mmand of several generals; for each following his own
counsels, while they all differed in their opinions, gave by this
opportunity an advantage to the enemy." When the consuls Quintus and
Agrippa were sent against the AEqui, Agrippa for this reason refused
to go with his colleague, saying: "That in the administration of great
actions it was most safe that the chief command should be lodged in one
person." And if the ruin of modern armies were well considered, most of
it would be found to have fallen upon this point, it being in this case
far safer to trust to any one man of common prudence, than to any two or
more together of the greatest parts.' The consuls indeed, being equal in
power, while one was present with the Senate, and the other in the field
with the army, made a good balance; and this with us is exactly followed
by the election of a new strategus upon the march of the old one.

"The seven-and-twentieth order, whereby the elders in case of invasion
are obliged to equal duty with the youth, and each upon their own
charge, is suitable to reason (for every man defends his own estate) and
to our copy, as in the war with the Samnites and Tuscans. 'The Senate
ordered a vacation to be proclaimed, and a levy to be made of all sorts
of persons, and not only the freemen and youths were listed, but cohorts
of the old men were likewise formed.' This nation of all others is the
least obnoxious to invasion. Oceana, says a French politician, is
a beast that cannot be devoured but by herself. Nevertheless, that
government is not perfect which is not provided at all points; and in
this (ad triarios res rediit) the elders being such as in a martial
state must be veterans, the commonwealth invaded gathers strength like
Antaeus by her fall, while the whole number of the elders, consisting
of 500,000, and the youth of as many, being brought up according to the
order, give twelve successive battles, each battle consisting of
80,000 men, half elders and half youth. And the commonwealth, whose
constitution can be no stranger to any of those virtues which are to be
acquired in human life, grows familiar with death ere she dies. If the
hand of God be upon her for her transgressions, she shall mourn for
her sins, and lie in the dust for her iniquities, without losing her
manhood.

"'Si fractus illabatur orbis,
Impavidam ferient ruinoe.'"

The remaining part, being the constitution of the provincial orb, is
partly civil, o