l86 DEFECTION OF THE NETHERLANDS 



were in themfelves generous exertions, fair and great 

 actions, fo is the event interefting, and fruitful in good 

 effects to mankind ; and we are at liberty either to be 

 aftonifhed at the bold productions of chance or to 

 beftow our admiration on a fuperior intellect. 



The hiftory of the world is uniform as the laws of 

 nature, and limple as the human foul. The fame con- 

 ditions always produce the fame appearances. The very 

 ground where now the Netherlander bid defiance to 

 their fpanifh tyrants, their forefathers, the Batavians* 

 and the Belgi, were, fifteen hundred years before, con- 

 tending with the Romans. As they refufed fubmiffion 

 to a haughty and imperious ruler, as they were ill- 

 treated by rapacious fatraps ; with limilar valour they 

 broke from their chains, and tried their fortune in as 

 unequal a conflict. The fame pride of conquefr, the 

 fame national ardour in the Spaniards of the lixteenth 

 century with that of the Romans in the firft, the fame 

 bravery and difcipline in both armies, the fame terror 

 at light of thefe murderous bands. In the former 

 in fiance as well as the latter, we fee ftratagem combat- 

 ing with fuperior power, and fortitude fupported by 

 concord, harraffing an enormous force which hid 

 weakened itfelf by divhion. In one cafe as well as the 

 other, private hatred armed the nation ; one fingle 

 man, born for the times, difcovered to them the dan- 

 gerous fecret of their own power, and brought their 

 lilent grief to a bloody explanation. " Confefs Batavi - 

 " ans ! fays Claudius Civilis to his fellow-citizens in 

 " the facred grove, are we treated by thefe Romans, 

 <c as heretofore, as allies and friends, or not rather as 

 " fervile vafials ? We are delivered up to their officers 

 t *• u and 



