ButtheEgyptiankings，beingmastersoftheIsleofCyprus，ofPhoenicia，andofagreatnumberoftownsonthecoastofAsiaMinor，werepossessedofallsortsofconveniencesforundertakingmaritimeexpeditions。Theyhadnooccasiontoforce；theyhadonlytofollowthegeniusandbentoftheirsubjects。
Iamsurprised，Iconfess，attheobstinacywithwhichtheancientsbelievedthattheCaspianSeawasapartoftheocean。TheexpeditionsofAlexander，ofthekingsofSyria，oftheParthiansandtheRomans，couldnotmakethemchangetheirsentiments；notwithstandingthesenationsdescribedtheCaspianSeawithwonderfulexactness：butmenaregenerallytenaciousoftheirerrors。Whenonlythesouthofthisseawasknown，itwasatfirsttakenfortheocean；inproportionastheyadvancedalongthebanksofthenortherncoast，insteadofimaginingitagreatlake，theystillbelievedittobetheocean，thatheremadeasortofbay：surveyingthecoast，theirdiscoveriesneverwenteastwardbeyondtheJaxartes，norwestwardfartherthantheextremityofAlbania。
Theseatowardsthenorthwasshallow，andofcourseveryunfitfornavigation。[55]Henceitwasthattheyalwayslookeduponthisastheocean。
ThelandarmyofAlexanderhadbeenintheeastonlyasfarastheHypanis，whichisthelastofthoseriversthatfallintotheIndus：
thusthefirsttradewhichtheGreekscarriedonwiththeIndieswasconfinedtoaverysmallpartofthecountry。SeleucusNicatorpenetratedasfarastheGanges，andtherebydiscoveredtheseaintowhichthisriverfalls，thatistosay，theBayofBengal。[56]Themodernsdiscovercountriesbyvoyagesatsea；theancientsdiscoveredseasbyconquestsatland。
Strabo，[57]notwithstandingthetestimonyofApollodorus，seemstodoubtwhethertheGreciankingsofBactriaproceededfartherthanSeleucusandAlexander。[58]WereiteventruethattheywentnofarthertotheeastthanSeleucus，yettheywentfarthertowardsthesouth；theydiscoveredSiger，andtheportsonthecoastofMalabar，whichgaverisetothenavigationIamgoingtomention。[59]
PlinyinformsusthatthenavigationoftheIndieswassuccessivelycarriedoninthreedifferentways。[60]AtfirsttheysailedfromtheCapeofSiagretotheislandofPatalena，whichisatthemouthoftheIndus。ThiswefindwasthecoursethatAlexander’sfleetsteeredtotheIndies。Theytookafterwardsashorterandmorecertaincourse，bysailingfromthesamecapeorpromontorytoSiger：[61]thiscanbenootherthanthekingdomofSigermentionedbyStrabo，[62]anddiscoveredbytheGreciankingsofBactria。Pliny，bysayingthatthiswaywasshorterthantheother，canmeanonlythatthevoyagewasmadeinlesstime：for，asSigerwasdiscoveredbythekingsofBactria，itmusthavebeenfartherthantheIndus：bythispassagetheymustthereforehaveavoidedthewindingofcertaincoasts，andtakenadvantageofparticularwinds。Themerchantsatlasttookathirdway；theysailedtoCanes，orOcelis，portssituatedattheentranceoftheRedSea；whencebyawestwindtheyarrivedatMuziris，thefirststapletownoftheIndies，andthencetotheotherports。HereweseethatinsteadofsailingtothemouthoftheRedSeaasfarasSiagre，bycoastingArabiaFelixtothenorth—east，theysteereddirectlyfromwesttoeast，fromonesidetotheother，bymeansofthemonsoons，whoseregularcoursetheydiscoveredbysailingintheselatitudes。Theancientsneverlostsightofthecoasts，exceptwhentheytookadvantageoftheseandthetrade—winds，whichweretothemakindofcompass。[63]
Pliny[64]saysthattheysetsailfortheIndiesinthemiddleofsummerandreturnedtowardstheendofDecember，orinthebeginningofJanuary。Thisisentirelyconformabletoournavaljournals。InthatpartoftheIndianOceanwhichisbetweenthePeninsulaofAfrica，andthatonthissidetheGanges，therearetwomonsoons；thefirst，duringwhichthewindsblowfromwesttoeast，beginsinthemonthofAugustorSeptember；andthesecond，duringwhichthewindisintheeast，beginsinJanuary。ThuswesetsailfromAfricaforMalabarattheseasonoftheyearthatPtolemy’sfleetusedtoputtoseathence；andwereturntooatthesametimeasthey。
Alexander’sfleetwassevenmonthsinsailingfromPatalatoSusa。ItsetoutinthemonthofJuly，thatis，ataseasonwhennoshipdarenowputtoseatoreturnfromtheIndies。Betweenthesetwomonsoonsthereisanintervalduringwhichthewindsvary；whenanorthwind，meetingwiththecommonwinds，raises，especiallynearthecoasts，themostterribletempests。ThesecontinueduringthemonthsofJune，July，andAugust。Alexander’sfleet，therefore，settingsailfromPatalainthemonthofJuly，musthavebeenexposedtomanystorms，andthevoyagemusthavebeenlong，becausetheysailedagainstthemonsoon。
PlinysaysthattheysetoutfortheIndiesattheendofsummer；thustheyspentthetimeproperfortakingadvantageofthemonsoonintheirpassagefromAlexandriatotheRedSea。
Observehere，Ipray，hownavigationhas，littlebylittle，arrivedatperfection。Darius’sfleetwastwoyearsandahalfinfallingdowntheIndusandgoingtotheRedSea。[65]AfterwardsthefleetofAlexander，[66]descendingtheIndus，arrivedatSusa，intenmonths，havingsailedthreemonthsontheIndus，andsevenontheIndianOcean；
atlastthepassagefromthecoastofMalabartotheRedSeawasmadeinfortydays。[67]
Strabo，[68]whoaccountsfortheirignoranceofthecountriesbetweentheHypanisandtheGanges，saystherewereveryfewofthosewhosailedfromEgypttotheIndiesthateverproceededsofarastheGanges。Theirfleets，infact，neverwentthither：theysailedwiththewesternmonsoonsfromthemouthoftheRedSeatothecoastofMalabar。Theycastanchorintheportsalongthatcoast，andneverattemptedtogetroundthepeninsulaonthissidetheGangesbyCapeComorinandthecoastofCoromandel。TheplanofnavigationlaiddownbythekingsofEgyptandtheRomanswastosetoutandreturnthesameyear。[69]
ThusitisdemonstrablethatthecommerceoftheGreeksandRomanstotheIndieswasmuchlessextensivethanours。Weknowimmensecountries，whichtothemwereentirelyunknown；wetrafficwithalltheIndiannations；weevenmanagetheirtradeandcarryontheircommerce。Butthiscommerceoftheancientswascarriedonwithfargreaterfacilitythanours。AndifthemodernsweretotradeonlywiththecoastofGuzeratandMalabar，and，withoutseekingforthesouthernisles，weresatisfiedwithwhattheseislandersbroughtthem，theywouldcertainlypreferthewayofEgypttothatoftheCapeofGoodHope。Straboinformsus[70]thattheytradedthuswiththepeopleofTaprobane。
10。OftheCircuitofAfrica。Wefindfromhistorythatbeforethediscoveryofthemariner’scompassfourattemptsweremadetosailroundthecoastofAfrica。ThePhoenicianssentbyNecho[71]andEudoxus，[72]
flyingfromthewrathofPtolemyLathyrus，setoutfromtheRedSea，andsucceeded。Sataspes[73]sentbyXerxes，andHannobytheCarthaginians，setoutfromthePillarsofHercules，andfailedintheattempt。
ThecapitalpointinsurroundingAfricawastodiscoveranddoubletheCapeofGoodHope。ThosewhosetoutfromtheRedSeafoundthiscapenearerbyhalfthanitwouldhavebeeninsettingoutfromtheMediterranean。TheshorefromtheRedSeaisnotsoshallowasthatfromthecapetoHercules’Pillars。[74]ThediscoveryofthecapebyHercules’Pillarswasowingtotheinventionofthecompass，whichpermittedthemtoleavethecoastofAfrica，andtolaunchoutintothevastocean，inordertosailtowardstheislandofSt。Helena，ortowardsthecoastofBrazil。[75]Itwas，therefore，possibleforthemtosailfromtheRedSeaintotheMediterranean，butnottosetoutfromtheMediterraneantoreturnbytheRedSea。
Thus，withoutmakingthisgrandcircuit，afterwhichtheycouldhardlyhopetoreturn，itwasmostnaturaltotradetotheeastofAfricabytheRedSea，andtothewesterncoastbyHercules’Pillars。
TheGreciankingsofEgyptdiscoveredatfirst，intheRedSea，thatpartofthecoastofAfricawhichextendsfromthebottomofthegulf，wherestandsthetownofHeroum，asfarasDira，thatis，tothestraitnowknownbythenameofBabelmandel。ThencetothepromontoryofAromatia，situateattheentranceoftheRedSea，[76]thecoasthadneverbeensurveyedbynavigators：andthisisevidentfromwhatArtemidorustellsus，[77]thattheywereacquaintedwiththeplacesonthatcoast，butknewnottheirdistances：thereasonofwhichis，theysuccessivelygainedaknowledgeofthoseportsbyland，withoutsailingfromonetotheother。
Beyondthispromontory，atwhichthecoastalongtheoceancommenced，theyknewnothing，aswelearnfromEratosthenesandArtemidorus。[78]
SuchwastheknowledgetheyhadofthecoastsofAfricainStrabo’stime，thatis，inthereignofAugustus。Butaftertheprince’sdecease，theRomansfoundoutthetwocapesRaptumandPrassum，ofwhichStrabomakesnomention，becausetheyhadnotasyetbeendiscovered。ItisplainthatboththosenamesareofRomanorigin。
Ptolemy，thegeographer，flourishedunderAdrianandAntoninusPius；andtheauthorofthePeriplusoftheRedSea，whoeverhewas，livedalittleafter。YettheformerlimitsknownAfricatoCapePrassum，[79]
whichisinaboutthe14thdegreeofsouthlatitude；whiletheauthorofthePeriplus[80]confinesittoCapeRaptum，whichisnearlyinthetenthdegreeofthesamelatitude。Inalllikelihoodthelattertookhislimitfromaplacethenfrequented，andPtolemyhisfromaplacewithwhichtherewasnolongeranycommunication。
WhatconfirmsmeinthisnotionisthatthepeopleaboutCapePrassumwereAnthropophagi。[81]Ptolemytakesnotice[82]ofagreatnumberofplacesbetweentheportoremporiumAromatumandCapeRaptum，butleavesanentireblankbetweenCapesRaptumandPrassum。ThegreatprofitsoftheEastIndiatrademusthaveoccasionedaneglectofthatofAfrica。
Infine，theRomansneverhadanysettlednavigation；theyhaddiscoveredtheseseveralportsbylandexpeditions，andbymeansofshipsdrivenonthatcoast；andasatpresentwearewellacquaintedwiththemaritimepartsofAfrica，butknowverylittleoftheinlandcountry，theancients，onthecontrary，hadaverygoodknowledgeoftheinlandparts，butwerealmoststrangerstothecoasts。[83]
IsaidthatthePhoenicianssentbyNechoandEudoxusunderPtolemyLathyrushadmadethecircuitofAfrica；butatthetimeofPtolemy，thegeographer，thosetwovoyagesmusthavebeenlookeduponasfabulous，sinceheplacesafter[84]theSinusMagnus，whichIapprehendtobetheGulfofSiam，anunknowncountry，extendingfromAsiatoAfrica，andterminatingatCapePrassum，sothattheIndianOceanwouldhavebeennomorethanalake。TheancientswhodiscoveredtheIndiestowardsthenorth，advancingeastward，placedthisunknowncountrytothesouth。
11。OfCarthageandMarseilles。ThelawofnationswhichprevailedatCarthagewasveryextraordinary：allstrangerswhotradedtoSardiniaandtowardsHercules’Pillarsthishaughtyrepublicsentencedtobedrowned。Hercivilpolitywasequallysurprising；sheforbadetheSardinianstocultivatetheirlands，uponpainofdeath。Sheincreasedherpowerbyherriches，andafterwardsherrichesbyherpower。BeingmistressofthecoastsofAfrica，whicharewashedbytheMediterranean，sheextendedherselfalongtheocean。Hanno，byorderofthesenateofCarthage，distributedthirtythousandCarthaginiansfromHercules’
PillarsasfarasCerne。Thisplace，hesays，isasdistantfromHercules’PillarsasthelatterfromCarthage。Thissituationisextremelyremarkable。ItletsusseethatHannolimitedhissettlementstothe25thdegreeofnorthlatitude；thatis，totwoorthreedegreessouthoftheCanaries。
HannobeingatCerneundertookanothervoyage，withaviewofmakingfurtherdiscoveriestowardsthesouth。Hetookbutlittlenoticeofthecontinent。Hefollowedthecoastfortwenty—sixdays，whenhewasobligedtoreturnforwantofprovisions。TheCarthaginians，itseems，madenouseofthissecondenterprise。Scylaxsays[85]thattheseaisnotnavigablebeyondCerne，becauseitisshallow，fullofmudandsea—weeds：[86]and，infact，therearemanyoftheseinthoselatitudes。[87]TheCarthaginianmerchantsmentionedbyScylaxmightfindobstacleswhichHanno，whohadsixtyvesselsoffiftyoarseach，hadsurmounted。Difficultiesareatmostbutrelative；besides，weoughtnottoconfoundanenterpriseinwhichbraveryandresolutionmustbeexertedwiththingsthatrequirenoextraordinaryconduct。
TherelationofHanno’svoyageisafinefragmentofantiquity。Itwaswrittenbytheverymanthatperformedit。
Hisrecitalisnotmingledwithostentation。Greatcommanderswritetheiractionswithsimplicity；becausetheyreceivemoregloryfromfactsthanfromwords。
Thestyleisagreeabletothesubject；hedealsnotinthemarvellous。
Allhesaysoftheclimate，ofthesoil，thebehaviour，themannersoftheinhabitants，correspondwithwhatiseverydayseenonthiscoastofAfrica；onewouldimagineitthejournalofamodernsailor。
Heobservedfromhisfleetthatintheday—timetherewasaprodigioussilenceonthecontinent，thatinthenightheheardthesoundofvariousmusicalinstruments，andthatfiresmightthenbeeverywhereseen，somelargerthanothers。[88]Ourrelationsareconformabletothis；ithasbeendiscoveredthatinthedaythesavagesretireintotheforeststoavoidtheheatofthesun，thattheylightupgreatfiresinthenighttodispersethebeastsofprey，andthattheyarepassionatelyfondofmusicanddancing。
ThesamewriterdescribesavolcanowithallthephenomenaofVesuvius；
andrelatesthathecapturedtwohairywomen，whochosetodieratherthanfollowtheCarthaginians，andwhoseskinshecarriedtoCarthage。
Thishasbeenfoundnotvoidofprobability。
ThisnarrationissomuchthemorevaluableasitisamonumentofPunicantiquity；andhencealoneithasbeenregardedasfabulous。FortheRomansretainedtheirhatredoftheCarthaginians，evenaftertheyhaddestroyedthem。ButitwasvictoryalonethatdecidedwhetherweoughttosaythePunicortheRomanfaith。
Somemoderns[89]haveimbibedtheseprejudices。Whathasbecome，saythey，ofthecitiesdescribedbyHanno，ofwhicheveninPliny’stimethereremainednovestiges？Butitwouldhavebeenawonderindeedifanysuchvestigeshadremained。WasitaCorinthorAthensthatHannobuiltonthosecoasts？HeleftCarthaginianfamiliesinsuchplacesasweremostcommodiousfortrade，andsecuredthemaswellashishurrywouldpermitagainstsavagesandwildbeasts。ThecalamitiesoftheCarthaginiansputaperiodtothenavigationofAfrica；thesefamiliesmustnecessarilytheneitherperishorbecomesavages。Besides，weretheruinsofthesecitiesevenstillinbeing，whoisitthatwouldventureintothewoodsandmarshestomakethediscovery？Wefind，however，inScylaxandPolybiusthattheCarthaginianshadconsiderablesettlementsonthosecoasts。ThesearethevestigesofthecitiesofHanno；therearenoothers，forthesamereasonthattherearenoothersofCarthageitself。
TheCarthaginianswereinthehighroadtowealth；andhadtheygonesofarasfourdegreesofnorthlatitude，andfifteenoflongitude，theywouldhavediscoveredtheGoldCoast。Theywouldthenhavehadatradeofmuchgreaterimportancethanthatwhichiscarriedonatpresentonthatcoast，atatimewhenAmericaseemstohavedegradedtherichesofallothercountries。TheywouldtherehavefoundtreasuresofwhichtheycouldneverhavebeendeprivedbytheRomans。
VerysurprisingthingshavebeensaidoftherichesofSpain。IfwemaybelieveAristotle，[90]thePhoenicianswhoarrivedatTartessusfoundsomuchsilvertherethattheirshipscouldnotholditall；andtheymadeofthismetaltheirmeanestutensils。TheCarthaginians，accordingtoDiodorus，[91]foundsomuchgoldandsilverinthePyreneanmountains，thattheyadornedtheanchorsoftheirshipswithit。Butnofoundationcanbebuiltonsuchpopularreports。Letusthereforeexaminethefactsthemselves。
WefindinafragmentofPolybius，citedbyStrabo，[92]thatthesilverminesatthesourceoftheriverB？tis，inwhichfortythousandmenwereemployed，producedtotheRomanstwenty—fivethousanddrachmasaday，thatis，aboutfivemillionlivresayear，atfiftylivrestothemark。
ThemountainsthatcontainedthesemineswerecalledtheSilverMountains：[93]whichshowstheywerethePotosiofthosetimes。Atpresent，theminesofHanoverdonotemployafourthpartoftheworkmen，andyettheyyieldmore。ButastheRomanshadnotmanycoppermines，andbutfewofsilver；andastheGreeksknewnonebuttheAtticmines，whichwereoflittlevalue，theymightwellbeastonishedattheirabundance。
InthewarthatbrokeoutforthesuccessionofSpain，amancalledtheMarquisofRhodes，ofwhomitwassaidthathewasruinedingoldminesandenrichedinhospitals，[94]proposedtothecourtofFrancetoopenthePyreneanmines。HeallegedtheexampleoftheTyrians，theCarthaginians，andtheRomans。Hewaspermittedtosearch，butsoughtinvain；hestillalleged，andfoundnothing。
TheCarthaginians，beingmastersofthegoldandsilvertrade，werewillingtobesooftheleadandpewter。ThesemetalswerecarriedbylandfromtheportsofGaulupontheoceantothoseoftheMediterranean。TheCarthaginiansweredesirousofreceivingthematthefirsthand；theysentHimilcotomakeasettlementintheislescalledCassiterides，[95]whichareimaginedtobethoseofScilly。
ThesevoyagesfromB？ticaintoEnglandhavemadesomepersonsimaginethattheCarthaginiansknewthecompass：butitisverycertainthattheyfollowedthecoasts。ThereneedsnootherproofthanHimilco’sbeingfourmonthsinsailingfromthemouthoftheB？tistoEngland；
besides，thefamouspieceofhistoryoftheCarthaginian[96]pilotwho，beingfollowedbyaRomanvessel，ranaground，thathemightnotshowherthewaytoEngland，[97]plainlyintimatesthatthosevesselswereveryneartheshorewhentheyfellinwitheachother。
Theancientsmighthaveperformedvoyagesthatwouldmakeoneimaginetheyhadthecompass，thoughtheyhadnot。Ifapilotwasfarfromland，andduringhisvoyagehadsuchsereneweatherthatinthenighthecouldalwaysseeapolarstarandinthedaytherisingandsettingofthesun，itiscertainhemightregulatehiscourseaswellaswedonowbythecompass：butthismustbeafortuitouscase，andnotaregularmethodofnavigation。
WeseeinthetreatywhichputanendtothefirstPunicwarthatCarthagewasprincipallyattentivetopreservetheempireofthesea，andRomethatoftheland。Hanno，[98]inhisnegotiationwiththeRomans，declaredthattheyshouldnotbesufferedeventowashtheirhandsintheseaofSicily；theywerenotpermittedtosailbeyondthepromontoriumpulchrum；theywereforbiddentotradeinSicily，Sardinia，andAfrica，exceptatCarthage：[99]anexceptionthatprovestherewasnodesigntofavourthemintheirtradewiththatcity。
InearlytimestherehadbeenverygreatwarsbetweenCarthageandMarseilles[100]onthesubjectoffishing。Afterthepeacetheyenteredjointlyintoeconomicalcommerce。Marseillesatlengthgrewjealous，especiallyas，beingequaltoherrivalinindustry，shehadbecomeinferiortoherinpower。ThisisthemotiveofhergreatfidelitytotheRomans。ThewarbetweenthelatterandtheCarthaginiansinSpainwasasourceofrichestoMarseilles，whichhadnowbecometheirmagazine。TheruinofCarthageandCorinthstillincreasedthegloryofMarseilles，andhaditnotbeenforthecivilwars，inwhichthisrepublicoughtonnoaccounttohaveengaged，shewouldhavebeenhappyundertheprotectionoftheRomans，whowerenottheleastjealousofhercommerce。
12。TheIsleofDelos。Mithridates。UponthedestructionofCorinthbytheRomans，themerchantsretiredtoDelos，anislandwhichfromreligiousconsiderationswaslookeduponasaplaceofsafety：[101]
besides，itwasextremelywellsituatedforthecommerceofItalyandAsia，which，sincethereductionofAfricaandtheweakeningofGreece，hadgrownmoreimportant。
FromtheearliesttimestheGreeks，aswehavealreadyobserved，sentcoloniestoPropontisandtotheEuxineSea——colonieswhichretainedtheirlawsandlibertiesunderthePersians。Alexander，havingundertakenhisexpeditionagainstthebarbariansonly，didnotmolestthesepeople。[102]NeitherdoesitappearthatthekingsofPontus，whoweremastersofmanyofthosecolonies，everdeprivedthemoftheirowncivilgovernment。[103]
Thepowerofthosekingsincreasedassoonastheysubduedthosecities。[104]Mithridatesfoundhimselfabletohiretroopsoneveryside；torepairhisfrequentlosses；tohaveamultitudeofworkmen，ships，andmilitarymachines；toprocurehimselfallies；tobribethoseoftheRomans，andeventheRomansthemselves；tokeepthebarbariansofAsiaandEuropeinhispay；[105]tocontinuethewarformanyyears，andofcoursetodisciplinehistroops，hefoundhimselfabletotrainthemtoarms，toinstructtheminthemilitaryartoftheRomans，[106]andtoformconsiderablebodiesoutoftheirdeserters；inaword，hefoundhimselfabletosustaingreatlosses，andtobefrequentlydefeated，withoutbeingruined；[107]neitherwouldhehavebeenruinedifthevoluptuousandbarbarouskinghadnotdestroyed，inhisprosperousdays，whathadbeendonebythegreatprinceintimesofadversity。
ThusitwasthatwhentheRomanshadarrivedattheirhighestpitchofgrandeur，andseemedtohavenothingtoapprehendbutfromtheambitionoftheirownsubjects，Mithridatesoncemoreventuredtocontestthemightypoint，whichtheoverthrowofPhilip，ofAntiochus，andofPerseushadalreadydecided。Neverwasthereamoredestructivewar：thetwocontendingparties，beingpossessedofgreatpower，andreceivingalternateadvantages，theinhabitantsofGreeceandofAsiafellasacrificeinthequarrel，eitherasfoes，orasfriendsofMithridates。
Deloswasinvolvedinthegeneralfatality，andcommercefailedoneveryside：whichwasanecessaryconsequence，thepeoplethemselvesbeingdestroyed。
TheRomans，inpursuanceofasystemofwhichIhavespokenelsewhere，[108]actingasdestroyers，thattheymightnotappearasconquerors，demolishedCarthageandCorinth；apracticebywhichtheywouldhaveruinedthemselveshadtheynotsubduedtheworld。WhenthekingsofPontusbecamemastersoftheGreekcoloniesontheEuxineSea，theytookcarenottodestroywhatwastobethefoundationoftheirowngrandeur。
13。OftheGeniusoftheRomansastoMaritimeAffairs。TheRomanslaidnostressonanythingbuttheirlandforces，whoweredisciplinedtostandfirm，tofightononespot，andtherebravelytodie。Theycouldnotlikethepracticeofseamen，whofirstoffertofight，thenfly，thenreturn，constantlyavoiddanger，oftenmakeuseofstratagem，andseldomofforce。ThiswasnotsuitabletothegeniusoftheGreeks[109]
muchlesstothatoftheRomans。
Theydestinedthereforetotheseaonlythosecitizenswhowerenotconsiderableenoughtohaveaplaceintheirlegions。[110]Theirmarineswerecommonlyfreedmen。
Atthistimewehaveneitherthesameesteemforlandforcesnorthesamecontemptforthoseofthesea。Intheformer，arthasdecreased；[111]inthelatter，ithasaugmented：[112]nowthingsaregenerallyesteemedinproportiontothedegreeofabilityrequisitetodischargethem。
14。OftheGeniusoftheRomanswithrespecttoCommerce。TheRomanswereneverdistinguishedbyajealousyfortrade。TheyattackedCarthageasarival，notasacommercialnation。Theyfavouredtradingcitiesthatwerenotsubjecttothem。ThustheyincreasedthepowerofMarseillesbythecessionofalargeterritory。Theywerevastlyafraidofbarbarians，buthadnottheleastapprehensionfromatradingpeople。
Theirgenius，theirglory，theirmilitaryeducation，andtheveryformoftheirgovernmentestrangedthemfromcommerce。
Inthecity，theywereemployedonlyaboutwar，elections，factions，andlaw—suits；inthecountry，aboutagriculture；andasfortheprovinces，asevereandtyrannicalgovernmentwasincompatiblewithcommerce。
Buttheirpoliticalconstitutionwasnotmoreopposedtotradethantheirlawofnations。"Thepeople，"saysPomponius，thecivilian，[113]
"withwhomwehaveneitherfriendship，norhospitalitynoralliance，arenotourenemies；however，ifanythingbelongingtousfallsintotheirhands，theyaretheproprietorsofit；freemenbecometheirslaves；andtheyareuponthesametermswithrespecttous。"
Theircivillawwasnotlessoppressive。ThelawofConstantine，[114]
afterhavingstigmatisedasbastardsthechildrenofameanrankwhohadbeenmarriedtothoseofasuperiorstation，confoundswomenwhoretailmerchandisewithslaves，withthemistressesoftaverns，withactresses，withthedaughtersofthosewhokeeppublicstews，orwhohadbeencondemnedtofightintheamphitheatre；thishaditsoriginintheancientinstitutionsoftheRomans。
Iamnotignorantthatmenprepossessedwiththesetwoideas（thatcommerceisofthegreatestservicetoastate，andthattheRomanshadthebest—regulatedgovernmentintheworld）havebelievedthatthesepeoplegreatlyhonouredandencouragedcommerce；butthetruthis，theyseldomtroubledtheirheadsaboutit。