The works of the famous Nicholas Machiavel, citizen and secretary of Florence written originally in Italian, and from thence newly and faithfully translated into English.

CHAP. XXVIII.

For what reasons the Romans were less ingrateful to their Citizens, than the Athenians.

WHoever reads and observes the passages in Commonwealths, will find a touch of ingratitude towards their Citizens in them all, but less in Rome than in Athens; and perhaps in any other Republick whatever. The reason (I suppose) was, because Rome had not that occasion of Jealousie as Athens had: For in Rome, from the expulsion of the Kings, to the time of Silla and Marius, the liberty of the City was never disturbed by any

man within it; so that there being no reason to apprehend, there was no reason to perse∣cute. In Athens it was otherwise; for their liberty being invaded and taken away by Pi∣sistratus when it was most flourishing, and compleat; and that by a pretence of advancing it; They no sooner recover'd it; but remembring the injuries which they had received, and their passed servitude, they flew out into such an exorbitancy of revenge, that they punished not only the faults of their fellow Citizens, but the least umbrage, and appearances of them, from whence followed the Banishment, and Execution of so many excellent persons; Hence came the Ostracism Laws, and all the rest of the outrages committed after∣wards upon the chief of their City, for as ye Writers of Politicks observe very well, the people are more cruel and vindicative who have lost and recovered their liberty, than they who have preserved it, as it was left them by their Fathers. He therefore who considers what is said, will neither condemn Athens, nor magnifie Rome; but impute all to necessity upon the diversity of accidents which hapned in each City. And certainly, if it be seriously considered, it will appear, that if the liberty of the Romans had been oppressed, as the liberty of the Athenians was, Rome would have been no better natur'd, or shown more compassion to its fellow Citizens, than Athens did: And this may be infallibly deduced by what hapned (after the expulsion of the Kings) against Collatinus and P. Val••rius; for Collatinus (though he had been very active in asserting their liberty) was banished for bearing only the Name of Tarquin; and the other had like to have ran the same destiny, for building a house only, upon the top of Mount Celius, which they suspected was to com∣mand the City. So that it may probably be presumed (by its suspicion and severity in the two cases aforesaid) that Rome would have exercised the same ingratitude, had it been injured in its minority, as Athens had been. And that I may have no occasion to discourse of ingratitude hereafter; I shall speak of it more largely in the following Chapter.