ble only to ourselves, in our own country, now free,
and governed by such laws as this country once flourished under. As
for myself, I cannot remember our former time of liberty, as being
born after it was gone; but I am beyond measure filled with joy at the
thoughts of our present freedom. I also esteem those that were born and
bred up in that our former liberty happy men, and that those men are
worthy of no less esteem than the gods themselves who have given us a
taste of it in this age; and I heartily wish that this quiet enjoyment
of it, which we have at present, might continue to all ages. However,
this single day may suffice for our youth, as well as for us that are in
years. It will seem an age to our old men, if they might die during its
happy duration: it may also be for the instruction of the younger sort,
what kind of virtue those men, from whose loins we are derived, were
exercised in. As for ourselves, our business is, during the space
of time, to live virtuously, than which nothing can be more to our
advantage; which course of virtue it is alone that can preserve
our liberty; for as to our ancient state, I have heard of it by the
relations of others; but as to our later state, during my lifetime,
I have known it by experience, and learned thereby what mischiefs
tyrannies have brought upon this commonwealth, discouraging all virtue,
and depriving persons of magnanimity of their liberty, and proving the
teachers of flattery and slavish fear, because it leaves the public
administration not to be governed by wise laws, but by the humor of
those that govern. For since Julius Caesar took it into his head to
dissolve our democracy, and, by overbearing the regular system of our
laws, to bring disorders into our administration, and to get above right
and justice, and to be a slave to his own inclinations, there is no kind
of misery but what hath tended to the subversion of this city; while all
those that have succeeded him have striven one with another to overthrow
the ancient laws of their country, and have left it destitute of such
citizens as were of generous principles, because they thought it tended
to their safety to have vicious men to converse withal, and not only to
break the spirits of those that were best esteemed for their virtue, but
to resolve upon their utter destruction. Of all which emperors, who have
been many in number, and who laid upon us insufferable hardships during
the times of their governmen