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pride to transmit unspotted to your posterity。〃 Such was the
dignified view which she took of her husband's honour； and when he
fell at Pavia； though young and beautiful； and besought by many
admirers； she betook herself to solitude； that she might lament
over her husband's loss and celebrate his exploits。 （2）
To live really； is to act energetically。 Life is a battle to be
fought valiantly。 Inspired by high and honourable resolve； a man
must stand to his post； and die there； if need be。 Like the old
Danish hero； his determination should be； 〃to dare nobly； to will
strongly； and never to falter in the path of duty。〃 The power of
will； be it great or small； which God has given us； is a Divine
gift； and we ought neither to let it perish for want of using on
the one hand； nor profane it by employing it for ignoble purposes
on the other。 Robertson； of Brighton； has truly said； that man's
real greatness consists not in seeking his own pleasure； or fame；
or advancement〃not that every one shall save his own life； not
that every man shall seek his own glorybut that every man shall
do his own duty。〃
What most stands in the way of the performance of duty； is
irresolution； weakness of purpose； and indecision。 On the one
side are conscience and the knowledge of good and evil； on the
other are indolence； selfishness； love of pleasure； or passion。
The weak and ill…disciplined will may remain suspended for a time
between these influences； but at length the balance inclines one
way or the other； according as the will is called into action or
otherwise。 If it be allowed to remain passive； the lower
influence of selfishness or passion will prevail； and thus manhood
suffers abdication； individuality is renounced； character is
degraded； and the man permits himself to become the mere passive
slave of his senses。
Thus； the power of exercising the will promptly； in obedience to
the dictates of conscience； and thereby resisting the impulses of
the lower nature； is of essential importance in moral discipline；
and absolutely necessary for the development of character in its
best forms。 To acquire the habit of well…doing； to resist evil
propensities； to fight against sensual desires； to overcome inborn
selfishness； may require a long and persevering discipline； but
when once the practice of duty is learnt； it becomes consolidated
in habit； and thence…forward is comparatively easy。
The valiant good man is he who； by the resolute exercise of his
freewill； has so disciplined himself as to have acquired the habit
of virtue； as the bad man is he who； by allowing his freewill to
remain inactive； and giving the bridle to his desires and
passions； has acquired the habit of vice； by which he becomes； at
last； bound as by chains of iron。
A man can only achieve strength of purpose by the action of his
own freewill。 If he is to stand erect； it must be by his own
efforts； for he cannot be kept propped up by the help of others。
He is master of himself and of his actions。 He can avoid
falsehood； and be truthful； he can shun sensualism； and be
continent； he can turn aside from doing a cruel thing； and be
benevolent and forgiving。 All these lie within the sphere of
individual efforts； and come within the range of self…discipline。
And it depends upon men themselves whether in these respects they
will be free； pure； and good on the one hand； or enslaved； impure；
and miserable on the other。
Among the wise sayings of Epictetus we find the following： 〃We do
not choose our own parts in life； and have nothing to do with
those parts： our simple duty is confined to playing them well。
The slave may be as free as the consul； and freedom is the chief
of blessings； it dwarfs all others； beside it all others are
insignificant； with it all others are needless； without it no
others are possible。。。。 You must teach men that happiness is not
where； in their blindness and misery； they seek it。 It is not in
strength； for Myro and Ofellius were not happy； not in wealth； for
Croesus was not happy； not in power； for the Consuls were not
happy； not in all these together； for Nero and Sardanapulus and
Agamemnon sighed and wept and tore their hair； and were the slaves
of circumstances and the dupes of semblances。 It lies in
yourselves； in true freedom； in the absence or conquest of every
ignoble fear； in perfect self…government； and in a power of
contentment and peace； and the even flow of life amid poverty；
exile； disease； and the very valley of the shadow of death。〃 （3）
The sense of duty is a sustaining power even to a courageous man。
It holds him upright； and makes him strong。 It was a noble saying
of Pompey； when his friends tried to dissuade him from embarking
for Rome in a storm； telling him that he did so at the great peril
of his life： 〃It is necessary for me to go；〃 he said； 〃it is not
necessary for me to live。〃 What it was right that he should do；
he would do； in the face of danger and in defiance of storms。
As might be expected of the great Washington； the chief motive
power in his life was the spirit of duty。 It was the regal and
commanding element in his character which gave it unity；
compactness； and vigour。 When he clearly saw his duty before him；
he did it at all hazards； and with inflexible integrity。 He did
not do it for effect； nor did he think of glory； or of fame and
its rewards； but of the right thing to be done； and the best
way of doing it。
Yet Washington had a most modest opinion of himself； and when
offered the chief command of the American patriot army； he
hesitated to accept it until it was pressed upon him。 When
acknowledging in Congress the honour which had been done him in
selecting him to so important a trust； on the execution of which
the future of his country in a great measure depended； Washington
said： 〃I beg it may be remembered； lest some unlucky event should
happen unfavourable to my reputation； that I this day declare；
with the utmost sincerity； I do not think myself equal to the
command I am honoured with。〃
And in his letter to his wife； communicating to her his
appointment as Commander…in…Chief； he said： 〃I have used every
endeavour in my power to avoid it； not only from my unwillingness
to part with you and the family； but from a consciousness of its
being a trust too great for my capacity； and that I should enjoy
more real happiness in one month with you at home； than I have the
most distant prospect of finding abroad； if my stay were to be
seven times seven years。 But； as it has been a kind of destiny
that has thrown me upon this service； I shall hope that my
undertaking it is designed for some good purpose。 It was utterly
out of my power to refuse the appointment； without exposing my
character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon
myself； and given pain to my friends。 This； I am sure； could not；
and ought not； to be pleasing to you； and must have l