| Citation |
PC.767.088
4-11 May 1767:611, 612 (1/16)
[Article promoting industry and virtue for the happiness of
Mankind.]
The first empire had Nimrod's strength, and the wisdom of
the Chaldeans to establish it; and while their prudence and
sobriety lasted, they prospered. No sooner came
voluptuousness than the empire decayed; and was at last, by
the base effeminacies of Sardanapolas, in whom that race
ended, transferred to another family. It was the policy of
an Assyrian King, in order to subdue the strength of
Babylon, then under good discipline, not to invade it with
force, but to debauch it. Wherefore he sent in players,
musicians, cooks, harlots, &c. and by those means
introducing corruption of manners, there was little more to
do, than to take it. . . [1 column, discussion moves to
Greece, then Rome.]
For one winter's quarters of Hannibal and his army, in
the luxurious city of Capua, proved a greater overthrow to
them, than all the Roman consuls and armies had given them.
They that had been victors in so many battles, turn'd slaves
at last to dancers, buffoons, cooks and harlots; so as from
that time they never did any thing suitable to the
reputation gained by their former actions, but feel without
much difficulty into the Roman hands. . .
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