1 64 PHYSICAL SCIENCE BK. iv 



No word was wrung from me that I could not 

 utter with a clear conscience. All my fears were 

 for my friends, none for myself, except the fear of 

 not proving a true friend. No womanish tears 

 escaped me, nor did I cling as suppliant to the 

 hands of any ruler. I have done nothing un- 

 becoming a man or a good man. Rising superior 



15 to dangers, ready to face all they threatened, I 

 thanked fortune for affording opportunity of 

 showing what a price I put upon honour. Such an 

 issue could not be lightly esteemed in my eyes. 

 The suspense was not of long continuance. The 

 weights in the scale were by no means equal 

 was it better for me to perish for honour's 

 sake or for honour to perish for my sake ? I did 

 not rush headlong to self-destruction, the refuge of 

 despair, to rescue myself from the mad rage of 

 the rulers. In Caius' time I saw tortures and 

 fires of persecution. Under his reign I recog- 

 nised at one period that the lot of humanity 



16 had sunk to such a depth of misery that the 

 loss of one's life might be ranked among the 

 deeds of mercy. Yet, I did not fall upon my 

 sword, nor leap open-mouthed into the sea : I 

 would not have it seem that death was the only 

 service I could render for honour's sake. Add, 

 now, that my soul has never stooped to bribes, 

 amid the eager race for wealth my hand has never 

 reached forth to receive unjust gain. Add, too, 

 the thriftiness of my mode of life, the restraint 

 of my speech, my courtesy toward inferiors, my 

 respect for superiors. 



After these reflections, ask yourself, my friend, 

 whether what you have related of yourself be true 

 or false. If it is true, you have a most important 



