The Lesson of History 129 



the state. Thus it is that in all of them a system of 

 slavery is a necessity of its existence. There was no 

 thought on the part of the rulers of raising the mass of 

 the people to a higher plane of comfort or culture ; the 

 idea of social amelioration was unthought of, and would 

 have been abhorrent. The " State " meant the interests 

 of Empire, of military organisation and conquest, and 

 of the aristocracy who governed, and who held the 

 " plebs " as slaves. These existed for the sole purpose 

 of fulfilling the behests of those above them ; they were 

 pawns in the game, deserving no consideration but 

 such as was necessary to keep them alive, and efficient 

 when battles had to be fought or luxuries gratified. 

 The individual personal satisfaction of the members of 

 this caste was an idea unthought of, and would have 

 been scouted as absurd and subversive of all discipline 

 and continuity of government. This attitude of mind 

 has never received better expression than in the lines 

 put by Shakespeare into the mouth of Coriolanus when 

 incensed by the shouts and execrations of the plebs and 

 their demands for his expulsion from the city. In 

 indignation and' scorn he hurls back their taunts and 

 demands, and with the recklessness of the true aristo- 

 crat replies : " You common cry of curs, whose breath 

 I hate as reek o' the rotten fens, ... I banish you ! " 

 The idea of patriotism was exploited in the same way. 

 It was only a call to arms addressed to all good Romans 

 to maintain the integrity and increase the greatness of 

 the Empire, which existed for the benefit of the few ; 

 its expansion was no help to the hewers of wood and 

 drawers of water ; no attempt was ever made or could 

 be made in such a civilisation to elevate the mind and 

 soul of the common people. The state was concerned 

 only with present-day material interests, and possessed 

 of no desire to benefit society as a whole or the genera- 

 tions to come ; the future was no concern of theirs, as 



