11
That we may not, however, appear to be retreating and withdrawing from illuminating and perspicuous testimonials into the dim past, as into a place of darkness, let us now leave the kings and transfer our discourse to the most notable deeds and the most celebrated wars. And in these wars, who would not acknowledge that much daring and courage was needed and also, as TimotheüsFrom the Persians: Frag. 14, ed. Wilamowitz; cf. Moralia, 32 d, and Edmonds, Lyra Graeca, iii. p. 307. has it, Shame, the helpmate of warring Valour? Yet the smooth flow of events and the impelling swiftness of Rome’s progress to so high a pinnacle of power and expansion demonstrates to all who reason aright that the progress of Rome’s sovereignty was not brought about by the handiwork and urging of human beings, but was speeded on its way by divine escort and the fair wind of Fortune. Trophy upon trophy arises, triumph meets triumph, and the first blood, while still warm on their arms, is overtaken and washed away by a second flood. They count their victories, not by the multitude of corpses and spoils, but by captive kingdoms, by nations enslaved, by islands and continents added to their mighty realm. In one battle Philip lost Macedonia, with one stroke Antiochus was forced to withdraw from Asia, by one defeat the Carthaginians lost Africa. One man Cf. Life of Pompey, chap. xlv. (642 e); Housman on Manilius iv. 52. in the swift onset of one campaign added to the Roman dominion Armenia, Pontus, the Euxine, Syria, Arabia, the Albanians, the Iberians, and all the territory to the Caucasus and the Hyrcanians; thrice did the Ocean which encircles the inhabited world see him victorious, for in Africa he drove back the Numidians Cf. Life of Pompey, chap. xii. (624 f). to the strands of the southern sea; even as far as the Atlantic Ocean, he subdued Iberia, Ibid. chaps. xviii.-xxi. (627 d-629 c). which had joined in the distemper of Sertorius; the kings of the Albanians were pursued until he brought them to a halt near the Caspian Sea. Ibid. chap. xxxv. (637 f). All these successes he won through enjoying the Fortune of the Roman commonwealth; then he was overthrown by his own fate.
