Tully's three books of offices, in English with notes explaining the method and meaning of the author.

CHAP. VIII.

The just and gentle Government of the old Romans: When chang'd, and the fatal Consequences of that Change. Caesar and Sylla's unjust Cruelties. One Cause of Civil Wars is Mens hoping to raise 'em∣selves by them. All have occasion for some Friends, tho' not for general Love.

I Much rather choose, upon such a Subject, to bring Instances from Forreign, than our own Nation. However, I can't but observe thus much, That so long as our Empire supported it self, not by Ways of Injustice and Violence, but rather by Actions of Kindness and Gentleness; Wars were un∣dertaken to Protect its Allies or Defend its Honour, and accordingly their Issues were attended with Mercy, or at least no more Rigour than was ab∣solutely necessary. The Senate then was a kind of Port or Refuge, for Princes and Nations to have recouse to in their need; and our Officers and Commanders made it their greatest Glory, to De∣fend their Provinces, and Assist their Allies, with Justice and Fidelity. This City therefore was not then the a 1.1 Empress, so properly as the Protectress of all the World. This Conduct and Method of mana∣ging the State, began by little and little to wear off

before, but utterly vanish'd immediately after the Victory of b 1.2 Sylla; for People began to think nothing could be unjust to their Confederates and Allies, when once they had seen so great Cruelties exercis'd even upon their very Citizens. This Man therefore was in a just Cause, but which was follow'd by a cruel and most unjust Victory: he having had the Boldness and Impudence to say, when in full Mar∣ket he was selling the Goods of some honest and wealthy Men, and whom he himself knew to be Roman Citizens, That he was going to make sale of his own Booty. But there has come c 1.3 one after him, whose Cause was impious, and his Victory yet more scandalous and inhuman: who did not stop at selling of private Mens Estates, but involv'd all our Countries and Provinces together in one com∣mon Calamity. Hence we have seen, after Havock and Devastation made in other Countries, as it were by way of Praelude to the Loss of our own Empire, the City d 1.4 Marseilles drawn along in Triumph; and that very place, without whose Assistance our former Generals never brought Triumph from beyond the Alpes, has now found one that could have so much Impudence, as to Triumph over its own Destruction. I might bring a great many other Examples, of most impious Treatment that hath been shewn towards our Allies; but this single Instance is abundant∣ly sufficient, being one of the basest that was ever

committed before the face of the Sun. The truth on't is we have deserv'd these Misfortunes; for if others had not 'scap'd without Punishment for their Wickedness, this Man could never have arriv'd at that Insolence; who tho' he has left but few Heirs of his Estate, I am afraid will have a great many wicked ones of his Ambition. For as long as some dissolute and profligate Fellows remember that e 1.5 former inhuman Auction, and are in hopes one day of seeing the same again, they'll always be for propagating Civil Dissentions. Thus Publius Sylla, who was so busie in that mention'd, when his Kins∣man was Dictator, was never contented till he had manag'd f 1.6 a worse and more inhuman Auction six and thirty Years after: and g 1.7 another, who was Scribe in that former Dictatorship, in this latter was advanc'd to be Treasurer of the City. By all which 'tis easie enough to perceive, that we are never to hope we shall be free from Civil Wars, when People expect to make their Fortunes by 'em. We have therefore only the Walls of our City re∣maining entire, and even they, as 'twere, expect∣ing to feel the Effects of their abominable Wicked∣ness; but as for the Republick 'tis absolutely sunk into Ruins and Nothing. And all these Misfortunes have fall'n upon us (that I may return to the Sub∣ject which occasion'd this Digression) by our choo∣sing to Govern rather by Fear than Love. What then ought particular Persons to expect, when Ty∣ranny and Oppression could bring all these Evils upon the whole Roman Empire? h 1.8 This then being

so manifestly plain, That Love's a most powerful Mo∣tive to Obedience, but Fear a most weak and dange∣rous one; it follows in the next place that we should discourse of those Means, whereby such a Love, joyn'd with Honour and Confidence, may most easi∣ly be gotten. i 1.9 Now this is what all Men don't equally stand in need of; but each should consider his own way of living, and accordingly judge what's convenientest for him; whether to be belov'd by the generality of Men, or only by some few and select Persons. This however we may lay down for cer∣tain, as a first and most necessary Rule in this case, to procure at least some faithful and sincere Friends, who may have a true Kindness and Esteem for us. k 1.10 As far as this reaches, there's very little difference between even the greatest and meanest of People, and all sorts of 'em are almost equally con∣cern'd to endeavour after it. As for Honour, Glo∣ry, and the general Good-will of all the Citizens, these indeed are things, which aren't alike useful and necessary for all. However for those that have

been able to get 'em, they are very good Helps, as for most other Purposes, so for the obtaining of faithful Friends: But of Friendship I have treated in another Work, which is entitled Laelius.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Patrocinium verius quam imperium. 'Twas the Duty of a Patron to Protect and Defend, not to Rule over his Cli∣ents: and one was never the less free, because he was under the Patronage of another, but only the more safe, as being protected by him. In like manner one Nation might be un∣der, and (as 'twere) the Client of another, and yet be a Free Nation for all that. Whence there's a difference in Roman Authors, betwixt in fide esse, and in ditione esse pop. Roman. The latter denoting a loss of Liberty; the former only some sort of Inferiority and Homage.
• b 1.2

  Luc. Sylla the Dictator. He took up Arms against Mari∣us, and defended the Cause of the Nobility against the Com∣mons, in a bloody Civil War: but after his Victory was in∣humanly Cruel. See his Life at large in Plut.
• c 1.3

  He means Julius Caesar.
• d 1.4

  A City in France, which had always taken part with the Romans, in all their Wars on that side. But declaring for Pompey in the Civil War, 'twas sack'd by Caesar; who carry'd along a Figure of it (as was their usual Custom) with him in Triumph.
• e 1.5

  When Lucius Sylla sold the Goods of the Roman Citizens, whom he had Out-law'd, and caus'd to be Slain.
• f 1.6

  When Caesar sold the Goods of those, who had been of Pompey's Party.
• g 1.7

  One Cornelius, mention'd by Salust in Lepidus the Con∣sul's Speech against Sylla.
• h 1.8

  Having shewn how convenient Love, and how inconve∣nient Fear is, for the advancement of our Interest; it re∣mains that he should shew how the former may be obtain'd. To it he joyns Honour and Confidence; the second and third Means mention'd Chap. 6. which three together make up true and perfect Glory. See the next Chapter.
• i 1.9

  Before he enquires how this Love is to be gotten, he di∣vides it (if I may so say) into Love of Friendship, which con∣sists in having some few good Friends; and this he says all, whether great or mean, are almost equally concern'd to get; and general Love, which consists in the Kindness and gene∣ral Good-will of all the Citizens; and this is necessary but to some few. Of the former he has spoken in his Laelius or of Friendship; and therefore passes it by here. The latter he gives some Rules about here, as making up, together with Confidence and Admiration, true and perfect Glory.
• k 1.10

  That is, Tho' all don't stand in need of the general Love and Good-will of the Citizens, yet particular and pri∣vate Friends are as useful to the Meanest, as to the Great and more Powerful.