So it was
between Oceana and Marpesia; so it is between France and Spain,
though less excusable; and so it ever will be in the like cases.
But to come to the second occasion of scandal by them given,
which was in the way of their propagation, it is not excusable;
for they brought their confederates under bondage, by which means
Athens gave occasion of the Peloponnesian War, the wound of which
she died stinking, when Lacedaemon, taking the same infection
from her carcass, soon followed.
"Wherefore, my lords, let these be warnings to you not to
make that liberty which God has given you a snare to others in
practising this kind of enlargement to yourselves.
"The second way of propagation or enlargement used by
commonwealths is that of Switzerland and Holland, equal leagues;
this, though it be not otherwise mischievous, is useless to the
world, and dangerous to themselves: useless to the world, for as
the former governments were storks, these are blocks, have no
sense of honor, or concern in the sufferings of others. But as
the AEtolians, a state of the like fabric, were reproached by
Philip of Macedon to prostitute themselves; by letting out their
arms to the lusts of others, while they leave their own liberty
barren and without legitimate issue; so I do not defame these
people; the Switzer for valor has no superior, the Hollander for
industry no equal; but themselves in the meantime shall so much
the less excuse their governments, seeing that to the Switz it is
well enough known that the ensigns of his commonwealth have no
other motto than in te converte manus; and that of the Hollander,
though he sweats more gold than the Spaniard digs, lets him
languish in debt; for she herself lives upon charity.
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