For he that fights and runs away
May live to fight another day,
But he that is in battle slain
Will never rise to fight again
are not to be found, as is thought, in Hudibras. Butler's verses ran
thus;
For he that flies may fight again
Which he can never do that's slain.
The former are in a volume of ‘Poems’ by Sir John Mennes, reign of
Charles II. The original idea is in Demosthenes. Ανερ ο φεογων και
παλιν μαχησεται.
* * * * *
“Semel insanivimus omnes” is not from Horace but from Mantuanus, an
Italian. In a work entitled “De honesto amore” is this line,
Id commune malum, semel insanivimus omnes.
* * * * *
Dryden in ‘Absalom and Achitophel’ has these lines,
David for him his tuneful harp had strung
And heaven had wanted one immortal song.