Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/76

 and Principles to be transfused into, and to contaminate succeeding Times.

The second of these was "Their Principle of unlimited Conquest." Their early Passion for War arose from their Necessities. On their first Establishment, they had neither Territory nor Commerce: They lived by Plunder: Hence, the ruling Genius of the State was warlike: Their warlike Genius was unchecked by any other Principle: Hence, unremitted Exercises, unceasing Improvements in Discipline, increasing Valour and Ferocity arose. Thus they attempted to subdue, and thus they subdued the World.

But such an Empire is utterly untenable: Valour may acquire, but cannot maintain it. The Body of such a State is too enormous to be effectually animated by the Soul. This is a Cause of Ruin so clear, that it hath met every Writer's Observation; and therefore needs no farther Proof.