industry, and commendation lies under the protection
of warlike virtues, and whensoever there is any suspicion
of tumult, all our arts cease;” wars are most
behoveful, et bellatores agricolis civitati sunt
utiliores, as [316]Tyrius defends: and valour
is much to be commended in a wise man; but they mistake
most part, auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus
virtutem vocant, &c. (’Twas Galgacus’
observation in Tacitus) they term theft, murder, and
rapine, virtue, by a wrong name, rapes, slaughters,
massacres, &c. jocus et ludus, are pretty pastimes,
as Ludovicus Vives notes. [317]"They commonly call
the most hair-brain bloodsuckers, strongest thieves,
the most desperate villains, treacherous rogues, inhuman
murderers, rash, cruel and dissolute caitiffs, courageous
and generous spirits, heroical and worthy captains,
[318]brave men at arms, valiant and renowned soldiers,
possessed with a brute persuasion of false honour,”
as Pontus Huter in his Burgundian history complains.
By means of which it comes to pass that daily so many
voluntaries offer themselves, leaving their sweet wives,
children, friends, for sixpence (if they can get it)
a day, prostitute their lives and limbs, desire to
enter upon breaches, lie sentinel, perdu, give the
first onset, stand in the fore front of the battle,
marching bravely on, with a cheerful noise of drums
and trumpets, such vigour and alacrity, so many banners
streaming in the air, glittering armours, motions of
plumes, woods of pikes, and swords, variety of colours,
cost and magnificence, as if they went in triumph,
now victors to the Capitol, and with such pomp, as
when Darius’ army marched to meet Alexander
at Issus. Void of all fear they run into imminent
dangers, cannon’s mouth, &c., ut vulneribus
suis ferrum hostium hebetent, saith [319]Barletius,
to get a name of valour, humour and applause, which
lasts not either, for it is but a mere flash this fame,
and like a rose, intra diem unum extinguitur,
’tis gone in an instant. Of 15,000 proletaries
slain in a battle, scarce fifteen are recorded in
history, or one alone, the General perhaps, and after
a while his and their names are likewise blotted out,
the whole battle itself is forgotten. Those Grecian
orators, summa vi ingenii et eloquentiae, set
out the renowned overthrows at Thermopylae, Salamis,
Marathon, Micale, Mantinea, Cheronaea, Plataea.
The Romans record their battle at Cannas, and Pharsalian
fields, but they do but record, and we scarce hear
of them. And yet this supposed honour, popular
applause, desire of immortality by this means, pride
and vainglory spur them on many times rashly and unadvisedly,
to make away themselves and multitudes of others.
Alexander was sorry, because there were no more worlds
for him to conquer, he is admired by some for it,
animosa vox videtur, et regia, ’twas spoken
like a Prince; but as wise [320]Seneca censures him,
’twas vox inquissima et stultissima, ’twas