That if the Romaine gods had had any care of Iustice, the Citie should haue had their formes of good gouernment from them, rather then to goe and bor∣row it of other nations. CHAP. 16.
IF the Romaines could haue receiued any good instructions of morality from their gods, they would neuer haue beene (a) beholding to the Athenians for * 1.1 Solons lawes, as they were, some yeares after Rome was built: which lawes not∣withstanding, they did not obserue as they receiued them, but endeauoured to better them and make them more exact; and though (b) Licurgus fained that hee gaue the Lacedemonians their lawes by ye authorization of Apollo, yet the Romanes very wisely would not giue credence to him, (c) & therfore gaue no admission to these lawes. Indeed (d) Numa Pompilius, Romulus his sucessor is said to haue gi∣uen them some lawes: but (e) al too insufficient for the gouernment of a Cittie. He taught them many points of their religion (f) but it is not reported that hee had these institutions from the gods: Those corruptions therefore of minde, conuersation, and conditions, which were so great, that the (g) most learned men durst affirme that these were the cankers by which all Common-weales pe∣rished, though their walls stood neuer so firme; those did these gods neuer en∣deauor to with-hold from them that worshipped them, but as wee haue proued before, did rather striue to enlarge and augment them, with all their care and ful∣lest diligence.
L. VIVES.
BEholding (a) to the Athenians] In the 300. yeare after Romes building: when there had beene many contentions betweene the Patricians & the Plebeyans, they sent three Ambas∣sadours to Athens, to coppy out Solons lawes, and to learne the policy and ciuility of the rest * 1.2 of the Greekes: that the Romane estate might bee conformed and settled after the manner of the Grecians. Chaerephanes was then gouernor of Athens, it beeing the 82. Olympiade. The Ambassadors dispatched their affaires with all diligence, and returned the next yeare after, and then were the Decemuiri elected to decree lawes, and those wrote the first ten tables of the Romanes ciuill lawe, and afterwards they added two more, all which were approoued in the great Parliament called Comitia Centuriata. And these were their noblest lawes, which were written in the twelue Tables. (Liuy lib. 3. Dionys. lib. 10 & others also) (b) Lycurgus] The lawes which Lycurgus gaue (as •…•…e faigned, by Apollo's oracle) to the Lacedemonians, are very fa∣mous. The Greeke and Latine authors are full of this mans honours, and of the hard lawes which he gaue the Spartans There is a worke of Xenophons extant, onely of these lawes, and many of them are recorded in Plutarche, I neede not trouble the Reader in so plaine a matter. * 1.3 (c) therefore gaue no admission] And also, because Solons lawes were more accomodate and ap∣pliable to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 education, and mansuetude, then the rough seuere ones of Lycurgus, as Plato and Aristotle doe very well obserue. For his lawes aimed at no other end but to make the Spartanis warriers. (d) Numa Pompilius] He was borne at Cures in the country of the Sabi∣nes, and was the bestman of his time in the world. Of this man reade Liuy lib. 1. Dionysius, and Plutarch, of his whole life, besides diuers others. (e) all to insufficient] This is plaine, for they fetched lawes frō others. (f) it is not reported] Yes, he fained that he conferred with Ae∣geria; but she was rather a Nimph then a goddesse, & besides, this is known to be a fable (g) the most learned] Here I cannot choose but ad a very conceited saying out of Plautus his comedy called Persa. Sagaristio the seruant askes a Virgin, how strong dost thou think this towne is? If the townsmen (quoth shee againe) bee well mannered, I thinke it is very strong: if treachery,