The Natural Hiffory, &e. Book XK: 
cuftomed to judge by. the Rules, of moral or political Fitnefs; it not 
being prudent in any Man to expofe himfelf to Danger; from which he 
muft owe his Efcape’as much to Chance as Valour, nor confiftent with 
the Value which ought to be fet on the great Gift of Life, to rifque it 
upon fmall and inadequate Occafions ; the Exploit therefore had been 
more truly heroic, had it been performed for the Prefervation of his 
Friend’s Life, rather than the Recovery of his Body. But fuch Re- 
fleGions are not the Sentiments of Sailors, a Clafs of Men to whom 
Courage is a Virtue, however madly or unfeafonably exerted. 
And yet if fuch an Action had been recorded of Scipio or Alexander 
in the Defence of Lelkus or Hepheftion, whether it would not have 
been celebrated by their Admirers, among the moft fhining and mag- 
nanimous Atchievements of thofe renowned Heroes and Friends. 
304 
FoIo NV 1.8: 
