Book II - Wilbourhall.org

APPENDIX III. 255pattern ; realise that happiness comes from freedom, andfreedom from courage, and do not give too much thought tothe dangers of war. (5) Who ought to give their liveswillingly ? Not poor wretches sunk in hopeless misery ; butrather they who by li\'ing longer run the risk of a change forthe worse, and who will feel the change most, if they fail.(6) In fact to a man of spirit, the degradation that results fromcowardice is more grievous than a painless death that comesto him when his blood is up and he shares the enthusiasm ofhis comrades.44. (1) That is why I do not sorrow for those of my audiencewho have lost their sons. But I will comfort them instead.You know amid what changes and chances you have lived;that they may be called fortunate to whose lot has fallen anhonourable grief, like your grief, or an honourable death, liketheir death, and in whose life prosperity and adversity havebeen equally balanced. (2) Still I know how hard it is not toregret those ofwhom you will be so often reminded by thegood fortune which others enjoy as you yourselves did once.A man grieves not for blessings which he loses before heknows their value, but for that which is taken from him whenhe has lived long with it. (3) But you must bear up. Someof you can still hope for other children : in your homes newsons will make you forget those whom you have lost, and thecity will gain in two ways : she will not lose men and she willbe secure. For no man's political action can be really loyalto democracy or to sound principles unless he like othershas sons to risk for the state. (4) Those of you that arepast the prime of life should think it a blessing that youhave been prosperous during the greater part of life. Rememberthat you have but few years to live, and console yourselveswith the fame of your dead sons. For the love ofhonour alone in life does not grow old ; and when men'sstrength is spent, it is not money, as some say, but hononrthat gives pleasure.46. (1) You that are sons or brothers of any among the dead,have, I perceive, a difficult task before you : and hardly byunusual merits would you be thought, I will not say to equalbut even to fall slightlj' below them. For men disparagetheir rivals while they live : but when men are no longer inthe way, they are honoured with universal goo