7 At this period
every citizen began to seek distinction, and to display his talents with
greater freedom; for, with princes, the meritorious are greater objects of
suspicion than the undeserving, and to them the worth of others is a source of
alarm. But when liberty was secured, it is almost incredible how much the state
strengthened itself in a short space of time, so strong a passion for
distinction had pervaded it. Now, for the first time, the youth, as soon as
they were able to bear the toils of war, acquired military skill by actual
service in the camp, and took pleasure rather in splendid arms and military
steeds than in the society of mistresses and convivial indulgence. To such men
no toil was unusual, no place was difficult or inaccessible, no armed enemy was
formidable; their valor had overcome everything. But among themselves the grand
rivalry was for glory; each sought to be first to wound an enemy, to scale a
wall, and to be noticed while performing such an exploit. Distinction such as
this they regarded as wealth, honor, and true nobility. They were covetous of
praise, but liberal of money; they desired competent riches, but boundless
glory. I could mention, but that the account would draw me too far from my
subject, places in which the Roman people, with a small body of men, routed
vast armies of the enemy; and cities which, though fortified by nature, they
carried by assault.
|