114 The Admirable Crichton. 



and harps, but cannot form a judgment as to the number of 

 instruments engaged in the concert. 



I do not exactly know on what understanding I should 

 venture to discourse in your presence who have witnessed these 

 virtues for yourselves. But do you, most illustrious Fathers, 

 whose duty it is to perpetually keep guard with them in sena- 

 torial watchfulness for the safety of the Republic, carefully 

 reflect whether those would be able to govern amiss whose pre- 

 decessors with wonderful wisdom exercised the chief authority 

 in the Republic, and, even at a time when it was feeble and 

 about to perish from civil dissensions, restored its fortunes, so 

 that their praises surpassed the praises of all their forerunners. 

 Regard them, therefore, with the utmost affection, devotion, and 

 love ; for neither Rome under the divine Augustus, nor Judjea 

 under the wisest of Kings, flourished more happily in peace and 

 good laws than the Republic as it exists under your guardian- 

 ship and theirs. If you devote the whole maxim of your life to 

 the service of Gcd (Whose administration should be first in the 

 State), vou will hand down the principle that justice is to be ever 

 observed, and a treaty of the most inviolable peace amongst the 

 citizens to be maintained. Would to Heaven that He would 

 respond to the longing desire of the citizens and to my assurance ! 

 For from justice, the chief of all virtues, than which there is 

 nothing more essential to human society or more in conformity 

 with natural law, other good things come to us which adorn the 

 State ; for which it is before all things becoming that any persons 

 who wish to take counsel, and to render the existence of those 

 over whom thev have authority quiet and happy, should with- 

 draw themselves from any suspicion of profit of what kind 

 soever, and should establish confidence that they fear to disturb 

 or to overthrow for any personal advantage the basis of liber. v, 

 the foundation of equity, the intellect, the conscience, anci tne 

 policy of the State. Of this principle Camillus the Consul took 

 heed when he sorely pressed by siege on the State of the Falisci ; 

 to this principle adhered Tiberius Gracchus and Caius Claudius, 

 whilst Cneius Pompeius and many others, whether Tribunes of 

 the people or fulfilling any other offices in the Roman magis- 

 tracy, practised it with the highest commendation. The Sigam- 

 bri and the Dolopes respected it; and although they not seldom 



