The commentaries of C. Julius Cæsar of his warres in Gallia, and the civil warres betwixt him and Pompey / translated into English with many excellent and judicious observations thereupon ; as also The art of our modern training, or, Tactick practise, by Clement Edmonds Esquire, ... ; where unto is adjoyned the eighth commentary of the warres in Gallia, with some short observations upon it ; together with the life of Cæsar, and an account of his medalls ; revised, corrected, and enlarged.

OBSERVATIONS.

CAesar in this Chapter describeth the course of life which the Germans in his time held throughout the whole policy of their govern∣ment, the scope whereof was to make them war∣like: to which he saith, That in times past the Galles were as valiant and as warlike people as the Germans; but the neighbourhood and know∣ledge of other nations had taught them a more plentifull manner of life, which by litle and litle had weakned their strength, and made them far inferiour to the Germans. Which bringeth to our consideration that which is often attributed to a civill life, that such as taste of the sweetness of ease, and are qualified with the complements of civilitie, have alwayes an indisposition to warlike practices. The reason is grounded up∣on use and custome: for discontinuance doth

alwayes cause a strangenesse and alienation, benumming the aptest parts with unready and painfull gestures; and is so powerfull, that it doth not only steal away naturall affection, and make parents forget to love their children; but like a tyrant it is able to force us to those things which naturally we are unfit for, as though the decrees of nature were subject to the controllment of custome. Much more then, the things got by use and practice, are as easily forgot by discontinuance, as they were obtain∣ed by studious exercise. On the other side, there is nothing so horrible or dreadfull, but use maketh easy. The first time the Fox saw the Lion, he swooned for fear, the next time he trembled, but the third time he was so far from fear, that he was ready to put a trick of craft upon him: whereby it appeareth, that the Ger∣mans had no further interest in deeds of arms above the Galles, then what the use of war had gained them: for as usage continueth the pro∣perty of a tenure, so non-usage implieth a for∣feiture. Cato was wont to say, that the Romans would loose their Empire, when they suffer∣ed the Greek tongue to be taught amongst them: for by that means they would easily be drawn from the study and practice of war, to the be∣witching delight of speculative thoughts. And Marcellus was blamed for being the first that corrupted Rome with the delicate and curious works of Greece: for before that he brought from the sacking of Syracusa the well-wrought tables of pictures and imagery, Rome never knew any such delicacy, but stood full fraught with armour and weapons of barbarous people, of the bloudy spoyls and monuments of victo∣ries and triumphs; which were rather fearfull shews to inure their eyes to the horrour of war, then pleasant sights to allure their minds to af∣fections of peace. Whereby it appeareth, that such as suffer themselves to be guided by the ea∣sy rain of civile government, or take a dispo∣sition to that course of life, can hardly endure the yoke of war, or undergo the tediousnesse of martiall labours.

Notes

• Whether a civill life do weaken a warlike disposition.