The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. 223
Fourthly, That it consisteth in this point, that ways trouble a sound resolution. And those
every common subject by the poll be fit to that are conversant attentively in tho histories of
make a soldier, and not only certain condi- those times, shall find that this purchase which
tions or degrees of men. Alexander made and compassed, was offered by
Fifthly, That it consisteth in the temper of the fortune twice before to others, though by accident
government fit to keep the subjects in good they went not through with it; namely, to Agesiheart and courage, and not to keep theml in laus, and Jason of Thessaly: for Agesilaus, after
the condition of servile vassals. he had made himself master of most of the low
And, sixthly, That it consisteth in the com-,rovinces of Asia, and had both design and commandment of the sea. mission to invade the higher countries, was diAnd let no man so much forget the subject pro- verted and called home upon a war excited against
pounded, as to find strange, that here is no men- his country by the states of Athens and Thebes,
tion of religion, laws, or policy. For we speak cf being incensed by their orators and counsellors,
that which is proper to the amplitude and growth which were bribed and corrupted from Persia, as
of states, and not of that which is common to Agesilaus himself avouched pleasantly, when he
their preservation, happiness, and all other points said, That a hundred thousand archers of the
ofwell-being. First,therefore, touchinglargeness King of Persia had driven him home: underof territories, the true greatness of kingdoms upon standing it, because an archer was the stamp upon
earth is not without some analogy with the king- the Persian coin of gold. And Jason of Thessaly,
donm of heaven, as our Saviour describes it; which being a man born to no greatness, but one that
he cloth resemble, not to any greatkernel or nut, but made a fortune of himself, and had obtained by
to one of the least grains; but yet such a one, as his own vivacity of spirit, joined with the opporlath a propertyto grow and spread. Foras forlarge tunities of time, a great army, compounded of
countries and multitude of provinces, they are many voluntaries and adventurers, to the terror of all
times rather matters of burden than of strength, as Gracia, that continually expected where that
may manifestly appear both by reason and exam- cloud would fall; disclosed himself in the end,
ple. By reason thus. There be two manners of that his design was for an expedition into Persia,
securing of large territories, the one by the natural the same which Alexander, not many years after
arms of every province, and the other by the pro- achieved, wherein he was interrupted by a private
tecting arms of the principal estate, in which conspiracy against his life, which took effect. So
case commonly the provincials are held disarmed. that it appeareth, as was said, that it was not any
So are there two dangers incident unto every miracle of accident that raised the Macedonian
estate, foreign invasion, and inward rebellion. monarchy, but only the weak composition of that
Now, such is the nature of things, that these two vast state of Persia, which was prepared for a
remedies of estate do fall respectively into these prey to the first resolute invader.
two dangers, in case of remote provinces. For The second example that I will produce, is of
if such an estate rest upon the natural arms of the the Roman empire, which had received no dimiprovinces, it is sure to be subject to rebellion or nution in territory, though great in virtue and
revolt; if upon protecting arms, it is sure to be forces, till the time of Jovianus. For so it was
weak against invasion: neither can this be alleged by such as opposed themselves to the
avoided. rendering Nisibis upon the dishonourable retreat
Now, for examples, proving the weakness of of the Roman army out of Persia. At which time
states possessed of large territories, I will use it was avouched, that the Romans, by the space
only two, eminent and selected. The first shall of eight hundred years, had' never, before that
be of the kingdom of Persia, which extended day, made any cession or renunciation to any part
from Egypt, inclusive, unto Bactria, and the of their territory, whereof they had once had a conborders of the East India; and yet, nevertheless, stant and quiet possession. And yet, neverthewas overrun and conquered, in the space of seven less, immediately after the short reign of Jovianus,
years, by a nation not much bigger than this isle and towards the end of the joint reign of Valenof Britain, and newly grown into name, having tinianus and Valens, which were his immediate
been utterly obscure till the time of Philip, the son successors, and much more in the times succeedof Amyntas. Neither was this effected by any ing, the Roman empire, notwithstanding the
rare or heroical prowess in the conqueror, as is magnitude thereof, became no better than a
vulgarly conceived, for that Alexander the Great carcase, whereupon all the vultures and birds of
goeth now for one of the wonders of the world; prey of the world did seize and ravine for many
for those that have made a judgment grounded ages, for a perpetual monument of the essential
upon reason of estate, do find that conceit to be difference between the scale of miles, and the
merely popular; for so Livy pronounceth of him, scale of forces. And, therefore, upon these rea", Nihil aliud quam bene ausus vana contemnnere." sons and examples, we may safely conclude, that
Wherein he judgeth of vastness of territory as a largeness of territory is so far from being a thinlg
vamnity that may astonish a weak mind, but no, inseparable from greatness of power, as it, is