GREATNESS OF BIIITAIX. CXVll 



expulsing of foreigners, and some for the annoying and 

 bridling of suspected and tumultuous subjects; some are 

 profitable in present, and some may be converted and 

 improved to profit by plantations and good policy.&quot; 



He proceeds with the same minuteness to expose the Riches, 

 error, that the power of government consists in riches ; by 

 explaining that the real power of wealth depends upon 

 mediocrity, joined with martial valour and intelligence. 



The importance of martial valour and high chivalric spirit 

 he avails himself of every opportunity to enforce. &quot; Well,&quot; 

 he says, &quot; did Solon, who was no contemplative man, say 

 to Cro3sus, upon his shewing him his great treasures, When 

 another comes with iron he will be master of all your gold ; 

 and so Machiavel justly derideth the adage that money is 

 the sinews of war, by saying, There are no other true 

 sinews of war but the sinews and muscles of men s arms/ &quot; 



So impressed was he with the importance of elevating 

 the national character that, three years before his death, () 

 he spoke with still greater energy upon this subject, in 

 his treatise upon the Greatness of States. &quot; Above all 

 things,&quot; he says, &quot; cultivate a stout and warlike disposition 

 of the people ; (b) for walled towns, stored arsenals, goodly 

 races of horses, chariots of war, elephants, ordnance, artil 

 lery, and the like, all this is but sheep in a lion s skin, 

 unless the breeding and disposition of the people be war 

 like;&quot; and, &quot; as to the illusion that wealth may buy assist 

 ance, let the state which trusts to mercenary forces ever 

 remember, that, by these purchases, if it spread its feathers 



(a) De Augmentis, published 1623, vol. ix. p. 72. 



(6) See Sir W. Jones s translation of the ode, by Alceus. 



&quot; What constitutes a state ? 

 Not high rais d battlement or labour d mound, 

 Not cities proud with spires and turrets crown d, 

 No : man, high-minded man, &cc. &c.&quot; 



