nd that they had been used to
serve them; for, that in case it be allowed a right thing to fight for
liberty, that ought to have been done at first; but for them that have
once fallen under the power of the Romans, and have now submitted
to them for so many long years, to pretend to shake off that yoke
afterward, was the work of such as had a mind to die miserably, not of
such as were lovers of liberty. Besides, men may well enough grudge at
the dishonor of owning ignoble masters over them, but ought not to do so
to those who have all things under their command; for what part of the
world is there that hath escaped the Romans, unless it be such as are
of no use for violent heat, or for violent cold? And evident it is that
fortune is on all hands gone over to them; and that God, when he had
gone round the nations with this dominion, is now settled in Italy.
That, moreover, it is a strong and fixed law, even among brute beasts,
as well as among men, to yield to those that are too strong for them;
and to stiffer those to have the dominion who are too hard for the rest
in war; for which reason it was that their forefathers, who were far
superior to them, both in their souls and bodies, and other advantages,
did yet submit to the Romans, which they would not have suffered, had
they not known that God was with them. As for themselves, what can they
depend on in this their opposition, when the greatest part of their city
is already taken? and when those that are within it are under greater
miseries than if they were taken, although their walls be still
standing? For that the Romans are not unacquainted with that famine
which is in the city, whereby the people are already consumed, and the
fighting men will in a little time be so too; for although the Romans
should leave off the siege, and not fall upon the city with their swords
in their hands, yet was there an insuperable war that beset them within,
and was augmented every hour, unless they were able to wage war with
famine, and fight against it, or could alone conquer their natural
appetites. He added this further, how right a thing it was to change
their conduct before their calamities were become incurable, and to have
recourse to such advice as might preserve them, while opportunity was
offered them for so doing; for that the Romans would not be mindful
of their past actions to their disadvantage, unless they persevered in
their insolent behavior to the end; because they we