Moreover, when war is waged, or an enemy attacks, if one be able either to conquer or to be hidden, they are great trophies; but unhappy will he be who shall be taken by them.  He loses country and king who has been unwilling to fight worthily for the truth, for his country, or for life.  He ought to die rather than go under a barbarian king; and let him seek slavery who is willing to transfer himself to enemies without law.  Then, if in warring thou shouldst die for thy king, thou hast conquered, or if thou hast given thy hands, thou hast perished uninjured by law.  The enemy crosses the river; do thou hide under thy lurking-place; or, if he can enter or not, do not linger.  Everywhere make thyself safe, and thy friends also; thou hast conquered.  And take watchful care lest any one enter in that lurking-place.  It will be an infamous thing if any one declares himself to the enemy.  He who knows not how to conquer, and runs to deliver himself up, has weakly foregone praise for neither his own nor his country’s good.  Then he was unwilling to live, since life itself will perish.  If any one is without God, or profane from the enemy, they are become as sounding brass, or deaf as adders:  such men ought abundantly to pray or to hide themselves.

E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH