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And now, behold, with the first imagination of danger, or, if you

will, the first mighty and terrific trial of your courage, you

shrink away and are content to be handed down as men who had not

strength enough to endure cold and peril; and so, poor souls,

they were chilly and returned to their warm firesides. Why, that

requires not this preparation; ye need not have come thus far and

dragged your captain to the shame of a defeat merely to prove

yourselves cowards. Oh! Be men, or be more than men. Be steady to

your purposes and firm as a rock. This ice is not made of such

stuff as your hearts may be; it is mutable and cannot withstand

you if you say that it shall not. Do not return to your families

with the stigma of disgrace marked on your brows. Return as

heroes who have fought and conquered and who know not what it is

to turn their backs on the foe."