The spirit that urged him to draw his sword against his friend is not
that of honour; it is the spirit of the furies, and to them he must go.
_Savage_.--If he is to be punished for his wickedness, turn him over to
me; I perfectly understand the art of tormenting. Sirrah, I begin my
work with this kick on your breech.
_Duellist_.--Oh my honour, my honour, to what infamy art thou fallen!
DIALOGUE VII.
PLINY THE ELDER--PLINY THE YOUNGER.
_Pliny the Elder_.--The account that you give me, nephew, of your
behaviour amidst the tenors and perils that accompanied the first
eruption of Vesuvius does not please me much. There was more of vanity
in it than of true magnanimity. Nothing is great that is unnatural and
affected. When the earth was shaking beneath you, when the whole heaven
was darkened with sulphurous clouds, when all Nature seemed falling into
its final destruction, to be reading Livy and making extracts was an
absurd affectation. To meet danger with courage is manly, but to be
insensible of it is brutal stupidity; and to pretend insensibility where
it cannot be supposed is ridiculous falseness.
Pages:
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53