarasinduperatorErexit;caucusdiscriminisatquelaborisIndehabuit:tantomajorfamaesitisest,quamVirtutis。"
["ForthesetheRoman,theGreek,andtheBarbariancommanderhatharousedhimself;hehasincurredthencecausesofdangerandtoil:
somuchgreateristhethirstforfamethanforvirtue。"
——Juvenal,x。137。]
CHAPTERXLVII
OFTHEUNCERTAINTYOFOURJUDGMENT
Wellsaysthisverse:
["Thereiseverywheremuchlibertyofspeech。"——Iliad,xx。249。]
Forexample:
["Hannibalconquered,butknewnothowtomakethebestuseofhisvictoriousventure。"——Petrarch,Son。,83。]
Suchaswouldimprovethisargument,andcondemntheoversightofourleadersinnotpushinghomethevictoryatMoncontour,oraccusetheKingofSpainofnotknowinghowtomakethebestuseoftheadvantagehehadagainstusatSt。Quentin,mayconcludetheseoversightstoproceedfromasoulalreadydrunkwithsuccess,orfromaspiritwhich,beingfullandovergorgedwiththisbeginningofgoodfortune,hadlosttheappetiteofaddingtoit,alreadyhavingenoughtodotodigestwhatithadtakenin:
hehashisarmsfull,andcanembracenomore:unworthyofthebenefitfortunehasconferreduponhimandtheadvantageshehadputintohishands:forwhatutilitydoeshereapfromit,if,notwithstanding,hegivehisenemyrespitetorallyandmakeheadagainsthim?Whathopeistherethathewilldareatanothertimetoattackanenemyreunitedandrecomposed,andarmedanewwithangerandrevenge,whodidnotdaretopursuethemwhenroutedandunmannedbyfear?
"Dumfortunacalet,dumconficitomniaterror。"
["Whilstfortuneisfresh,andterrorfinishesall。"
——Lucan,vii。734。]
Butwithal,whatbetteropportunitycanheexpectthanthathehaslost?
’Tisnothere,asinfencing,wherethemosthitsgaintheprize;forsolongastheenemyisonfoot,thegameisnewtobegin,andthatisnottobecalledavictorythatputsnotanendtothewar。IntheencounterwhereCaesarhadtheworst,nearthecityofOricum,hereproachedPompey’ssoldiersthathehadbeenlosthadtheirgeneralknownhowtoovercome;andafterwardsclawedhiminaverydifferentfashionwhenitcametohisturn。
Butwhymaynotamanalsoargue,onthecontrary,thatitistheeffectofaprecipitousandinsatiatespiritnottoknowhowtoboundandrestrainitscoveting;thatitistoabusethefavoursofGodtoexceedthemeasureHehasprescribedthem:andthatagaintothrowaman’sselfintodangerafteravictoryobtainedisagaintoexposehimselftothemercyoffortune:thatitisoneofthegreatestdiscretionsintheruleofwarnottodriveanenemytodespair?SyllaandMariusinthesocialwar,havingdefeatedtheMarsians,seeingyetabodyofreservethat,promptedbydespair,wascomingonlikeenragedbrutestodashinuponthem,thoughtitnotconvenienttostandtheircharge。HadnotMonsieurdeFoix’sardourtransportedhimsofuriouslytopursuetheremainsofthevictoryofRavenna,hehadnotobscureditbyhisowndeath。AndyettherecentmemoryofhisexampleservedtopreserveMonsieurd’AnguienfromthesamemisfortuneatthebattleofSerisoles。’Tisdangeroustoattackamanyouhavedeprivedofallmeanstoescapebutbyhisarms,fornecessityteachesviolentresolutions:
"Gravissimisuntmorsusirritataenecessitatis。"
["Irritatednecessitybitesdeepest。"——PortiusLatro。,Declam。]
"Vinciturhaudgratis,juguloquiprovocathostem。"
["Heisnotreadilybeatenwhoprovokestheenemybyshewinghisthroat。"——or:"Hewhopresentshimselftohisfoe,sellshislifedear。"——Lucan,iv。275。]
ThiswasitthatmadePharaxwithholdtheKingofLacedaemon,whohadwonabattleagainsttheMantineans,fromgoingtochargeathousandArgians,whohadescapedinanentirebodyfromthedefeat,butratherletthemstealoffatlibertythathemightnotencountervalourwhettedandenragedbymischance。Clodomir,kingofAquitaine,afterhisvictorypursuingGondemar,kingofBurgundy,beatenandmakingoffasfastashecouldforsafety,compelledhimtofaceaboutandmakehead,whereinhisobstinacydeprivedhimofthefruitofhisconquest,forhetherelosthislife。
Inlikemanner,ifamanweretochoosewhetherhewouldhavehissoldiersrichlyandsumptuouslyaccoutredorarmedonlyforthenecessityofthematterinhand,thisargumentwouldstepintofavourthefirst,ofwhichopinionwasSertorius,Philopcemen,Brutus,Caesar,andothers,thatitistoasoldieranenflamingofcourageandaspurhimselfinbraveattire;andwithalamotivetobemoreobstinateinfight,havinghisarms,whichareinamannerhisestateandwholeinheritancetodefend;whichisthereason,saysXenophon,whythoseofAsiacarriedtheirwivesandconcubines,withtheirchoicestjewelsandgreatestwealth,alongwiththemtothewars。Butthentheseargumentswouldbeasreadytostandupfortheotherside;thatageneraloughtrathertolesseninhismentheirsolicitudeofpreservingthemselvesthantoincreaseit;thatbysuchmeanstheywillbeinadoublefearofhazardingtheirpersons,asitwillbeadoubletemptationtotheenemytofightwithgreaterresolutionwheresogreatbootyandsorichspoilsaretobeobtained;andthisverythinghasbeenobservedinformertimes,notablytoencouragetheRomansagainsttheSamnites。Antiochus,shewingHannibalthearmyhehadraised,wonderfullysplendidandrichinallsortsofequipage,askedhimiftheRomanswouldbesatisfiedwiththatarmy?"Satisfied,"repliedtheother,"yes,doubtless,weretheiravariceneversogreat。"Lycurgusnotonlyforbadhissoldiersallmannerofbraveryintheirequipage,but,moreover,tostriptheirconqueredenemies,becausehewould,ashesaid,thatpovertyandfrugalityshouldshinewiththerestofthebattle。
Atsiegesandelsewhere,whereoccasiondrawsusneartotheenemy,wewillinglysufferourmentobrave,rate,andaffronthimwithallsortsofinjuriouslanguage;andnotwithoutsomecolourofreason:foritisofnolittleconsequencetotakefromthemallhopesofmercyandcomposition,byrepresentingtothemthatthereisnofairquartertobeexpectedfromanenemytheyhaveincensedtothatdegree,norotherremedyremainingbutinvictory。AndyetVitelliusfoundhimselfdeceivedinthiswayofproceeding;forhavingtodowithOtho,weakerinthevalourofhissoldiers,longunaccustomedtowarandeffeminatedwiththedelightsofthecity,hesonettledthematlastwithinjuriouslanguage,reproachingthemwithcowardiceandregretforthemistressesandentertainmentstheyhadleftbehindatRome,thatbythismeansheinspiredthemwithsuchresolutionasnoexhortationhadhadthepowertohavedone,andhimselfmadethemfalluponhim,withwhomtheirowncaptainsbeforecouldbynomeansprevail。And,indeed,whentheyareinjuriesthattouchtothequick,itmayverywellfalloutthathewhowentbutunwillinglytoworkinthebehalfofhisprincewillfallto’twithanothersortofmettlewhenthequarrelishisown。
Consideringofhowgreatimportanceisthepreservationofthegeneralofanarmy,andthattheuniversalaimofanenemyislevelleddirectlyatthehead,uponwhichalltheothersdepend,thecourseseemstoadmitofnodispute,whichweknowhasbeentakenbysomanygreatcaptains,ofchangingtheirhabitanddisguisingtheirpersonsuponthepointofgoingtoengage。Nevertheless,theinconvenienceamanbysodoingrunsintoisnotlessthanthathethinkstoavoid;forthecaptain,bythismeansbeingconcealedfromtheknowledgeofhisownmen,thecouragetheyshouldderivefromhispresenceandexamplehappensbydegreestocoolandtodecay;andnotseeingthewontedmarksandensignsoftheirleader,theypresentlyconcludehimeitherdead,orthat,despairingofthebusiness,heisgonetoshiftforhimself。Andexperienceshowsusthatboththesewayshavebeensuccessfulandotherwise。WhatbefellPyrrhusinthebattlehefoughtagainsttheConsulLevinusinItalywillserveustobothpurposes;forthoughbyshroudinghispersonunderthearmourofMegaclesandmakinghimwearhisown,heundoubtedlypreservedhisownlife,yet,bythatverymeans,hewaswithalverynearrunningintotheothermischiefoflosingthebattle。Alexander,Caesar,andLuculluslovedtomakethemselvesknowninabattlebyrichaccoutrementsandarmourofaparticularlustreandcolour:Agis,Agesilaus,andthatgreatGilippus,onthecontrary,usedtofightobscurelyarmed,andwithoutanyimperialattendanceordistinction。
AmongstotheroversightsPompeyischargedwithalatthebattleofPharsalia,heiscondemnedformakinghisarmystandstilltoreceivetheenemy’scharge;by"reasonthat"(IshallherestealPlutarch’sownwords,whicharebetterthanmine)"hebysodoingdeprivedhimselfoftheviolentimpressionthemotionofrunningaddstothefirstshockofarms,andhinderedthatclashingofthecombatantsagainstoneanotherwhichiswonttogivethemgreaterimpetuosityandfury;especiallywhentheycometorushinwiththeirutmostvigour,theircouragesincreasingbytheshoutsandthecareer;’tistorenderthesoldiers’ardour,asamanmaysay,morereservedandcold。"Thisiswhathesays。ButifCaesarhadcomebytheworse,whymightitnotaswellhavebeenurgedbyanother,that,onthecontrary,thestrongestandmoststeadypostureoffightingisthatwhereinamanstandsplantedfirmwithoutmotion;andthattheywhoaresteadyuponthemarch,closingup,andreservingtheirforcewithinthemselvesforthepushofthebusiness,haveagreatadvantageagainstthosewhoaredisordered,andwhohavealreadyspenthalftheirbreathinrunningonprecipitatelytothecharge?Besidesthatanarmyisabodymadeupofsomanyindividualmembers,itisimpossibleforittomoveinthisfurywithsoexactamotionasnottobreaktheorderofbattle,andthatthebestofthemarenotengagedbeforetheirfellowscancomeontohelpthem。InthatunnaturalbattlebetwixtthetwoPersianbrothers,theLacedaemonianClearchus,whocommandedtheGreeksofCyrus’party,ledthemonsoftlyandwithoutprecipitationtothecharge;but,comingwithinfiftypaces,hurriedthemonfullspeed,hopinginsoshortacareerbothtokeeptheirorderandtohusbandtheirbreath,andatthesametimetogivetheadvantageofimpetuosityandimpressionbothtotheirpersonsandtheirmissilearms。
Othershaveregulatedthisquestionastotheirarmiesthusifyourenemycomefulldriveuponyou,standfirmtoreceivehim;ifhestandtoreceiveyou,runfulldriveuponhim。
IntheexpeditionoftheEmperorCharlesV。intoProvence,KingFranciswasputtochooseeithertogomeethiminItalyortoawaithiminhisowndominions;wherein,thoughheverywellconsideredofhowgreatadvantageitwastopreservehisownterritoryentireandclearfromthetroublesofwar,totheendthat,beingunexhaustedofitsstores,itmightcontinuallysupplymenandmoneyatneed;thatthenecessityofwarrequiresateveryturntospoilandlaywastethecountrybeforeus,whichcannotverywellbedoneuponone’sown;towhichmaybeadded,thatthecountrypeopledonotsoeasilydigestsuchahavocbythoseoftheirownpartyasfromanenemy,sothatseditionsandcommotionsmightbysuchmeansbekindledamongstus;thatthelicenceofpillageandplunder(whicharenottobetoleratedathome)isagreateaseandrefreshmentagainstthefatiguesandsufferingsofwar;andthathewhohasnootherprospectofgainthanhisbarepaywillhardlybekeptfromrunninghome,beingbuttwostepsfromhiswifeandhisownhouse;thathewholaystheclothiseveratthechargeofthefeast;thatthereismorealacrityinassaultingthandefending;andthattheshockofabattle’slossinourownbowelsissoviolentastoendangerthedisjointingofthewholebody,therebeingnopassionsocontagiousasthatoffear,thatissoeasilybelieved,orthatsosuddenlydiffusesitself;andthatthecitiesthatshouldheartherattleofthistempestattheirgates,thatshouldtakeintheircaptainsandsoldiersyettremblingandoutofbreath,wouldbeindangerinthisheatandhurrytoprecipitatethemselvesuponsomeuntowardresolution:notwithstandingallthis,soitwasthathechosetorecalltheforceshehadbeyondthemountainsandtosuffertheenemytocometohim。Forhemight,ontheotherhand,imaginethat,beingathomeandamongsthisfriends,hecouldnotfailofplentyofallmannerofconveniences;theriversandpasseshehadathisdevotionwouldbringhiminbothprovisionsandmoneyinallsecurity,andwithoutthetroubleofconvoy;thatheshouldfindhissubjectsbysomuchthemoreaffectionatetohim,byhowmuchtheirdangerwasmorenearandpressing;thathavingsomanycitiesandbarrierstosecurehim,itwouldbeinhispowertogivethelawofbattleathisownopportunityandadvantage;andthat,ifitpleasedhimtodelaythetime,undercoverandathiseasehemightseehisenemyfounderanddefeathimselfwiththedifficultieshewascertaintoencounter,beingengagedinahostilecountry,wherebefore,behind,andoneverysidewarwouldbemadeuponhim;nomeanstorefreshhimselfortoenlargehisquarters,shoulddiseasesinfestthem,ortolodgehiswoundedmeninsafety;nomoney,novictuals,butatthepointofthelance;noleisuretoreposeandtakebreath;noknowledgeofthewaysorcountrytosecurehimfromambushesandsurprises;andincaseoflosingabattle,nopossiblemeansofsavingtheremains。Neitheristherewantofexampleinboththesecases。