CBAK III.] ART OP ENLARGING KINGDOMS. 339 



THE MILITAEY STATESMAN ; 



OR, A SPECIMEN OF THE DOCTRINE OP F.NLARGING THE BOUNDS OP 

 EMPIRE. 



The saying ot Themistocles, if applied to himself, was 

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

 very pinident observation, and as grave a censure. Being 

 asked, at a feast, to touch a lute, he answered, " He could 

 not fiddle ; but he could raise a small village to a great city." •* 

 Which words, if taken in a political sense, excellently de- 

 scribe 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 

 favour of their sovereign, and a popular character, deserve 

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

 things more pleasing for the present, and more ornamental 

 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 inconveniences, 

 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 be deemed the 

 true extent of kingdoms and republics, and by what means 

 this may be procured — a subject well deserving to lie con- 

 tinually before princes, for their diligent meditation ; lest, 

 by over-rating their own strength, they should rashly engage 

 in too difficult and vam enterprises, or, thinking too meanly 

 of their power, submit to timorous and efieminate counsels. 



The greatness of an empire, in point of bulk and territory, 

 18 subject to mensuration, and for its revenue, to calculation. 

 ^ Plutarch, T'j°. Quacst. b. i. 2. 



