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

CHAP. VIII.

Cowardice is the greatest Re∣proach to a Man.

COwardice is the most stabbing Re∣proach that can be put upon a Man. From the Time that he is up∣braided with it, he takes up a Resolu∣tion, either to perish himself, or to a∣venge the Affront by the Death of his Accuser. It seems a less Evil to him, to kill, or be killed, than to suffer this Ignominy; and frequently, through a blind Fury, he is transported to the heighth of Revenge. Nay, he had ra∣ther appear a perfect Criminal, and more really guilty of other Vices, than so much as to seem reproachable for this. When Nature perceives that she hath been unkind, in not befriending a Man with that Courage which is pro∣per for him, she gives him continual Advices to hide his Defect; she will shift him away from all Occasions, where his Weakness may be brought upon the Stage: She presents to his

Thoughts Duty and Honour, that so she may lead him to do that upon Con∣sideration, which he was unable to do upon his first Thoughts: And If she finds all this unprofitable, then she sometimes inspires him with Despair, which may seem to pass for Stoutness and Valour. In short, we may affirm, there is no such rigorous and shameful Slavery, as Servile Fear: When a Man would always be in a State of Security, he never is, nor doth he deserve to be so. The Fear of Dangers, either ho∣nourable or necessary, is the Lot of mean Souls; and they whose Lives are least to be valued, are most afraid of losing them.