midnight
Go forth , ye generous bands , secure to meet the rewards of victory or the repose of honourable death ! Go forth , ye generous bands , but unaccompanied by the wretch I have described ! His feeble arm refuses to bear the ponderous shield ; the pointed spear sinks feebly from his grasp ; he trembles at the noise and tumult of the war , and flies like the hunted hart to lurk in shades and darkness . Behold him roused from his midnight orgies , reeking with wine and odours , and crowned with flowers , the only trophies of his warfare ; he hurries with trembling steps across the city ; his voice , his gait , his whole deportment , proclaim the abject slave of intemperance , and stamp indelible infamy upon his name . ' `` While Xenocrates was thus discoursing , Polemo listened with fixed attention . The former animation of his countenance gave way to a visible dejection ; presently his lips trembled and his cheeks grew pale ; he was lost in melancholy recollection , and a silent tear was observed to trickle down . But when the philosopher described a character so like his own , shame seemed to take entire possession of his soul ; and , rousing as from a long and painful lethargy , he softly raised his hand to his head , and tore away the chaplets of flowers , the monuments of his effeminacy and disgrace ; he seemed intent to compose his dress into a more decent form , and wrapped his robe about him , which before hung loosely waving with an air of studied effeminacy .