as falling into the hands and mouths of a legion of devils; and
thus braying spread far and wide, insomuch that the natives of the town
of Bray are as well known and distinguished as the negroes are from
white men. And this unhappy jest has been carried so far that our people
have often sallied out in arms against their scoffers, and given them
battle: neither king nor rook, nor fear nor shame, being able to
restrain them. Tomorrow, I believe, or next day, those of our town will
take the field against the people of another village about two leagues
from us, being one of those which persecute us most: and I have brought
the lances and halberds which you saw, that we may be well prepared for
them."

The hypocrite who cloaks his knavery is less dangerous to
the commonwealth than he who transgresses in the face of
day.

He who only wears the garb of piety does less harm than the
professed sinner.

I had rather serve the king in his wars abroad, than be the
lackey of any beggarly courtier at home.

There is nothing more honorable, next to the service which
you owe to God, than to serve your king and natural lord,
especially in the profession of arms, which, if less
profitable than learning, far exceeds it in glory. More
great families, it is true, have been established by
learning, yet there is in the martial character a certain
splendor, which seems to exalt it far above all other
pursuits. But allow me, sir, to offer you a piece of advice,
which, believe me, you will find worth your attention. Never
suffer your mind to dwell on the adverse events of your
life; for the worst that can befall you is death, and when
attended with honor there is no event so glorious. Julius
Caesar, that valorous Roman, being asked which was the kind
of death to be preferred, "That," said he, "which is sudden
and unforeseen!"

Though he answered like a heathen, who knew not the true
God, yet, considering human infirmity, it was well said.
For, supposing you should be cut off in the very first
encounter, either by cannon-shot or the springing of a mine,
what does it signify? it is but dying, which is inevitable,
and, being over, there it ends. Terence observes that the
corpse of a man who is slain in battle looks better than the
living soldier who has saved himself by flight; and the good
soldier rises in estimation according to the measure of his
obedience to those who