Page:A Vindication of Natural Society - Burke (1756).djvu/66

 Misfortune, they threw the whole Blame of their own Misconduct on the Ministers who had advised, and the Generals who had conducted those Wars; until by Degrees they had cut off all who could serve them in their Councils or their Battles. If at any time these Wars had an happier Issue, it was no less difficult to deal with them on account of their Pride and Insolence. Furious in their Adversity, tyrannical in their Successes, a Commander had more trouble to concert his Defence before the People, than to plan the Operations of the Campaign. It was frequent enough for a General, under the horrid Despotism of the Roman Emperors, to be ill received in Proportion to the Greatness of his Services. Agricola is a strong Instance of this. No Man had done greater things, nor with an honester Ambition. Yet on his Return to Court, he was obliged to enter Rome with all the Secrecy of a Criminal. He went to the Palace, not like a victorious Commander who had