"For he that fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day."
In so far as I can understand from the various articles in "N. & Q." regarding the above quotation, it is to be found in the Musarum Deliciæ, 12mo., 1656. There is a copy of this volume now lying before me, the title-page of which runs thus:
"Musarum Deliciæ, or the Muses' Recreation; containing severall pieces of Poetique Wit. The second edition, by Sr J. M. and Ja. S. London: Printed by J. G. for Henry Herringman, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the Signe of the Anchor in the New Exchange, 1656."
This copy seems to have at one time belonged to Longmans, as it is described in the Bib. An. Poetica, having the signatures of "Orator Henly," "Ritson," and "J. Park." I have read this volume over carefully twice, and I must confess my inability to find any such two lines as the above noted, there. As I do not think Mr. Cunningham, in his Handbook of London, or Dr. Rimbault, would mislead any one, I am afraid my copy, being a second edition, may be incomplete; and as I certainly did not get the volume for nothing, will either of these gentlemen, or any other of the readers of "N. & Q.," who have seen other editions, let me know this?
There is a question asked by Melanion regarding the entire quotation, which I have not yet seen answered, which is,—
"For he that fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day;
But he that is in battle slain,
Can never hope to fight again."