Book 2, Chapter 17

39 “And no less well trained: where so much lamentation surrounds him, see how free of tears his answer is. He even gives a reason why he should bear it calmly:

“‘Whoever plans another’s death“‘Must know it is planned for him as well, to share an equal doom.’

“Patroclus will lead him away, I suppose, settle him on a bed, and bandage his wound. He would, if he were human; but I have never seen anything less so. Instead he asks what has happened:

“‘Tell me, tell me, how does the Argive cause hold up in battle?’“‘Words cannot tell the full extent of toil“‘Our deeds provide.’

“Then be quiet and bandage the wound. Even if Eurypylus could go on, Aesopus could not:

“‘Where Hector’s good fortune turned our fierce battle line […]’

“And he explains the rest, in pain: so unrestrained is a brave man’s passion for military glory. Can a veteran soldier do this, then, and a learned, wise man not do it?

40 “He certainly can, and better by no small margin. But so far I am speaking about the habit of training, not yet about reason and wisdom. Little old women often go without food for two or three days. Deprive an athlete of food for a single day, and he will call on Jupiter, Olympian Jupiter, the very god for whom he is training, and cry out that he cannot bear it. Great is the power of habit. Hunters spend the night in the snow on mountains; Indians let themselves be burned; boxers, battered by weighted gloves, do not even groan.

41 “But why speak of these men, to whom an Olympic victory seems like a consulship in the old days? Gladiators, men either ruined or barbarian—what blows they endure! How much rather the well-trained ones take a blow than evade it disgracefully! How often they show that nothing matters more to them than satisfying their master or the crowd! Even when exhausted by wounds, they send to their masters to ask their wishes: if they have given satisfaction, they are willing to lie down and die. What ordinary gladiator has ever groaned or changed expression? Which of them has behaved disgracefully, not only while standing, but even as he fell? Which, once down and ordered to take the sword, has drawn back his neck? Such is the power of training, practice, and habit. Can ‘a Samnite, a filthy fellow, worthy of that life and station’ achieve this, while a man born for glory allows any part of his spirit to remain so soft that he does not strengthen it through practice and reason? Some people commonly find gladiatorial shows cruel and inhuman. Perhaps they are, as they are held today. But when it was convicted criminals who fought with swords, the ears might receive many lessons, but the eyes could receive no stronger lesson against pain and death.”

39 “And no less well-trained, too. With all this grief going on, notice how little self-pity there is in his answer. He even gives a reason why he ought to bear it calmly: “‘Anyone who plans another’s death “‘Must know death’s planned for him, so he’ll share the same destruction.’ “Patroclus will take him away, I suppose, to lay him on a bed and bandage his wound. He would, if he were human! But I’ve never seen anyone less so. He asks what happened: “‘Tell me, tell me how the Greeks are holding up in battle.—’ “‘Words can’t express as much as the events themselves contain “‘Of hardship.’ “Then be quiet and bandage the wound! Even if Eurypylus could stand it, Aesopus couldn’t: “‘When Hector’s good fortune turned our fierce battle line back […]’ “And he explains the rest, in pain. That’s how unrestrained a brave man’s desire for military glory is. So a veteran soldier can do this, but a learned, wise man can’t?

40 “A wise, educated man can certainly do it, and do it far better. But I’m still dealing with what repeated training makes familiar, not yet with wisdom and reason. An old woman will often do without food for two days or three. Deny an athlete his meals for a single day, and there’ll be cries to Jupiter, Olympian Jupiter himself—the god he’s training to compete for! He’ll yell that he can’t take it. Such is the power of what we’re used to. A hunter stays up all night on snowy mountains. People in India submit to burning. Fighters battered by boxing gloves give not even a groan.

41 “But why talk about them? To them, victory at the Olympics is like a consulship in the old days. Look at gladiators, men who are either ruined or foreigners. What blows they bear! How those who’ve been well trained would rather take a blow than avoid it in a shameful way! How often it’s clear that there’s nothing they’d rather do than satisfy their owner or the crowd! Even when they’re worn out with wounds, they send messengers to their owners to ask what they want. If they’ve done enough to satisfy them, they’re willing to lie down for death. What even moderately good gladiator has ever groaned or changed his expression? Has any behaved shamefully, not just while standing but even when lying down? After lying down and being told to receive the blade, has any drawn back his neck? That’s how much training, preparation, and habit can do. So ‘a Samnite, a filthy man, worthy of that life and station’ can do this, but will a man born for glory have some part of his mind so soft that he can’t strengthen it through preparation and reason? Some people think watching gladiators is cruel and inhuman. Perhaps it is, as it’s done now. But when guilty men fought to the death, there may have been many stronger lessons against pain and death for the ears, but there couldn’t have been a stronger one for the eyes.”