EPIST. XIX. Of True Courage.

FOrtitude is (properly) the Contempt of all Hazards, according to Reason; though it be commonly, and promiscu∣ously used also, for, a Contempt of all Hazards, even Without, or Against Rea-Reason: Which is rather a Daring, and a Brutal Fierceness, than an Honorable Courage. A Brave Man fears Nothing more than the Weakness of being affect∣ed with Popular Glory. His Eyes are not Dazled, either with Gold, or Steel; he tramples upon all the Terrors, and Glories of Fortune; he looks upon him∣self as a Citizen, and Soldier of the World, and, in despite of all Accidents, and Oppositions, he maintains his Stati∣on. He does not only Suffer, but Court the most Perilous Occasions of Virtue, and those Adventures which are most Terrible to Others: for he values him∣self upon Experiment; and is more Am∣bitious of being reputed Good, than Page  138 Happy. Mucius Lost his hand with more Honor, than he could have Preserv'd it: He was a greater Conqueror Without it, than he could have been With it: For with the very Stump of it, he overcame two Kings, Tarquin, and Porsenna. Ruti∣lia follow'd Cotta into Banishment; she stay'd, and she return'd with him too; and soon after, she Lost him, without so much as shedding a Tear: a Great In∣stance of her Courage, in his Banishment, and of her Prudence, in his Death. This (sayes Epicurus) is the Last, and the Blessed'st day of my Life; when he was ready to Expire in an extreme torment of the Stone. It is never said of the 300 Fabii, that they were Overcome, but that they were Slain; Nor of Regulus, that he was Vanquish'd by the Carthaginians, but that he was Taken. The Spartans prohibited all Exercises where the Vi∣ctory was declar'd by the Voice, and Sub∣mission, of him that was worsted. When Phaeton begg'd of Phoebus the Govern∣ment of the Chariot of the Sun for one day, the Poet makes him so far from be∣ing Discouraged by his Fathers telling him of the Danger of the Undertaking, Page  139 and how he himself had much adoe to keep his Seat for Fear, when he look'd down from the Meridian, that it prov'd a Spur to his Importunity. That's the thing (sayes Phaeton) that I would be at; to stand Firm in That difficulty, where Phoebus himself Trembles. Security is the Caution of Narrow Minds. But, as Fire tries Gold, so does Difficulty, and Hazard try Virtuous Men. Not but that he may be as Valiant that Watches upon the Tower as he that fights upon his Knees; only the One has had the good Fortune of an Occasion for the Proof of his Resolution. As some Crea∣tures are Cruel; Others Crafty, and some Timorous; so Man is endu'd with a Glorious, and an Excellent Spirit, that prompts him, not so much to re∣gard a Safe Life, as an Honest. Pro∣vidence has made him the Master of this Lower World; and he reckons it his Duty to Sacrifice his Own Particular to the Advantage of the Whole. And yet there is a vast Difference, even in the same Action done by a Brave Per∣son, and by a Stupid: as the Death of Page  140Cato was Honorable; but that of Bru∣tus was Shameful. Nor is it Death it self that we recommend for Glorious; but it is a glorious thing to Dye as we Ought. Neither is it Poverty, Banish∣ment, or Pain, that we commend; but the Man that behaves himself Bravely under those Afflictions. How were the Gladiators Contemn'd, that call'd for Quarter? And those on the other side Favour'd, that Despis'd it. Many a Man saves his Life, by not fearing to Lose it; and, Many a Man Loses his Life, for being over-sollicitous to save it. We are many times afraid of Dy∣ing by One thing, and we come to Dye by Another. As for Example; we are Threatned by an Enemy, and we Dye by a Pleurisie. The Fear of Death en∣larges all other things that we Fear. To Bear it with Constancy, we should Compute, that whether our Lives be long, or short, it comes all to a Point; Some Hours we lose: What if they were Dayes, Months, Years? What matters it if I never Arrive at that which I must certainly Part with when I have Page  141 it. Life is but one Point of Flying Time; and, that which is to come, is no more Mine, than that which is Past. And, we have this for our Comfort too, that whosoever now Fears Death, will, some time or other come to Wish it. If Death be Troublesome, or Terrible; the Fault is in us, and not in Death it self. It is as great a Madness for a Man to Fear that which he is not to Feel, as that which he is not to Suffer. The Difference lies in the Manner of Dy∣ing, and not in the Issue of Death it Self. 'Tis a more Inglorious Death to be Smother'd with Perfumes, than to be torn to pieces with Pincers. Pro∣vided my Mind be not Sick, I shall not much heed my Body. I am Prepar'd for my last Hour, without tormenting my self when it will come. It is be∣twixt the Stoicks and other Philosophers, as betwixt Men, and Women. They are Both, Equally, Necessary for Socie∣ty; only the one is Born for Govern∣ment, and the other for Subjection. Other Sects deal with their Disciples, as Plausible Physitians do with their Pa∣tients; Page  142 they Flatter, and Humor them; whereas the Stoicks go a Bolder way to work; and consider rather their Profit, than their Pleasure.