ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



The first is, that no prince should be over-solicitous to 

 subdue a neighboring nation: for the method of enlarging 

 an empire is very different from that of increasing an estate. 

 Kegard is justly had to contiguity or adjacency in private 

 lands and possessions; but in the extending of empire, the 

 occasion, the facility, and advantage of a war, are to be re 

 garded instead of vicinity. Thus Perseus, though an eastern 

 prince, readily undertook an expedition into the remotest 

 parts of the western world. An opposite instance of the 

 wisdom of this precept occurs in the different strategy of 

 war practiced by Philip and Alexander. For Philip urged 

 war only on the frontiers of his empire, and with great strife 

 and peril barely succeeded in bringing a few cities under his 

 rule, but Alexander carried his invading arms into distant 

 countries; and with a felicitous boldness undertook an ex 

 pedition against Persia, and subduing multitudinous na 

 tions on his journey, rested at last rather fatigued with 

 conquest than with arms. This policy is further borne 

 out by the propagation of the Koman power; for at the 

 time that the arms of this martial people on the side of 

 the west stretched no further than Liguria, they had 

 brought under their dominion all the provinces of the 

 east as far as Mount Taurus. In like manner, Charles 

 the Eighth, finding a war with Great Britain attended with 

 some dangers, directed his enterprise against Naples, which 

 he subdued with wonderful rapidity and ease. One of the 

 causes of these wonderful successes in distant wars is the low 

 state of discipline and equipment, which invites the attack 

 of the invading power, and the terror which is generally 

 struck into the enemy from the bold audacity of the enter 

 prise. Nor can the enemy retaliate or effect any reciprocal 

 invasion, which always results from a war waged with the 

 frontier nations. But the chief point is, that in subduing 

 a neighboring state the choice of stratagems is narrowed by 

 circumstances; but in a distant expedition, a man may roll 

 the tide of war where the military discipline is most relaxed, 

 or where the strength of the nation is most torn and wasted 



