in his memory was some of the verses of his Battle of Phaysalia； which he
recited； dying with them in his mouth。 What was this； but taking a
tender and paternal leave of his children； in imitation of the
valedictions and embraces； wherewith we part from ours； when we come to
die； and an effect of that natural inclination； that suggests to our
remembrance in this extremity those things which were dearest to us
during the time of our life？
Can we believe that Epicurus who； as he says himself； dying of the
intolerable pain of the stone； had all his consolation in the beauty of
the doctrine he left behind him； could have received the same
satisfaction from many children； though never so well…conditioned and
brought up； had he had them； as he did from the production of so many
rich writings？ Or that； had it been in his choice to have left behind
him a deformed and untoward child or a foolish and ridiculous book； he；
or any other man of his understanding； would not rather have chosen to
have run the first misfortune than the other？ It had been； for example；
peradventure； an impiety in St。 Augustin； if； on the one hand； it had
been proposed to him to bury his writings； from which religion has
received so great fruit； or on the other to bury his children； had he had
them； had he not rather chosen to bury his children。 And I know not
whether I had not much rather have begot a very beautiful one； through
society with the Muses； than by lying with my wife。 To this； such as it
is； what I give it I give absolutely and irrevocably； as men do to their
bodily children。 That little I have done for it； is no more at my own
disposal； it may know many things that are gone from me； and from me hold
that which I have not retained； and which； as well as a stranger； I
should borrow thence； should I stand in need。 If I am wiser than my
book； it is richer than I。 There are few men addicted to poetry； who
would not be much prouder to be the father to the AEneid than to the
handsomest youth of Rome； and who would not much better bear the loss of
the one than of the other。 For according to Aristotle； the poet； of all
artificers； is the fondest of his work。 'Tis hard to believe that
Epaminondas； who boasted that in lieu of all posterity he left two
daughters behind him that would one day do their father honour （meaning
the two victories he obtained over the Lacedaemonians）； would willingly
have consented to exchange these for the most beautiful creatures of all
Greece； or that Alexander or Caesar ever wished to be deprived of the
grandeur of their glorious exploits in war； for the convenience of
children and heirs； how perfect and accomplished soever。 Nay； I make a
great question； whether Phidias or any other excellent sculptor would be
so solicitous of the preservation and continuance of his natural
children； as he would be of a rare statue； which with long labour and
study he had perfected according to art。 And to those furious and
irregular passions that have sometimes inflamed fathers towards their own
daughters； and mothers towards their own sons； the like is also found in
this other sort of parentage： witness what is related of Pygmalion who；
having made the statue of a woman of singular beauty； fell so
passionately in love with this work of his； that the gods in favour of
his passion inspired it with life。
〃Tentatum mollescit ebur； positoque rigore；
Subsidit digitis。〃
＇〃The ivory grows soft under his touch and yields to his fingers。〃
Ovid； Metam。； x。 283。＇
CHAPTER IX
OF THE ARMS OF THE PARTHIANS
'Tis an ill custom and unmanly that the gentlemen of our time have got；
not to put on arms but just upon the point of the most extreme necessity；
and to lay them by again； so soon as ever there is any show of the danger
being over； hence many disorders arise； for every one bustling and
running to his arms just when he should go to charge； has his cuirass to
buckle on when his companions are already put to rout。 Our ancestors
were wont to give their head…piece； lance and gauntlets to be carried；
but never put off the other pieces so long as there was any work to be
done。 Our troops are now cumbered and rendered unsightly with the
clutter of baggage and servants who cannot be from their masters； by
reason they carry their arms。 Titus Livius speaking of our nation：
〃Intolerantissima laboris corpora vix arma humeris gerebant。〃
＇〃Bodies most impatient of labour could scarce endure to wear
their arms on their shoulders。〃Livy； x。 28。＇
Many nations do yet； and did anciently； go to war without defensive arms；
or with such； at least； as were of very little proof：
〃Tegmina queis capitum； raptus de subere cortex。〃
＇〃To whom the coverings of the heads were the bark of the
cork…tree。〃AEneid； vii。 742。＇
Alexander； the most adventurous captain that ever was； very seldom wore
armour； and such amongst us as slight it； do not by that much harm to the
main concern； for if we see some killed for want of it； there are few
less whom the lumber of arms helps to destroy； either by being
overburthened； crushed； and cramped with their weight； by a rude shock；
or otherwise。 For； in plain truth； to observe the weight and thickness
of the armour we have now in use； it seems as if we only sought to defend
ourselves； and are rather loaded than secured by it。 We have enough to
do to support its weight； being so manacled and immured； as if we were
only to contend with our own arms； and as if we had not the same
obligation to defend them； that they have to defend us。 Tacitus gives a
pleasant description of the men…at…arms among our ancient Gauls； who were
so armed as only to be able to stand； without power to harm or to be
harmed； or to rise again if once struck down。 Lucullus； seeing certain
soldiers of the Medes； who formed the van of Tigranes' army； heavily
armed and very uneasy； as if in prisons of iron； thence conceived hopes
with great ease to defeat them； and by them began his charge and victory。
And now that our musketeers are in credit； I believe some invention will
be found out to immure us for our safety； and to draw us to the war in
castles； such as those the ancients loaded their elephants withal。
This humour is far differing from that of the younger Scipio； who sharply
reprehended his soldiers for having planted caltrops under water； in a
ditch by which those of the town he held besieged might sally out upon
him； saying； that those who assaulted should think of attacking； and not
to fear； suspecting； with good reason； that this stop they had put to the
enemies； would make themselves less vigilant upon their guard。 He said
also to a young man； who showed him a fine buckler he had； that he was
very proud of； 〃It is a very fine buckler indeed； but a Roman soldier
ought to repose greater confidence in his right hand than in his left。〃
Now 'tis nothing but the not being used to wear it that makes the weight
of our armour so intolerable：
〃L'usbergo in dosso haveano； et l'elmo in testa；
Due di questi guerrier； de' quali io canto；
Ne notte o di； d' appoi ch' entraro in questa
Stanza； gl'haveano mai messi da canto；
Che facile a portar come la vesta
Era lor； perche in uso l'havean tanto：〃
＇〃Two of the warriors； of whom I sing； had on their backs their
cuirass and on their heads their casque； and never had night or day
once laid them by； whilst here they were； those arms； by long
practice； were grown as light to bear as a garment〃
Ariosto； Cant。； MI。 30。＇
the Emperor Caracalla was wont to march on foot； completely armed； at the
head of his army。 The Roman infantry always carried not only a morion； a
sword； and a shield （for as to arms； says Cicero； they were so accustomed
to have them always on； that they were no more trouble to them than their
own limbs：
〃Arma enim membra militis esse dicunt。〃
but； moreover； fifteen days' provision； together with a certain number of
stakes； wherewith to fortify their camp； sixty pounds in weight。 And
Marius' soldiers； laden at the same rate； were inured to march in order
of battle five leagues in five hours； and sometimes； upon any urgent
occasion； six。
Their military discipline was much ruder than ours； and accordingly
produced much greater effects。 The younger Scipio； reforming his army in
Spain； ordered his soldiers to eat standing； and nothing that was drest。
The jeer that was given a Lacedaemonian soldier is marvellously pat to
this purpose； who； in an expedition of war； was reproached for having
been seen under the roof of a house： they were so inured to hardship
that； let the weather be what it would； it was a shame to be seen under
any other cover than the roof of heaven。 We should not march our people
very far at that rate。
As to what remains； Marcellinus； a man bred up in the Roman wars；
curiously observes the manner of the Parthians arming themselves； and the
rather； for being so different from that of the Romans。 〃They had；〃 says
he； 〃armour so woven as to have all the scales