OF T1IK TRUE GREATNESS OF HRITAIN. 



nions were continued and entire, and had thickness 

 and squareness in their orb or contents. Hut these 

 things arc without contradiction. 



For the second, concerning the proportion between 

 the principal region, and those which are but secon 

 dary, there must evermore distinction be made 

 between the body or stem of the tree, and the 

 boughs and branches. For if the top be over great, 

 and the stalk too slender, there can be no strength. 

 Now, the body is to be accounted so much of an 

 estate, as is not separated or distinguished with any 

 mark of foreigners, but is united specially with the 

 bond of naturalization ; and therefore we see that 

 when the state of Rome grew great, they were en 

 forced to naturalize the Latins or Italians, because 

 the Roman stem could not bear the provinces and 

 Italy both as branches : and the like they were 

 contented after to do to most of the Gauls. So on 

 the contrary part, we see in the state of Laccdflcrnon, 

 which was nice in that point, and would not admit 

 their confederates to be incorporate with them, but 

 rested upon the natural-born subjects of Sparta, 

 how that a small time after they had embraced 

 a larger empire, they were presently surcharged, in 

 respect to the slenderncss of the stem. For so in 

 the defection of the Thebans and the rest against 

 them, one of the principal revolters spake most 

 aptly, and with great eflieary in the assembly of the 

 associates, telling them, That the state of Sparta was 

 like a river, which, after that it had run a great way, 

 and taken other rivers and streams into it, ran strong 



