Page:The City-State of the Greeks and Romans.djvu/258

234 We need not now pursue this wonderful story further, for it is not with the conquests themselves that we are concerned, but with their reaction on the constitution. In reading the history of conquering States, we are apt to dwell too little on the immense amount of energy and brain-power which such States have to expend. The levying and equipment of armies, the building of vast fleets, the adequate organisation of finance, the choice and control of commanders, and above all, the settlement of conquered territories and the vigilance needed to secure their obedience — all these demand such a strenuous industry in the conquerors as in these days we can hardly realise. To us Englishmen, with our peaceful and commercial instincts, a single little war seems a matter of difficulty and moment; the defeat of a single battalion seems a serious disaster. We have to go back to the days of Pitt to understand how great a strain on the energies and resources of a nation is a fierce and widespread war which lasts for many years with varying result. But he who would really grasp the meaning of the senatorial government at Rome must try and realise the business which that government had to get through. It was business which called for experience and knowledge, as well as industry; it could not be done by amateurs. It needed the cool-headedness of men of age and standing; the steady perseverance of men who had been trained in business from their youth; the reasonableness in command of men accustomed to obey. It called for unsparing attention to detail, and that exact