CHAP. XIV.
Many People are mistaken, who expect with meekness and humility to work upon the proud.
IT falls out many times that humility and modesty towards such as have any picque or prejudice to you, is so far from doing good, that it does a great deal of mischief and of this the debate and consultation of the Romans about the preservation of their peace with the Latins, is an example, from whom they were in expectation of a War. For the Samnites complaining to the Romans that the Latins had invaded them, the Romans (un∣willing to exasperate them more, who were already too prone to be quarrelling) return'd this answer, that by their league with them, the Latins were not tyed up from making War as they pleas'd. The Latins were so far from being satisfied by the mildness of their answer, that it made them more insolent; insomuch that not long after they profess'd themselves their Enemies, as appears by that speech of the aforesaid Annius in the Council aforesaid, where he tells the Latins, Tentâstis patientiam negando militem: Quis dubitat exarsisse eos? Pertulerunt tamen hunc dolorem. Exercitus nos parare adversus Samnites foe∣deratos suos audiêrunt, nec moverunt se ab urbe. Unde haec illis tanta modestia, nisi a con∣scientia virium, & nostrarum, & suarum. You tried their patience before, in refusing them supplies; who doubts but they were netled? yet they swallow'd it: They had notice of our preparations against the Samnites their Confederates, and stirred not in their defence. Whence comes this mighty modesty, and good nature? from nothing but a sence of the disparity betwixt our strength, and their own. From hence it is clear, the patience and civility of the Romans, augmented the arrogance of the Latins: and that it is the interest of all Princes to be very cautious of condescending from their dignity, or stooping willingly to any thing that may give the Enemy an opinion of his weakness or pusillanimity; for it is better to lose any thing bravely and by open War, than to part with it poorly in hopes to prevent it; and it many times happens that those who part so easily with their Lands or Monies to prevent a War, do rather excite, than satisfie the Enemy, whose nature commonly is such, that upon the discovery of their impotence or fear, his desires encrease, and new things are succes∣sively demanded; nor will your friends be so ready to assist, if they find you timorous and irresolute. But if as soon as you have notice of the designs or insolence of the Enemy, you immediately prepare to correct him; he will not invade you so boldly, though he be stronger than you, and then your friends will come in more freely to your assistance, who, had you abandoned your self, would certainly have forsaken you. This is intended only where you have but one Enemy; where you have more, the best way is to give