4
No one of us can eradicate malice, but reason can fight at our side so that we are not overcome by malice.
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For reason does not uproot the emotions but is their antagonist.
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Now this can be explained more clearly by the story of King David's thirst.
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David had been attacking the Philistines all day long, and together with the soldiers of his nation had killed many of them.
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Then when evening fell, he came, sweating and quite exhausted, to the royal tent, around which the whole army of our ancestors had encamped.
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Now all the rest were at supper,
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but the king was extremely thirsty, and though springs were plentiful there, he could not satisfy his thirst from them.
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But a certain irrational desire for the water in the enemy's territory tormented and inflamed him, undid and consumed him.
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When his guards complained bitterly because of the king's craving, two staunch young soldiers, respecting the king's desire, armed themselves fully, and taking a pitcher climbed over the enemy's ramparts.
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Eluding the sentinels at the gates, they went searching throughout the enemy camp
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and found the spring, and from it boldly brought the king a drink.