FHOM THE SPANISH MONARCHY. 187 



tc and viceroys ; who, when fatiated with our fpoils and 

 " our blood, are relieved by others, who exercife over 

 <c us the fame contumacy and violence, only under 

 " different names. Should it at length happen, that 

 " Rome once for all mould fet over us a ruler, he will 

 " opprefs us with a brilliant and chargeable train, and 

 " with a frill more infuppor table pride. The levies 

 " are foon coming on, which match children for ever 

 5* from their parents, brothers from their brethren* 

 " and deliver up your vigorous youth into fervitude to 

 " the Romans. The prefent moment, Batavians, is. 

 " our own. Never was Rome more humbled than 

 " now. Let not thefe names of legions cafl you into 

 " difmay; their camps contain nothing but old men 

 s f and fpoil. We have footmen and cavalry. Germa- 

 te ny is ours, and Gaul is longing to throw off the 

 " yoke. Let Syria ferve them, and Alia, and the 

 " people of the Earl, who are accuflomed to kings ! 

 Si There are Hill among us fome who were born before 

 €i the tribute was paid to the Romans. The gods are 

 " on the iide of the valiant!" This confederacy was 

 confecrated by folemn rites and facraments, as at the 

 league of Geneva; like thefe they artfully concealed 

 themfelves under the veil of fubmiffion to the majefty 

 of a great name. The cohorts of Civilis fwore on the 

 Rhine to Vefpaiian in Syria, like the compromife made 

 with Philip the fecond. The fame field of battle begot 

 the fame plan of defence, the fame refuge in defpair. 

 Both entrusted their fluctuating fortunes to a friendly 

 element; in fimilar exigencies Civilis delivered his 

 ifland, as, fifteen hundred years afterwards, William 

 of Orange freed the city of Leyden, by a politic 



inundation. 



