על המידות הטובות ח׳On the Virtues 8
א׳
1[43] The small army arrayed against many myriads, with skill and daring combined, each man as it were a company in himself, scorning all thoughts of danger, flew at their close-packed ranks, slaughtered all those who stood in their way and made a clean sweep of the solid masses of troops and of all the reserves who came to fill the gaps in the lines, so that by the mere onset they laid low many myriads and left none of the enemy’s fighting force alive. They slew also the women, who had been confederates in the unholy designs of the men, but gave quarter to the maidens in pity for their innocent youthfulness.
ב׳
2[44] And great as was the war thus successfully conducted, they lost none of their own people, but returned in the same numbers and condition as they had gone forth to fight, unwounded and unscathed, or rather it may truly be said with redoubled vigour. For the strength produced by the joy of victory was no less than what they had had at the first.
ג׳
3[45] And the sole source of all this was the zeal which met danger bravely and led them to champion the cause of piety in a fight where God was the foremost combatant, an invincible auxiliary, inspiring their minds with wise counsels and enduing their bodies with irresistible doughtiness.
ד׳
4[46] The proof that God was their ally is that so many myriads were routed at the hands of a few and that none of the enemy escaped, while none of their friends were slain and neither their number nor their bodily force was diminished.
ה׳
5[47] Therefore, he says in his Exhortations “If thou pursuest justice and holiness and the other virtues, thou shalt live a life free from war and in unbroken peace, or if war arises, thou shalt easily overcome the foe under the invisible generalship of God, who makes it His care mightily to save the good.
ו׳
6[48] So then if a well-armed host of foot and horse of many myriads pour in upon thee, or if they seize in advance the strong positions and such as are liable to be attacked, and so become masters of the situation or are amply supplied with abundance of equipments, be not panic-stricken and fearful, though thou lackest all of which they have abundance, allies, arms, suitable positions, equipments.”
ז׳
7[49] All those, like a merchantman laden with all manner of valuables, are often suddenly upset and wrecked by a squall of wind; but where they are mean and poor, God sends His saving powers like rain or snow showers on ears of corn shrivelled through drought and want of moisture, and gives them power to awake to fresh life and bring their fruit to its fullness.
ח׳
8[50] Thence it is clear that we must cling to what is just and holy. For we are supremely happy if the Godhead is our friend, utterly miserable if He is our enemy.
ט׳
9We have now said enough on the subject of courage and that too must be left for the present.