按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ties a rope to one of the arms of the prisoner； of which； at a distance；
out of his reach； he holds the one end himself； and gives to the friend
he loves best the other arm to hold after the same manner； which being。
done； they two； in the presence of all the assembly； despatch him with
their swords。 After that； they roast him； eat him amongst them； and send
some chops to their absent friends。 They do not do this； as some think；
for nourishment； as the Scythians anciently did； but as a representation
of an extreme revenge； as will appear by this： that having observed the
Portuguese； who were in league with their enemies； to inflict another
sort of death upon any of them they took prisoners； which was to set them
up to the girdle in the earth； to shoot at the remaining part till it was
stuck full of arrows； and then to hang them； they thought those people of
the other world （as being men who had sown the knowledge of a great many
vices amongst their neighbours； and who were much greater masters in all
sorts of mischief than they） did not exercise this sort of revenge
without a meaning； and that it must needs be more painful than theirs；
they began to leave their old way； and to follow this。 I am not sorry
that we should here take notice of the barbarous horror of so cruel an
action； but that； seeing so clearly into their faults； we should be so
blind to our own。 I conceive there is more barbarity in eating a man
alive； than when he is dead； in tearing a body limb from limb by racks
and torments； that is yet in perfect sense； in roasting it by degrees； in
causing it to be bitten and worried by dogs and swine （as we have not
only read； but lately seen； not amongst inveterate and mortal enemies；
but among neighbours and fellow…citizens； and； which is worse； under
colour of piety and religion）； than to roast and eat him after he is
dead。
Chrysippus and Zeno； the two heads of the Stoic sect； were of opinion
that there was no hurt in making use of our dead carcasses； in what way
soever for our necessity； and in feeding upon them too；＇Diogenes
Laertius； vii。 188。＇ as our own ancestors； who being besieged by
Caesar in the city Alexia； resolved to sustain the famine of the siege
with the bodies of their old men； women； and other persons who were
incapable of bearing arms。
〃Vascones； ut fama est； alimentis talibus usi
Produxere animas。〃
＇〃'Tis said the Gascons with such meats appeased their hunger。〃
Juvenal； Sat。； xv。 93。
And the physicians make no bones of employing it to all sorts of use；
either to apply it outwardly； or to give it inwardly for the health of
the patient。 But there never was any opinion so irregular； as to excuse
treachery； disloyalty； tyranny； and cruelty； which are our familiar
vices。 We may then call these people barbarous； in respect to the rules
of reason： but not in respect to ourselves； who in all sorts of barbarity
exceed them。 Their wars are throughout noble and generous； and carry as
much excuse and fair pretence； as that human malady is capable of； having
with them no other foundation than the sole jealousy of valour。 Their
disputes are not for the conquest of new lands； for these they already
possess are so fruitful by nature； as to supply them without labour or
concern； with all things necessary； in such abundance that they have no
need to enlarge their borders。 And they are； moreover； happy in this；
that they only covet so much as their natural necessities require： all
beyond that is superfluous to them： men of the same age call one another
generally brothers； those who are younger； children； and the old men are
fathers to all。 These leave to their heirs in common the full possession
of goods； without any manner of division； or other title than what nature
bestows upon her creatures； in bringing them into the world。 If their
neighbours pass over the mountains to assault them； and obtain a victory；
all the victors gain by it is glory only； and the advantage of having
proved themselves the better in valour and virtue： for they never meddle
with the goods of the conquered； but presently return into their own
country； where they have no want of anything necessary； nor of this
greatest of all goods； to know happily how to enjoy their condition and
to be content。 And those in turn do the same； they demand of their
prisoners no other ransom； than acknowledgment that they are overcome：
but there is not one found in an age； who will not rather choose to die
than make such a confession； or either by word or look recede from the
entire grandeur of an invincible courage。 There is not a man amongst
them who had not rather be killed and eaten； than so much as to open his
mouth to entreat he may not。 They use them with all liberality and
freedom； to the end their lives may be so much the dearer to them； but
frequently entertain them with menaces of their approaching death； of the
torments they are to suffer； of the preparations making in order to it；
of the mangling their limbs； and of the feast that is to be made； where
their carcass is to be the only dish。 All which they do； to no other
end； but only to extort some gentle or submissive word from them； or to
frighten them so as to make them run away； to obtain this advantage that
they were terrified； and that their constancy was shaken； and indeed； if
rightly taken； it is in this point only that a true victory consists：
〃Victoria nulla est；
Quam quae confessor animo quoque subjugat hostes。〃
＇〃No victory is complete； which the conquered do not admit to be
so。〃Claudius； De Sexto Consulatu Honorii； v。 248。＇
The Hungarians； a very warlike people； never pretend further than to
reduce the enemy to their discretion； for having forced this confession
from them； they let them go without injury or ransom； excepting； at the
most； to make them engage their word never to bear arms against them
again。 We have sufficient advantages over our enemies that are borrowed
and not truly our own； it is the quality of a porter； and no effect of
virtue； to have stronger arms and legs； it is a dead and corporeal
quality to set in array； 'tis a turn of fortune to make our enemy
stumble； or to dazzle him with the light of the sun； 'tis a trick of
science and art； and that may happen in a mean base fellow； to be a good
fencer。 The estimate and value of a man consist in the heart and in the
will： there his true honour lies。 Valour is stability； not of legs and
arms； but of the courage and the soul； it does not lie in the goodness of
our horse or our arms but in our own。 He that falls obstinate in his
courage
〃Si succiderit； de genu pugnat〃
＇〃If his legs fail him； he fights on his knees。〃
Seneca； De Providentia； c。 2。＇
he who； for any danger of imminent death； abates nothing of his
assurance； who； dying； yet darts at his enemy a fierce and disdainful
look； is overcome not by us； but by fortune； he is killed； not conquered；
the most valiant are sometimes the most unfortunate。 There are defeats
more triumphant than victories。 Never cou