overbalance of a native territory to a foreign; for as one
country balances itself by the distribution of property according
to the proportion of the same, so one country overbalances
another by advantage of divers kinds. For example, the
Commonwealth of Rome overbalanced her provinces by the vigor of a
more excellent government opposed to a crazier. Or by a more
exquisite militia opposed to one inferior in courage or
discipline. The like was that of the Mamelukes, being a hardy
people, to the Egyptians, that were a soft one. And the balance
of situation is in this kind of wonderful effect; seeing the King
of Denmark, being none of the most potent princes, is able at the
Sound to take toll of the greatest; and as this King, by the
advantage of the land, can make the sea tributary, so Venice, by
the advantage of the sea, in whose arms she is impregnable, can
make the land to feed her gulf. For the colonies in the Indies,
they are yet babes that cannot live without sucking the breasts
of their mother cities, but such as I mistake if when they come
of age they do not wean themselves; which causes me to wonder at
princes that delight to be exhausted in that way. And so much for
the principles of power, whether national or provincial, domestic
or foreign; being such as are external, and founded in the goods
of fortune.
I come to the principles of authority, which are internal,
and founded upon the goods of the mind. These the legislator that
can unite in his government with those of fortune, comes nearest
to the work of God, whose government consists of heaven and
earth; which was said by Plato, though in different words, as,
when princes should be philosophers, or philosophers princes, the
world would be happy. And says Solomon: "There is an evil which I
have seen under the sun, which proceeds from the ruler (enimvero
neque nobilem, neque ingenuum, nec libertinum quidem armis
praeponere, regia utilitas est). Folly is set in great dignity,
and the rich (either in virtue and wisdom, in the goods of the
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