482 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



is enshrined, eternally remembered on every recurring occasion that calls for 

 speech or action. The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men and not only 

 is the epitaph on the funeral column in their home-land a proof of this, but 

 there abides with all men, even in foreign lands, an unwritten memorial in the 

 heart rather than on the external monument. 



Now, from this day, taking these men for your models, judging freedom 

 the only happiness and valor the only freedom, do not neglect the perils of war; 

 for it is not the wretched, despairing of the good things of life, who may more 

 properly be reckless but rather those for whom a change for the worse is the 

 risk they must run while life lasts. They experience the greatest difference if 

 any disaster befall the state. Cowardice and disgrace combined are more pain- 

 ful to a man of spirit than death, insensibly received and attended by courage 

 and hope of the common good. 



Wherefore I will not lament with the parents of our dead, who may be 

 present here, but will offer only words of comfort. And they know that they 

 are reared 'midst shifting vicissitudes of fortune. But happiness is gained only 

 when men receive for their lot a most honorable death — as these heroes now — 

 or sorrow like unto your sorrow and their life was finely allotted in the happi- 

 ness they enjoyed on earth alike with their glorious death. 



I know it is difficult to find words that will reach the heart because often- 

 times you will be reminded in the happiness of others of those joys in which 

 you yourselves did once exult; and your grief is not for blessings you have 

 never experienced but because you have been deprived of those to which you 

 have become accustomed. But those of you who are still of an age to have 

 children ought to take comfort in the hope of others. The children, yet to be 

 born, will be a private benefit to some in causing them to forget those who no 

 longer live and they will be a double boon to their country in preventing deso- 

 lation and providing for its security; for it is not fair or just that they should 

 give counsel who may not, by having children too at stake, run the same risks 

 as others. But those of you who are advanced in years may consider so much 

 gain that longer past which you have so fortunately enjoyed and that the 

 remainder of your life will be but short and will rest lightly upon you because 

 of the glory these attained. The love of honor alone never grows old and in the 

 useless period of life getting wealth does not please more, as some say, than 

 being honored. 



Before you, their sons and brothers, however many of you there are present 

 here, I see a great contest; for everybody is accustomed to praise those who are 

 no longer with us and you would find it difficult to secure a verdict of equality 

 though you surpassed them in valor, but would be thought a little inferior. 

 For the living suffer from the envy that proceeds from competition but the one 

 who is no longer in the way is honored with a good will, far from all feeling 

 of rivalry. 



But if I must make any mention of female virtue to you, who will now be 

 reduced to widowhood, I shall express it all in a brief admonition: your great 

 glory is to be found not wanting in the virtue which belongs to your sex, and 

 great will be her reputation of whom the gossip of men says least either in 

 praise or blame. 



I have now spoken, in accordance with the law, what I held appropriate, 

 and by our action our dead have already been honored and their children the 

 nation will henceforth nourish and support at the public expense till they 

 become of age — the substantial crown of glory offered to the dead before us and 

 to the survivors of such contests; for where the greatest prizes are offered for 



