Politique Observation.
IT is great Prudence, not to neglect or slight the smallest Revolts, but to cut them off in the first growth. Some are so fatally blind, as to perswade themselves, that having great Forces a small Army can hardly get any advantage upon them. But the wisest men have learnt from Reason and Experience, that mean begin∣nings, have sometimes had dangerous ends, and that insurrections, are like Ri∣vers, which the further they run, the more they increase their Channels, and in∣large their Banks. They are not ignorant of the instability of humane affairs, and that of all others the chances of War are most incertain. They know, that to dis∣regard an enemy, giveth him a great advantage, for that he is thereby permitted to raise Forces, and to fortifie himself; so that in conclusion, it will be as hard a task to subdue him, as at first it would have been easie to have prevented him from making the least progress in his design. One of the Pharaohs of Egypt was so in∣considerate, as to slight the Caldeans, being thereunto perswaded by some emi∣nent men of Tunis, who told him, that for a Prince of his birth, descended from a stem of ancient Kings, Lord of a large Country, and esteemed by every one, as the Arbitrator of War and Peace; to fear so inconsiderable an enemy, would be injurious and dishonourable to him; but he was not long unpayed, for the Calde∣ans invaded his Country, assaulted his Cities, and ruin'd his Kingdom, they mee∣ting with no opposition at all. The small esteem which those of Ninive made of their Besiegers, and the great confidence they put in their own Walls and Power, were the causes of their being taken in the middest of their mirth. There need no more but one small sparkle to kindle a great Fire, and but a small Revolt to over-run a whole Kingdom, if there be not some preventive Force used. Do we not see how the greatest Storms, begin with a little Gale of Wind; and that the greatest darknesses are Ushered in by small Clouds; so do we likewise often see, the greatest Wars to grow from little beginnings. A State is seldome without, I think, I may safely say never, some discontented persons, who would be very glad to joyn their forces, with those of any Re∣volted Prince, if they could have but a small opportunity: And some, indeed, too too many Rans••ckers, who would be extraordinary glad, to be under any protection, where they might be permitted to forrage, Pillage, and Plunder. The surest remedy in such cases, is, to prevent them betimes, and to wait up∣on the first appearers in the field, with such power and force, that they may not have time to know where they are, and that others may not dare to stir a foot to joyn with them.