1 FEBRUARY 1902, Page 16

rro THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR"]

SIE.—In connection with the interesting article under the title " Euthanasia" in your issue of January 25th, you may care to be reminded of the fine answer of the " Red Cross Knight" when " Despayre" plies him with incentives to suicide (" Faerie Queene," Book I., 9, 4J)

The soldier may not move from watchful sted, Nor leave his stand untill his captaine bed.'

At a time when the value of the "military virtues" has been so strongly impressed upon us the metaphor comes home

with special force.—I am, Sir, &c., W. MONTGOMERY.

[Our correspondent's quotation suggests the striking couplet, said to be a translation from Martial :---

" When all the blandishments of life are gnus, The coward sneaks to death, the brave lives on."

Does not Dryden also say somewhere—we quote from memory "Cato and Brutus could discharge their souls, And give them congi to another world, But we like soldiers are compelled to stand 'Neath starless skies and wait the appointed hour" ?

But we must not assume that free suicide was sanctioned by the leading thinkers of the classical world. Cicero in the " Tusculan Disputations," I. 80, writes : " vetat dominans ille in nobis dens iniussu nine nos suo demigrare."—ED, Spectator.]