

The Two Soldiers and the Robber.Two Soldiers, traveling together, were set upon by a Robber. The onefled away; the other stood his ground, and defended himself with hisstout right hand. The Robber being slain, the timid companion runs upand draws his sword, and then, throwing back his traveling cloak, says:"I'll at him, and I'll take care he shall learn whom he has attacked."On this, he who had fought with the Robber made answer: "I only wishthat you had helped me just now, even if it had been only with thosewords, for I should have been the more encouraged, believing them to betrue; but now put up your sword in its sheath and hold your equallyuseless tongue, till you can deceive others who do not know you. I,indeed, who have experienced with what speed you ran away, know rightwell that no dependence can be placed on your valor." When a coward is once found out, his pretensions of valor are useless. From Aesop's Fables |