External are from enemies, from subjects, or from servants. To
dispute then what was the cause why Rome was infested by the
Italian, or by the servile wars; why the slaves took the capitol;
why the Lacedaemonians were near as frequently troubled with
their helots as Rome with all those; or why Venice, whose
situation is not trusted to the faith of men, has as good or
better quarter with them whom she governs, than Rome had with the
Latins; were to dispute upon external causes. The question put by
Machiavel is of internal causes; whether the enmity that Was
between the Senate and the people of Rome might have been
removed. And to determine otherwise of this question than he
does, I must lay down other principles than he has done. To which
end I affirm that a commonwealth, internally considered, is
either equal or unequal. A commonwealth that is internally equal,
has no internal cause of commotion, and therefore can have no
such effect but from without. A commonwealth internally unequal
has no internal cause of quiet, and therefore can have no such
effect but by diversion.
"To prove my assertions, I shall at this time make use of no
other than his examples. Lacedaemon was externally unquiet,
because she was externally unequal, that is as to her helots; and
she was internally at rest, because she was equal in herself,
both in root and branch; in the root by her agrarian, and in
branch by the Senate, inasmuch as no man was thereto qualified
but by election of the people.
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