Were it an enemy that could be avoided, I would then advise to borrow arms even of cowardice itself; but seeing it is not, and that it will catch you as well flying and playing the poltroon, as standing to't like an honest man:-- "Nempe et fugacem persequitur virum, Nec parcit imbellis juventae Poplitibus timidoque tergo." ["He pursues the flying poltroon, nor spares the hamstrings of the unwarlike youth who turns his back"-- Hor., Ep., iii.

2, 14.] And seeing that no temper of arms is of proof to secure us:-- "Ille licet ferro cautus, se condat et aere, Mors tamen inclusum protrahet inde caput" ["Let him hide beneath iron or brass in his fear, death will pull his head out of his armour."-- Propertious iii.

18] -- let us learn bravely to stand our ground, and fight him.

And to begin to deprive him of the greatest advantage he has over us, let us take a way quite contrary to the common course.

Let us disarm him of his novelty and strangeness, let us converse and be familiar with him, and have nothing so frequent in our thoughts as death.