** How is it, friends, that we feel ourselves too effeminate to
contend for this loftiest laurel of courage and obedience? Cer-
tainly the nobler, the more honourable, in every accomplish-
ment the more advanced, a man, a union, a people, — there for
ever is and was the more rarely to be found the duel. What,
then, must be thought of men to whom the duel is become a
chief business of life 1 of youths called hereafter to become the
leaders and the lights of your people ?*" How, ye jurists ! ye
who hereafter will nicely weigh in the balance the right — will
sharply reprove insolent opposition to the law — and would
rather suffer shame and death than perpetrate the smallest
injustice, — will you open the way through audacious contempt
of the laws 1

** Medical men ! called to wound that they may heal, not to
destroy, will you commit that double crime against the state?

'* And could a philosopher — a theologist, so grossly deride the
Divine Teacher's word — 'Do good to those who hate you;
bless those who curse you ; pray for those who despitefully
use you V

" And, noble friends ! can true honour prevail, where drinking,
quarrellingt and insult give the shameful occasions for the duel?
True honour 1 where he who refuses to fight a duel is exposed
in rude verses in public places, and is even maltreated with
vulgar violence ? True honour ! where in aggravation of disobe-
dience, dishonourable lies are also added ? I glow with shame
to the very depths of my mind, that any amongst us, however
few in number, could be so mean as to deny the deed, could
harden themselves shamelessly to make the denial a point of
honour ! Oh I hideous spectre of honour, without the courage
of truth and of obedience ! The courage of truth and obedience
is the highest honour; and he who binds himself to a union



4S0 MERTTB AND DEBIERITS

pledged to lies and to disobedience, he has from the beginning
no conception of honour ; unfit for a priest, unfit for a judge,
unfit for a physician !

" O my friends, I see you burn with a noble indignation ; you
are all on fire for honour, for the highest honour of manhood.
