erlasting fame; and of imprinting in the kings
of nations, and the rulers of cities, great inclination and diligence of
doing well; as also of encouraging them to undergo dangers, and to die
for their countries, and of instructing them how to despise all the most
terrible adversities: and I have a fair occasion offered me to enter on
such a discourse by Saul the king of the Hebrews; for although he knew
what was coming upon him, and that he was to die immediately, by the
prediction of the prophet, he did not resolve to fly from death, nor
so far to indulge the love of life as to betray his own people to
the enemy, or to bring a disgrace on his royal dignity; but exposing
himself, as well as all his family and children, to dangers, he thought
it a brave thing to fall together with them, as he was fighting for his
subjects, and that it was better his sons should die thus, showing their
courage, than to leave them to their uncertain conduct afterward, while,
instead of succession and posterity, they gained commendation and a
lasting name. Such a one alone seems to me to be a just, a courageous,
and a prudent man; and when any one has arrived at these dispositions,
or shall hereafter arrive at them, he is the man that ought to be by all
honored with the testimony of a virtuous or courageous man: for as to
those that go out to war with hopes of success, and that they shall
return safe, supposing they should have performed some glorious action,
I think those do not do well who call these valiant men, as so many
historians and other writers who treat of them are wont to do, although
I confess those do justly deserve some commendation also; but those only
may be styled courageous and bold in great undertakings, and despisers
of adversities, who imitate Saul: for as for those that do not know what
the event of war will be as to themselves, and though they do not faint
in it, but deliver themselves up to uncertain futurity, and are tossed
this way and that way, this is not so very eminent an instance of a
generous mind, although they happen to perform many great exploits; but
when men's minds expect no good event, but they know beforehand they
must die, and that they must undergo that death in the battle also,
after this neither to be aftrighted, nor to be astonished at the
terrible fate that is coming, but to go directly upon it, when they know
it beforehand, this it is that I esteem the character of a man truly
courageous. Accord