nts to those to whom all the world
hath submitted. What sort of an army do you rely on? What are the arms
you depend on? Where is your fleet, that may seize upon the Roman
seas? and where are those treasures which may be sufficient for your
undertakings? Do you suppose, I pray you, that you are to make war with
the Egyptians, and with the Arabians? Will you not carefully reflect
upon the Roman empire? Will you not estimate your own weakness? Hath not
your army been often beaten even by your neighboring nations, while the
power of the Romans is invincible in all parts of the habitable earth?
nay, rather they seek for somewhat still beyond that; for all Euphrates
is not a sufficient boundary for them on the east side, nor the Danube
on the north; and for their southern limit, Libya hath been searched
over by them, as far as countries uninhabited, as is Cadiz their limit
on the west; nay, indeed, they have sought for another habitable earth
beyond the ocean, and have carried their arms as far as such British
islands as were never known before. What therefore do you pretend to?
Are you richer than the Gauls, stronger than the Germans, wiser than
the Greeks, more numerous than all men upon the habitable earth? What
confidence is it that elevates you to oppose the Romans? Perhaps it will
be said, It is hard to endure slavery. Yes; but how much harder is this
to the Greeks, who were esteemed the noblest of all people under the
sun! These, though they inhabit in a large country, are in subjection to
six bundles of Roman rods. It is the same case with the Macedonians,
who have juster reason to claim their liberty than you have. What is
the case of five hundred cities of Asia? Do they not submit to a single
governor, and to the consular bundle of rods? What need I speak of the
Henlochi, and Colchi and the nation of Tauri, those that inhabit the
Bosphorus, and the nations about Pontus, and Meotis, who formerly
knew not so much as a lord of their own, but are now subject to three
thousand armed men, and where forty long ships keep the sea in peace,
which before was not navigable, and very tempestuous? How strong a plea
may Bithynia, and Cappadocia, and the people of Pamphylia, the Lycians,
and Cilicians, put in for liberty! But they are made tributary without
an army. What are the circumstances of the Thracians, whose country
extends in breadth five days' journey, and in length seven, and is of a
much more harsh constitution, and muc