crowd for his father； to whom he is first led by his natural inclination。
Now； to consider this simple reason for loving our children； that we have
begot them； therefore calling them our second selves； it appears；
methinks； that there is another kind of production proceeding from us；
that is of no less recommendation： for that which we engender by the
soul； the issue of our understanding； courage； and abilities； springs
from nobler parts than those of the body； and that are much more our own：
we are both father and mother in this generation。 These cost us a great
deal more and bring us more honour； if they have anything of good in
them。 For the value of our other children is much more theirs than ours；
the share we have in them is very little； but of these all the beauty；
all the grace and value； are ours； and also they more vividly represent
us than the others。 Plato adds； that these are immortal children that
immortalise and deify their fathers； as Lycurgus； Solon； Minos。 Now；
histories being full of examples of the common affection of fathers to
their children； it seems not altogether improper to introduce some few of
this other kind。 Heliodorus； that good bishop of Trikka； rather chose to
lose the dignity； profit； and devotion of so venerable a prelacy； than to
lose his daughter； a daughter that continues to this day very graceful
and comely； but； peradventure； a little too curiously and wantonly
tricked； and too amorous for an ecclesiastical and sacerdotal daughter。
There was one Labienus at Rome； a man of great worth and authority； and
amongst other qualities excellent in all sorts of literature； who was； as
I take it； the son of that great Labienus； the chief of Caesar's captains
in the wars of Gaul； and who； afterwards； siding with Pompey the great；
so valiantly maintained his cause； till he was by Caesar defeated in
Spain。 This Labienus； of whom I am now speaking； had several enemies；
envious of his good qualities； and； tis likely； the courtiers and minions
of the emperors of his time who were very angry at his freedom and the
paternal humour which he yet retained against tyranny； with which it is
to be supposed he had tinctured his books and writings。 His adversaries
prosecuted several pieces he had published before the magistrates at
Rome； and prevailed so far against him； as to have them condemned to the
fire。 It was in him that this new example of punishment was begun； which
was afterwards continued against others at Rome； to punish even writing
and studies with death。 There would not be means and matter enough of
cruelty； did we not mix with them things that nature has exempted from
all sense and suffering； as reputation and the products of the mind； and
did we not communicate corporal punishments to the teachings and
monuments of the Muses。 Now； Labienus could not suffer this loss； nor
survive these his so dear issue； and therefore caused himself to be
conveyed and shut up alive in the monument of his ancestors； where he
made shift to kill and bury himself at once。 'Tis hard to shew a more
vehement paternal affection than this。 Cassius Severus； a man of great
eloquence and his very intimate friend； seeing his books burned； cried
out that by the same sentence they should as well condemn him to the fire
too； seeing that he carried in his memory all that they contained。 The
like accident befel Cremutius Cordus； who being accused of having in his
books commended Brutus and Cassius； that dirty； servile； and corrupt
Senate； worthy a worse master than Tiberius； condemned his writings to
the flame。 He was willing to bear them company； and killed himself with
fasting。 The good Lucan； being condemned by that rascal Nero； at the
last gasp of his life； when the greater part of his blood was already
spent through the veins of his arms； which he had caused his physician to
open to make him die； and when the cold had seized upon all his
extremities； and began to approach his vital parts； the last thing he had
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