"The Tatler," in considering the Roman triumph, notices that "it was not allowed in a civil war, lest one part should be in tears, while the other was making acclamations." (No. LXIII.) And Hudibras, in a most suggestive passage, uses language applicable to all civil war:-- "What towns, what garrisons, might you With hazard of this blood subdue, Which now ye're bent to throw away _In vain untriumphable fray_!" Part I. Canto II. 499-502. _International War criminal, and as little worthy of honor as Civil War._--Erasmus dealt a blow at the distinction, still preserved among Christians, between _civil_ war and _foreign_ war. "_Plato civile bellum esse putat, quod Græci gerunt adversus Græcos. At Christianus Christiano propius junctus est quam civis civi, quam frater fratri._" (Erasmi Epist., Lib. XXII. Ep. 16.) The same idea is found in the Byzantine Gregoras: "Indecorum esse Christianis tanta cum acerbitate inter se armis certare, cum rationes sint conveniendi ad pacem et communes vires in impios vertendi." (Gregoras, Lib. X., De Alexandro Bulgaro, quoted by Grotius, De Jure Belli ac Pacis, Lib. II. cap. 23, §8, No. 3, note.) Even here it is rather the Brotherhood of Christians than the Brotherhood of Man that is recognized. Assuming the latter, international war becomes criminal, and as little worthy of honor as civil war. It is a war among brothers. Who can think of that contest between the two brothers Eteocles and Polynices without abhorrence? Who would think of awarding glory to Abel, if, in self-defence, he had succeeded in slaying his hostile brother, Cain? There is a play of Beaumont and Fletcher where two brothers are represented as drawing swords upon each other. When finally separated, they are addressed in words applicable to the contests of nations:-- "Clashing of swords So near my house! Brother opposed to brother! .. .. .. . Hold! hold! Charles! Eustace! .. .. . But these unnatural jars, Arising between brothers, _should you prosper, Would shame your victory_" _The Elder Brother_, Act V. Sc. 1. The unreasonableness of any True Glory in such a contest is felt by all at the present day, though there have been monsters or barbarians who _gloried_ even in a kinsman's blood. Massinger, in his play of "The Unnatural Combat," has portrayed such a character. A father and son fight with each other. The father is victorious. His exultation in the death of his son is not unlike that which often attends the victories of Christian nations:--