Margaret Cavendish: Political Writings

PART I

An Orationfor War

Be not offended, Noble Citizens, if I labour to persuade my country to make heroic wars, since it is neither safe, profitable, nor honourable for it to live in sluggish peace: for in peace you become ignorant of the arts in war, and living sluggishly you lose the courage of men and become effeminate, and having neither skill nor courage, you cannot expect safety: for should you chance to have enemies, you would not have abilities to help yourselves, having neither experience by practice, nor courage by use and custom; for custom and use work much upon the natures of men. And as for arms, in times of peace they lie like garments out of fashion, never worn but despised and laughed at as ridiculous things, and men of action, like as arms, they jeer and make a mock of. Thus, martial men and arms in time of peace are scorned, although in time of wars they only are a kingdom's safety, to guard it from their enemies. Indeed, peace spoils both youth and age, it makes the one sort covetous, the other wanton: for aged men study only to get wealth; the young men how to spend it. Besides, it makes the poor men rieh men's asses, and rieh men poor men's burdens. Also peace makes old men fools, and young men cowards: for in long times of peace grave counsels are mere gossiping meetings, rather ideally to talk than wisely to advise. They propound many things but resolve not any, debate not, but conclude, and sometimes find faults, but never help to mend them. The truth is, for the most part they rather make errors than help to rectify defects, and in wars they had rather suffer calamity than stir for necessity; neither will they believe they are in danger until their enemies be at their gates. And as for youth, peace quenches out their heroic spirits and noble ambitions: for their only ambition is their mistress's favours, and they will go to no other wars, but Venus,6 where Cupid is general, where they only make love-skirmishes, and are shot through their hearts with glances from their mistress's eyes. Thus peace makes men like beasts: for in peace they feed like swine, sport like apes, live like goats, and may be brought to the shambles like silly sheep.