Letter 132
To his Brother
We may allow that there are worse things than woman shrieking,
beating their breasts, or tearing their hair when they see the enemy or when his coming is
announced to them. For all that, Plato regards it as scandalous that they should not be
willing to stand up like hens against the bravest in the defence of their offspring, and
that they should give to the race of man the reputation of being the most cowardly of all
animals. However this may be, that you should commit the same fault as these women, that
you should be terrified out of your wits in the night, that you should get out of bed, and
go about shouting that the barbarian is already at the gate of the fortress; I ask, is
this to be endured any longer? And yet some one has told me some such story about you. It
would seem like a transformation to be at one moment my brother, and at another a coward.
For my part, at the moment of dawn I am off on horseback, I am scouting as far out as
possible, searching busily wit eyes and ears for any signs of these cattle-lifters, for I
cannot give the name of enemy to looters and foot-pads. I wish I could find stronger
phrases still with which to characterize them.
They never hold their ground against determined adversaries, and they
only attack the timid, whom they slaughter like victims for sacrifice, and then strip
them. At night, with an escort of young men, I patrol the hill and I give the women an
opportunity of sleeping without fear, for they know that there are those who are watching
over them. Moreover I have with me some of the corps of the Balagritae. Before Cerialis
had taken over the command of the province, these men were mounted bowmen; but when he
entered upon his functions, their horses were sold and they became only archers, but even
as infantry they are useful to me. We need archery in defence of our wells and of the
river, as water is entirely lacking in the interior of our lines. Now what prevents us
from going through our siege in flute-playing and in festal gatherings? It is that we must
either conquer now by fighting, or perish in hand-to-hand struggle with the enemy, unless
we wish to die of thirst, and what could be more pitiable than this? We must, therefore,
of necessity be brave men. Do you, on your side, take heart and rally the others. As to
that pair of voracious horses which you are feeding only the tax-collector, give orders to
have them brought to you.
Particularly in moments like these a horse is no useless possession.
For whether it is scouting, observing the enemy, or carrying messages in the shortest
time-- all this a horse can do so easily. If you are in want of archers, send for them and
they will come. As to the Phycuntian oarsmen, I can no more count upon them to do their
duty as soldiers than I can count on my gardeners. I seek only a small number of men, but
they must not be false to their manhood. If I can find such, by God's grace be it said, I
shall have courage. If I am called upon to die, here lies the advantage of philosophy, not
to regard it as a terrible thing to retire from this poor envelope of the flesh. But
whether I shall be tearless in presence of my wife and child, of this I dare give no
pledge; would that Philosophy were so powerful! But may I never have to make trial of her,
never, O saviour, never, O guardian of freedom!