present wave any commendation of those who die in war, [2] and omit
to speak of the immortality of those men who are slain in the midst of
their martial bravery; yet cannot I forbear to imprecate upon those who
are of a contrary disposition, that they may die in time of peace, by
some distemper or other, since their souls are condemned to the grave,
together with their bodies. For what man of virtue is there who does not
know, that those souls which are severed from their fleshly bodies in
battles by the sword are received by the ether, that purest of elements,
and joined to that company which are placed among the stars; that they
become good demons, and propitious heroes, and show themselves as such
to their posterity afterwards? while upon those souls that wear away in
and with their distempered bodies comes a subterranean night to dissolve
them to nothing, and a deep oblivion to take away all the remembrance
of them, and this notwithstanding they be clean from all spots and
defilements of this world; so that, in this ease, the soul at the same
time comes to the utmost bounds of its life, and of its body, and of
its memorial also. But since he hath determined that death is to come of
necessity upon all men, a sword is a better instrument for that purpose
than any disease whatsoever. Why is it not then a very mean thing for
us not to yield up that to the public benefit which we must yield up to
fate? And this discourse have I made, upon the supposition that those
who at first attempt to go upon this wall must needs be killed in the
attempt, though still men of true courage have a chance to escape even
in the most hazardous undertakings. For, in the first place, that part
of the former wall that is thrown down is easily to be ascended; and for
the new-built wall, it is easily destroyed. Do you, therefore, many of
you, pull up your courage, and set about this work, and do you mutually
encourage and assist one another; and this your bravery will soon break
the hearts of your enemies; and perhaps such a glorious undertaking
as yours is may be accomplished without bloodshed. For although it be
justly to be supposed that the Jews will try to hinder you at your first
beginning to go up to them; yet when you have once concealed yourselves
from them, and driven them away by force, they will not be able to
sustain your efforts against them any longer, though but a few of you
prevent them, and get over the wall. As for that person w