Moral essays. With an English translation by J.W. Basore

—;ON FIRMNESS, xix. 3-4will use different remedies. For those who are notperfected and still conduct themselves in accordancewith pubUc opinion must bear in mind that theyhave to dwell in the midst of injury and insultall misfortune \N-ill fall more hghtly on those whoexpect it. The more honourable a man is by birth,reputation, and patrimony, the more heroically heshould bear himself, remembering that the tallestranks stand in the front battle-line. Let him bearinsults, shameful words, civil disgrace, and all otherdegradation as he would the enemy's war-cry, andthe darts and stones from afar that rattle arounda soldier's helmet but cause no wound. Let himendure injuries, in sooth, as he would woundsthough some blows pierce his armour, others hisbreast, never overthro\\Ti, nor even moved fromhis ground. Even if you are hard pressed and besetA\-ith fierce violence, yet it is a disgrace to retreat ;maintain the post that Nature assigned you. Doyou ask what this may be ? The post of a hero.The wise man's succour is of another sort, theopposite of this ; for while you are in the heat ofaction, he has won the victory. Do not war againstyour o\\-n good ; keep alive this hope in your breastsuntil you arrive at truth, and gladly give ear to thebetter doctrine and help it on by your belief andprayer. That there should be something unconquerable,some man against whom Fortune has no power,works for the good of the commonwealth ofmankind.105