And the genius of this nation has ever had some resemblance with
that of ancient Italy, which was wholly addicted to
commonwealths, and where Rome came to make the greatest account
of her rustic tribes, and to call her consuls from the plough;
for in the way of parliaments, which was the government of this
realm, men of country lives have been still intrusted with the
greatest affairs, and the people have constantly had an aversion
to the ways of the court. Ambition, loving to be gay and to fawn,
has been a gallantry looked upon as having something in it of the
livery; and husbandry, or the country way of life, though of a
grosser spinning, as the best stuff of a commonwealth, according
to Aristotle, such a one being the most obstinate assertress of
her liberty and the least subject to innovation or turbulency.
Wherefore till the foundations, as will be hereafter shown, were
removed, this people was observed to be the least subject to
shakings and turbulency of any; whereas commonwealths, upon which
the city life has had the stronger influence, as Athens, have
seldom or never been quiet, but at the best are found to have
injured their own business by overdoing it. Whence the urban
tribes of Rome, consisting of the Turba forensis, and libertines
that had received their freedom by manumission, were of no
reputation in comparison of the rustics.
Pages:
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434