Book II - Wilbourhall.org

254 eOYKYAIAOY ^YrrPA^HS B.to say aa of them that their reputation is balanced by theiractions. It seems to me that a close like theirs, whetherit was only the first indication, or the final proof, does showa man's true worth. (3) Even when men have committedmany faults, it is just that the valour with which they havefought for their country should be set above everything else :good wipes out the bad ; and their public services more thanrepair the harm they did through their private failings.(4) Of these men not one was unnerved by a desire to enjoywealth longer ; not one shrank from danger from the poorman's hope of some day exchanging poverty for riches. No,they considered vengeance on their enemies more to be desiredthan these things ; this they thought the noblest of all causes,and only if they succeeded in exacting that vengeance did theywish to indulge in those prospects. The uncertainty of ultimatesuccess they left to hope ; but in view of the task beforethem at the moment they determined to rely on themselvesalone. In carrying out that determination they thought itnobler to resist and suffer than to save themselves by surrendering.What they fled from was disgrace ; but on the fieldthey stood firm at their posts, till, in an instant, at a momentordained by Providence, at the crisis, not of their fear, but oftheir glory, they passed away.43. (1) So they died. It was a death worthy of an Athenian:and we who are left, though we should pray for a spirit lessfatal, must yet determine to fight with no less daring thanthey. Judge not of the profit merely from what you hear.(Indeed, what would be the use of talking at length about itwhen you know it quite well yourselves? Why enumerate theobvious advantages of self-defence ?) Rather contemplate thegreatness of our city day by day in its effects, and learn to loveher : and when she seems glorious to you, reflect that hersupremacy was obtained for her by men, who to their courageadded a clear knowledge of their duty and a keen sense ofhonour in battle, and who, if ever they failed to gain theirobject, did not let their country miss the tribute of theirvalour, but readily gave it to her as the best offering theycould make. (2) For by giving their lives for the commongood, they won for themselves glory which is ever young, andthe most honourable of all sepulchres, not that in which theyare buried, but that in which their glory survives, to be calledto remembrance on every fitting occasion whether in word ordeed. (3) Ft)r every land is the sepulchre of famous men.They are not commemorated merely by the writing on stonesin their own country, but in foreign countries too the unwrittenmemorial of them lives on, carried not in stonerecords but in the hearts of men. (4) Let them be your