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A brave Example of the Romans preferring Justice before a seeming Profit. Glory can never be gotten by Wickedness. Riches Unprofitable, if accompa∣ny'd with Infamy. Example of Injustice in the Ro∣mans. How an Empire ought to be supported. Cato too severe in exacting the Tributes. An un∣just Saying of Curio's.
BUt this has been determin'd, as at many other times by our wise Fore-fathers, so a 1.1 particular∣ly
by Fabricius, then a second time Consul, and the whole Roman Senate, in the War with Pyrrhus. For when Pyrrhus had voluntarily made War upon the Romans, and the Contention was held about Empire and Mastery, with a no less powerful than generous Adversary; a Deserter came secretly into Fabricius's Camp, and offer'd, upon condition he might be well Rewarded, to return back again with the same secresie that he came, and to Poyson Pyr∣rhus. But instead of Encouragement, Fabricius or∣der'd him to be sent back to Pyrrhus, and was af∣terwards commended by the Senate for so doing. If we look no further now than the outward ap∣pearance of what seems to be Profitable, here's a dangerous War, and a powerful Adversary of the growing Empire, might soon have been remov'd by the single assistance of this one Deserter: But then it would have been an eternal Scandal, not to mention the Villany and Wickedness of it, in an honourable War, which was manag'd with a fair and generous Enemy, not to get the Victory by Vir∣tue and Courage, but only by base and treacherous Practises. Whether was more Profitable then for Fabricius, who was such in this City as Aristides was at Athens; or for the Roman Senate, which never thought any thing dishonourable their Inte∣rest; to contend with an Enemy by Valour or by Poyson? If Empire be desirable for the sake of Glory, why is not Wickedness altogether banish'd, in which 'tis impossible there should ever be any Glory? But if we're for Riches at any rate, we'd do well to consider, that they can never be Profit∣able when accompany'd with Infamy. That Coun∣sel therefore of Lucius Philippus, the Son of Quin∣tus, was far from being Profitable, That those very Cities, which Sylla had freed for a set Sum of Money by the Senate's Order, should again be brought under their former Contributions; and yet not the Money,
which they had pay'd, be return'd 'em. This Advice of his was follow'd by the Senate, to the great Di∣sparagement and Shame of the Empire; for even Pirates at this rate will sooner be trusted, than the Roman Senate. Well, but the publick Revenues were encreas'd by it, and therefore 'twas Profitable: Heavens! How long will Men dare to call any thing Profitable, which is not Honest! Can Hatred then and Infamy be Profitable to a State, which ought to be supported by Glory, and Credit, and the Love of its Confederates! In this particular I often disagreed from my old Friend b 1.2 Cato; whom I always thought to be somewhat too head-strong, in standing up for the Interest of the Publick Treasury; and exacting the Tributes with so much rigour, as not to make a∣ny Allowances to the Farmers, and very seldom or never grant any thing to the Confederates: where∣as we ought always to be kind to the latter, and to deal with the former, as we would do with our own Bayliffs; and that so much the more, because all the Safety and Welfare of the Republick de∣pends upon the Agreement of c 1.3 the several Orders in it. Nor less Ill than Philip's, was the Counsel of d 1.4 Curio; who, in the Case of the e 1.5 People inha∣biting beyond the Po, tho' he confess'd their De∣mands were but just and reasonable, yet always ad∣ded, Vincat utilitas; Every thing must give way to the Interest of the Publick. He should rather have said that they were not just, because not comport∣ing with the Publick Interest; than thus have de∣clar'd that they did not comport with it, and at the same time confess 'em to be just and reasonable.
See Book 1. chap. 12, 13. Book 3. chap. 4.
He that was Sirnam'd Uticensis, mention'd above.
The Senators and Equites: which last were Farmers of the Publick Taxes.
Curio the Father. See chap. 17. Book 2.
Who desir'd to be made free of the City of Rome, but were denied.