ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 393 



their emperors to extend the borders of their empire, yet 

 never undertook a war for that sole end. Let it, therefore, 

 be a rule to all nations that aim at empire, to have a quick 

 and lively sensibility of any injury done to their frontier 

 subjects, merchants, or public ministers. And let them not 

 sit too long quiet after the first provocation. Let them also 

 be ready and cheerful in sending auxiliaries to their friends 

 and allies, which the Komans constantly observed, insomuch 

 that if an invasion were made upon any of their allies, who 

 also had a defensive league with others, and the former 

 begged assistance severally, the Komans would ever be the 

 first to give it, and not suffer the honor of the benefit to be 

 snatched from them by others. As for the wars anciently 

 waged from a certain conformity or tacit correspondence of 

 states, I cannot see on what law they stood. Such were the 

 wars undertaken by the Eomans for restoring liberty to 

 Greece; such were those of the Lacedaemonians and Athe 

 nians, for establishing or overturning democracies or oli 

 garchies; and such sometimes are those entered into by 

 republics or kingdoms, under pretext of protecting the sub 

 jects of other nations, or delivering them from tyranny. It 

 may suffice for the present purpose, that no state expect 

 any greatness of empire, unless it be immediately ready to 

 seize any just occasion of a war. 



No one body, whether natural or political, can preserve 

 its health without exercise; and honorable war is the whole 

 some exercise of a kingdom or commonwealth. Civil wars, 

 indeed, are like the heat of a fever, but a war abroad is like 

 the heat of motion wholesome; for men s minds are ener 

 vated and their manners corrupted by sluggish and inactive 

 peace. And, however it may be as to the happiness of a 

 state, it is doubtless best for its greatness to be as it were 

 always in arms. A veteran army, indeed, kept constantly 

 ready for marching, is expensive, yet it gives a state the 

 disposal of things among its neighbors, or at least procures 

 it a great reputation in other respects, as may be clearly seen 

 in the Spaniard, who has now, for a long succession of years, 



