like than politic." Whoso notes their proceedings, may find that none of them went to work like a conqueror, save only HENRY V.; the course of whose victories, it pleased GOD to interrupt by his death.
But this question is the more easily answered: if another be first made. "Why did not the Romans attempt the conquest of Gaul, before the time of CAESAR? Why not after the Macedonian war? Why not after the third Punic? or after the Numantian? "At all these times, they had good leisure. And then, especially, had they both leisure and fit opportunity; when, under the conduct of MARIUS, they had newly vanquished the Cimbri and Teutones; by whom the country of Gaul had been piteously wasted. Surely, the words of TULLY were true, "That with other nations, the Romans fought for dominion; with the Gauls, for the preservation of their own safety!" Therefore they attempted not the conquest of Gaul, until they were Lords of all other countries to them known.
We, on the other side, held only the one half of our own island; the other half, being inhabited by a Nation—unless perhaps in wealth and numbers of men, somewhat inferior—every way equal to ourselves; a nation anciently and strongly allied to our enemies, the French; and in that regard, enemy to us. So that our danger lay both before and behind us: and the greater danger at our backs, where we commonly felt it. Always, we feared a stronger invasion by land; than we could make upon France, transporting our forces over sea.
It is usual with men that have pleased themselves in admiring the matters which they find in ancient histories; to hold it a great injury done to their judgment, if any one take upon him, by way of comparison, to extol the things of later ages. But I am well persuaded, that as the divided virtue of this our island, hath given more noble proof of itself, than under so worthy a leader, the Roman army could do; which afterwards could win Rome and all her empire, making CAESAR a monarch: so hereafter, by GOD's blessing, who hath converted our greatest hindrance into our greatest help; the enemy that shall dare to try our forces, will find cause to wish; that, avoiding us, he had rather encountered as great a puissance as was that of the Roman Empire.
