Miscellaneous essays by Monsieur St. Euremont ; translated out of French. With a character / by a person of honour here in England ; continued by Mr. Dryden.

CHAP. III. (Book 3)

Of the First Wars of the Romans. (Book 3)

THE First Wars of the Romans were of very great Importance in their re∣spect, but little remarkable, if you except

the extraordinary actions of some parti∣culars. It is certain that the Interest of the Common-Wealth could not possibly be greater, since there was some likelihood of their returning under the Subjection of the Tarquins; since Rome could not pre∣serve it self from the resentments of Corio∣lanus, but by the Tears of his Mother; and that the defence of the Capitol was the ul∣timate refuge of the Romans, seeing that after the defeat of their Forces, their ve∣ry City was taken and Sacked by the Gauls. But considering these Expeditions in them∣selves, one shall find that they were rather Tumults, than real Wars; and to speak the Truth, if so be the Lacedaemonians had seen the kind of War-like Discipline which the Romans practised in those times, I que∣stion not, but they would have taken for Barbarians, a Nation, that took off the Reins of their Horses, to make their Ca∣valry the more impetuous, a Nation, who depended on Geese and Dogs for their Guard, as a Security sufficient, whose neg∣ligence they punished, and recompensed their Watchfulness. This gross Custom of wageing War, was of no small continuance, the Romans have purchas'd many conside∣rable

Conquests with an indifferent Ca∣pacity: they were a people of bravery e∣nough, and but little understood, who were concerned with Adversaries less Couragi∣ous and more ignorant, but because the Captains were nominated Consuls and Dictators, their Troops called Legions, and their Souldiers Romans, there has been more ascribed to the Vanity of these Names, than the Truth of things; and without ex∣amining the distinction of Times and Per∣sons, people would imagine, that they were the same Arms under the Commands of Camillus, Manlius, Cincinnatus, Papiri∣us, Cursor, and Curius Dentatus, as under Scipio, Marius, Sylla, Pompey and Caesar.

That which may be affirmed to have been in the Primitive times of the Romans, is an extraordinary Courage•• a great Au∣sterity of Life, a great Affection for their Country, and an equal Valour; in the lat∣ter times, a great of Discipline in War, and every thing else, but withal abun∣dance of Corruption.

From thence it is come to pass, that per∣sons of the highest Rank, to whom Vice and Luxury were become odious, have not been satisfied to admire the Probity of

their Ancestors, if they did not extend their admiration to the utmost degree, without distinguishing wherein their de∣serts consisted, and where not. Those that have found some occasion to com∣plain of the Age they lived in, have af∣forded a Thousand Encomiums to Anti∣quity, which never exacted from them the least sufferance; and those who are so Morose as to censure and blame every thing that's in view, by the strength of their Imagination make that estimable which is no more. The most reputable persons have not been destitute of Judg∣ment, and knowing that all Ages have their Imperfection and Vertues, they made a prudent Scrutiny into the Time of their Ancestors and their own; but they were obliged to admire with the Peo∣ple, and to exclaim sometimes suita∣bly enough, sometimes without rea∣son: majores nostri, majores nostri, when they observed others to cry out in so general an admiration. The Historians have not been wanting in the same respect to the Ancients, and making a He∣ro of every Consul, they have supposed every one, that has been very serviceable

to the Republick, to be of a Consumma∣ted Vertue.

I acknowledge that it was very deser∣ving to serve it, but that's a different case from what we are upon; and it may truly be said, that the excellent Citizens lived amongst the ancient Romans, and the most accomplished Generals amongst the latter.