the wars of the jews-第53章
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erhaps it will be said； It is hard to endure slavery。 Yes； but how much harder is this to the Greeks； who were esteemed the noblest of all people under the sun！ These； though they inhabit in a large country； are in subjection to six bundles of Roman rods。 It is the same case with the Macedonians； who have juster reason to claim their liberty than you have。 What is the case of five hundred cities of Asia？ Do they not submit to a single governor； and to the consular bundle of rods？ What need I speak of the Henlochi； and Colchi and the nation of Tauri； those that inhabit the Bosphorus； and the nations about Pontus； and Meotis； who formerly knew not so much as a lord of their own； but arc now subject to three thousand armed men； and where forty long ships keep the sea in peace； which before was not navigable； and very tempestuous？ How strong a plea may Bithynia； and Cappadocia； and the people of Pamphylia； the Lycians； and Cilicians； put in for liberty！ But they are made tributary without an army。 What are the circumstances of the Thracians； whose country extends in breadth five days' journey； and in length seven； and is of a much more harsh constitution； and much more defensible； than yours； and by the rigor of its cold sufficient to keep off armies from attacking them？ do not they submit to two thousand men of the Roman garrisons？ Are not the Illyrlans； who inhabit the country adjoining； as far as Dalmatia and the Danube； governed by barely two legions？ by which also they put a stop to the incursions of the Daeians。 And for the Dalmatians； who have made such frequent insurrections in order to regain their liberty； and who could never before be so thoroughly subdued； but that they always gathered their forces together again； revolted； yet are they now very quiet under one Roman legion。 Moreover； if eat advantages might provoke any people to revolt； the Gauls might do it best of all； as being so thoroughly walled round by nature； on the east side by the Alps； on the north by the river Rhine； on the south by the Pyrenean mountains； and on the west by the ocean。 Now although these Gauls have such obstacles before them to prevent any attack upon them； and have no fewer than three hundred and five nations among them； nay have； as one may say； the fountains of domestic happiness within themselves； and send out plentiful streams of happiness over almost the whole world； these bear to be tributary to the Romans； and derive their prosperous condition from them； and they undergo this； not because they are of effeminate minds； or because they are of an ignoble stock； as having borne a war of eighty years in order to preserve their liberty； but by reason of the great regard they have to the power of the Romans； and their good fortune； which is of greater efficacy than their arms。 These Gauls； therefore； are kept in servitude by twelve hundred soldiers； which are hardly so many as are their cities； nor hath the gold dug out of the mines of Spain been sufficient for the support of a war to preserve their liberty； nor could their vast distance from the Romans by land and by sea do it； nor could the martial tribes of the Lusitanians and Spaniards escape； no more could the ocean； with its tide； which yet was terrible to the ancient inhabitants。 Nay； the Romans have extended their arms beyond the pillars of Hercules； and have walked among the clouds； upon the Pyrenean mountains； and have subdued these nations。 And one legion is a sufficient guard for these people； although they were so hard to be conquered； and at a distance so remote from Rome。 Who is there among you that hath not heard of the great number of the Germans？ You have； to be sure； yourselves seen them to be strong and tall； and that frequently； since the Romans have them among their captives every where； yet these Germans； who dwell in an immense country； who have minds greater than their bodies； and a soul that despises death； and who are in rage more fierce than wild beasts； have the Rhine for the boundary of their enterprises； and are tamed by eight Roman legions。 Such of them as were taken captive became their servants； and the rest of the entire nation were obliged to save themselves by flight。 Do you also； who depend on the walls of Jerusalem； consider what a wall the Britons had； for the Romans sailed away to them； an subdued them while they were encompassed by the ocean； and inhabited an island that is not less than the ＇continent of this＇ habitable earth； and four legions are a sufficient guard to so large all island And why should I speak much more about this matter； while the Parthians； that most warlike body of men； and lords of so many nations； and encompassed with such mighty forces； send hostages to the Romans？ whereby you may see； if you please； even in Italy； the noblest nation of the East； under the notion of peace； submitting to serve them。 Now when almost all people under the sun submit to the Roman arms； will you be the only people that make war against them？ and this without regarding the fate of the Carthaginians； who； in the midst of their brags of the great Hannibal； and the nobility of their Phoenician original； fell by the hand of Scipio。 Nor indeed have the Cyrenians； derived from the Lacedemonians； nor the Marmaridite； a nation extended as far as the regions uninhabitable for want of water； nor have the Syrtes； a place terrible to such as barely hear it described； the Nasamons and Moors； and the immense multitude of the Numidians； been able to put a stop to the Roman valor。 And as for the third part of the habitable earth； ＇Akica；＇ whose nations are so many that it is not easy to number them； and which is bounded by the Atlantic Sea and the pillars of Hercules； and feeds an innumerable multitude of Ethiopians； as far as the Red Sea； these have the Romans subdued entirely。 And besides the annual fruits of the earth； which maintain the multitude of the Romans for eight months in the year； this； over and above； pays all sorts of tribute； and affords revenues suitable to the necessities of the government。 Nor do they； like you； esteem such injunctions a disgrace to them； although they have but one Roman legion that abides among them。 And indeed what occasion is there for showing you the power of the Romans over remote countries； when it is so easy to learn it from Egypt； in your neighborhood？ This country is extended as far as the Ethiopians； and Arabia the Happy； and borders upon India； it hath seven millions five hundred thousand men； besides the inhabitants of Alexandria； as may be learned from the revenue of the poll tax； yet it is not ashamed to submit to the Roman government； although it hath Alexandria as a grand temptation to a revolt； by reason it is so full of people and of riches； and is besides exceeding large； its length being thirty furlongs； and its breadth no less than ten； and it pays more tribute to the Romans in one month than you do in a year； nay； besides what it pays in money； it sends corn to Rome that supports it for four months ＇in the year＇： it is also walled round on all sides； either by almost impassable deserts； or seas that have no havens； or by rivers； or by lakes； yet have none of these things been found too strong for the Roman good fortune； however； two legions that lie in that city are a bridle both for the remoter parts of Egypt； and for the parts inhabited by the more noble Macedonians。 Where then are those people whom you are to have for your auxiliaries？ Must they come from the parts of the world that are uninhabited？ for all that are in the habitable earth are ＇under the＇ Romans。 Unless any of you extend his hopes as far as beyond the Euphrates； and suppose that those of your own nation that dwell in Adiabene will come to your assistance； but certainly these will not embarrass themselves with an unjustifiable war； nor； if they should follow such ill advice； will the Parthians permit them so to do； for it is their concern to maintain the truce that is between them and the Romans； and they will be supposed to break the covenants between them； if any under their government march against the Romans。 What remains； therefore； is this； that you have recourse to Divine assistance； but this is already on the side of the Romans； for it i
