386 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



tant upon the last; which we, therefore, note as deficient, 

 and propose the following sketch, by way of example, for 

 supplying it, under the title of the Military Statesman, or 

 the Doctrine of extending the Bounds of Empire. 



THE MILITARY STATESMAN 



OB A SPECIMEN OF THE DOCTRINE OF ENLARGING THE BOUNDS OF EMPIRE 



The saying of Themistocles, if applied to himself, was 

 indecent and haughty; but if meant in general, contains a 

 very prudent observation, and as grave a censure. Being 

 asked, at a feast, to touch a lute, he answered, &quot;He could 

 not fiddle; but he could raise a small village to a great 

 city.&quot; 2 Which words, if taken in a political sense, excel 

 lently describe and distinguish two very different faculties 

 in those who are at the helm of states. For upon an exact 

 survey, we shall find some, though but very few, that, being 

 raised to the council-board, the senate, or other public office, 

 can enlarge a small state, or city, and yet have little skill 

 in music; but many more, who, having a good hand upon 

 the harp, or the lute, that is, at the trifles of a court, are so 

 far from enlarging a state, that they rather seem designed 

 by nature to overturn and ruin it, though ever so happy 

 and flourishing. And. indeed, those base arts and tricks 

 by which many counsellors and men of great place procure 

 the favor of their sovereign, and a popular character, de 

 serve no other name than a certain knack of fiddling; as 

 being things more pleasing for the present, and more orna 

 mental to the practitioner, than useful, and suited to enlarge 

 the bounds, or increase the riches of the state, whereof they 

 are ministers. Again, there are, doubtless, counsellors and 

 governors, who, though equal to business, and of no con 

 temptible abilities, may commodiously manage things so 

 as to preserve them from manifest precipices and inconven 

 iences, though they by no means have the creative power 

 of building and extending an empire. But whatever the 

 workmen be, let us regard the work itself; viz., what is to 



2 Plutarch, Tus. Qusest. b. i. 2. 



