Epictetus junior, or, Maximes of modern morality in two centuries / collected by J.D. of Kidwelly.

CXVI.

Perfect Valour and compleat Cowardise, are extremities whereto men seldom arrive; The distance between them is of a vast extent, and compre∣hends all the other species of Courage; and there is no less difference between these, than there is between mens faces and humours. Yet is there a cer∣tain agreement and conformi∣ty among them in many things: there are some men who cheerfully expose them∣selves at the beginning of an action, but easily flag, and are disheartned in the prosecution of it. There are some again, who think they have suffici∣ently

acquitted themselves, when they have behav'd them∣selves to that pitch of honour which satisfies the World, and seldom offer at any thing tran∣scending it. We also observe some, who are not at all times equally masters of their fear: others are discourag'd by ge∣neral frights; others think it more safe to run into a charge than to continue in their posts. In fine, there are some, whom an habitual acquaintance with lesser dangers heightens into a higher degree of courage, and prepares for an exposal of themselves to greater hazards. Moreover, there is yet a ge∣neral correspondence observa∣ble among the courages of the different species before men∣tioned,

which is, that the dark∣ness of night augmenting fear, and casting an obscurity over good and bad actions, gives them the liberty to make a greater husbandry of their valour. There is yet a more general thrift of courage, which, speaking absolutely, hath an influence over all sorts of men, and is this, that there are not any but would demean themselves to the utmost of their power in an action, if they had but an assurance of their coming off. So that it is certainly deducible hence, that the fear of death makes a cer∣tain abatement of their Valour, and subtracts somewhat from its effects.