on the contrary, I look upon it as a sure sign of want of proper
spirit and true honour. Fools, bullies, and even cowards, will
fight; whereas none but men of sense and resolution and true
magnanimity know how to pardon and despise an insult.' 'But,
indeed, sir,' replied the boy, 'at school, if one did not fight,
they would laugh at one so, there would be no such thing as
bearing it.' 'And for that very reason it is, my dear, that I
say, to pass by and pardon an insult requires more resolution and
courage than mere fighting does. When I wish you to avoid
quarrelling and fighting, I by no means want you to become a
coward, for I as much abhor a dastardly spirit as any boy in your
school can possibly do; but I would wish you to convince them that
you merited not that appellation, by showing through the whole of
your behaviour, a resolution that despised accidental pain, and
avoided revenging an affront for no other reason than because you
were convinced it shewed a much nobler spirit to pardon than to
resent. And you may be assured, my dear, few are the days that
pass without affording us some opportunity of exerting our
patience, and showing that, although we disdain quarrelling, still
we are far from being cowards.

'I remember, when I was at school, there was one boy, who, from
his first coming, declined upon all occasions engaging in any
battle; he even gave up many of his just rights to avoid
quarrelling, which conduct, instead of gaining (as it justly
deserved) the approbation of his companions, drew upon him the
insult and abuse of the whole school; and they were perpetually
teasing him with the opprobrious title of coward. For some time
he bore it with great good-humour, and endeavoured to laugh it
off; but, finding that had no effect, he one day thus addressed