A moral treatise upon valour divided into two books / translated from the French.

CHAP. III.

It is more pleasant to read the Lives of Valiant, than of other Princes.

WE pronounce the Name of Ale∣xander and Caesar more fre∣quently than those of other Prin∣ces. We seem to feel a kind of In∣terest in their past Fortunes, we fan∣sie our selves concerned in their Con∣quests, and to have some Share in their Triumphs; we are charmed with a far greater Pleasure in read∣ing of their Lives, than that of No∣velty; we are more delighted to read their Stories over and over again, than that of any other Prince, though but once. Notwithstanding a Thou∣sand Republicans, and Men of Com∣monwealth-Principles, have endeavou∣red to palliate the Death of Caesar, with specious Pretences; yet, at this very Day, we cannot but look upon that Act as an Assassination, and re∣gard

the Criminals for no less than Parricides: We conspire against them who plotted against him; we ab∣horr those of the Senate that were so cruel; and it is our Opinion, that the unfortunate End of those Con∣spirators was an Effect of the just Vengeance of Heaven upon them. What Regret have we not also for Alexander, to think he should be re∣moved out of the World at so young an Age? We lament his Death, whe∣ther it were violent or natural: We conceive that so great a Courage de∣served a longer Life. After he had conquered Asia, we could have wish∣ed he had turned his Arms against Europe, (as he designed to do:) We imagine we should have been well pleased to have seen him attack the Romans, who at that Time were ma∣king their Advances in Italy, and were laying the Foundation of the most puissant Republick in the World. And that which is here most remarkable, is, we do not cease to admire their Valour, when, at the same Time, we know they have been unfortu∣nate in their Enterprises. Pyrrhus, in

many of his Expeditions, met with more Disgraces, than Success: He was despoiled by Lysimachus of the Part which he had in Macedonia: He was forced to abandon Sicily and Italy, after he had spent six Years Time there: He raised the Siege of Lacedaemon, and was slain before that at Argos. Yet, notwithstanding all these Misfortunes, we follow the Con∣duct of his Exploits with Admiration: We wish his Success had been equal to his Courage; and are sorry that all his Conquests should drop through his Fingers, just as he had caught them with his Hands; and after having van∣quished his Enemies, through a Thou∣sand Dangers and Hazards, that he was not so happy as to reap the Fruit of his Victories.