Living

Sic bellica virtus

by Henry Peacham 1576?–1643?

From Minerva Britanna (1612)

Living

THE valiant mindes, that doe delight a farre,
By vertuous deede to make their prowesse knowne,
Who not of Fathers Actes ambitious are,
But of the braue Atcheiuements of their owne,
Thus as their Ensignes folded vp vnshowne,
In Peace reiected, or forgotten lie:
Till new Alarmes, advance them out on high.

But Wisedome ever armed with Fore-sight,
Then rateth Valour at her weight in gold,
For though the ease-full world her merit slight,
She seees aloofe the storme. How Malice old
Plaies loose a while to get the better hold,
And bids vs arme, when least we thinke of knocks,
For Foes asleepe, (they say) the Divell rocks,

MLA

Peacham, Henry. “Sic bellica virtus.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/peacham/198/.

Chicago

Peacham, Henry. “Sic bellica virtus.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/peacham/198/.

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