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128 who might abandon him on the first reverse of fortune, and the vanquished cannot pardon him for having been a tranquil spectator of his defeat.

When Antiochus passed into Greece, whither the Etolians had invited him in order to drive out the Romans, he sent ambassadors to the Achaians, friends of the latter, to engage them to remain neuter. The Romans on the other hand demanded that they should declare for them. The affair being taken into deliberation in the council of the Achaians, the Roman envoy spoke after the ambassador of Antiochus, and said, "You are advised to remain neutral, as the safest mode of conduct; and I assure you there can be none so bad; for you will inevitably remain at the mercy of the conqueror, whoever he may be, and will thus have two chances to one against you." (Vide Appendix E.)

They are never friends and allies who demand neutrality. This consideration alone ought to open the eyes of a prince who would adopt that conduct: but if he is of, a weak and irresolute character, the consideration of avoiding a present embarrassment renders him blind to the danger of such a determination. When a prince declares boldly for one of two parties, he attaches that party to himself by the tie of gratitude, and has but little to dread from being placed at his mercy if he should be the conqueror; first, because men are