What is the cause why states that war and win Have honor and breed men of better fame Than states in peace, since war and conquest sin In blood, wrong liberty, all trades of shame? Force-framing instruments, which it must use, Proud in excess, and glory to abuse? The reason is: Peace is a quiet nurse Of idleness, and idleness the field Where wit and power change all seeds to the worse By narrow self-will upon which they build, And thence bring forth captived inconstant ends, Neither to princes, nor to people friends. Besides, the sins of peace on subjects feed, And thence wound power, which for it all things can With wrong to one despairs in many breed, For while laws, oaths, powers, creditors to man, Make humble subjects dream of native right, Man's faith abused adds courage to despite. Where conquest works by strength, and stirs up fame, A glorious echo, pleasing doom of pain, Which in the sleep of death yet keeps a name, And makes detracting loss speak ill in vain. For to great actions time so friendly is, As o'er the means, albeit the means be ill, It casts forgetfulness, veils things amiss With power and honor to encourage will. Besides things hard a reputation bear To die resolved though guilty wonder breeds, Yet what strength those be which can blot out fear, And to self-ruin joyfully proceeds, Ask them that from the ashes of this fire With new lives still to such new flames aspire. |