I forbear to relate how the Samnites stood looking on while the Romans
were subjugating the Equians and the Volscians; and, to avoid being
prolix, shall content myself with the single instance of the
Carthaginians, who, at the time when the Romans were contending with
the Samnites and Etruscans, were possessed of great power and held in
high repute, being already masters of the whole of Africa together with
Sicily and Sardinia, besides occupying territory in various parts of
Spain. And because their empire was so great, and at such a distance
from the Roman frontier, they were never led to think of attacking the
Romans or of lending assistance to the Etruscans or Samnites. On the
contrary, they behaved towards the Romans as men behave towards those
whom they see prosper, rather taking their part and courting their
friendship. Nor did they discover their mistake until the Romans, after
subduing all the intervening nations, began to assail their power both
in Spain and Sicily. What happened in the case of the Carthaginians,
happened also in the case of the Gauls, of Philip of Macedon, and of
Antiochus, each of whom, while Rome was engaged with another of them,
believed that other would have the advantage, and that there would be
time enough to provide for their own safety, whether by making peace or
war. It seems to me, therefore, that the same good fortune which, in
this respect, attended the Romans, might be shared by all princes
acting as they did, and of a valour equal to theirs.
As bearing on this point, it might have been proper for me to show what
methods were followed by the Romans in entering the territories of
other nations, had I not already spoken of this at length in my
_Treatise on Princedoms_, wherein the whole subject is discussed. Here
it is enough to say briefly, that in a new province they always sought
for some friend who should be to them as a ladder whereby to climb, a
door through which to pass, or an instrument wherewith to keep their
hold. Thus we see them effect their entrance into Samnium through the
Capuans, into Etruria through the Camertines, into Sicily through the
Mamertines, into Spain through the Saguntans, into Africa through
Massinissa, into Greece through the Etolians, into Asia through Eumenes
and other princes, into Gaul through the Massilians and Eduans; and, in
like manner, never without similar assistance in their efforts whether
to acquire provinces or to keep them.
The nations who carefully attend to this precaution will be seen to
stand in less need of Fortune’s help than others who neglect it. But
that all may clearly understand how much more the Romans were aided by
valour than by Fortune in acquiring their empire, I shall in the
following Chapter consider the character of those nations with whom
they had to contend, and show how stubborn these were in defending
their freedom.
CHAPTER II.—_With what Nations the Romans had to contend, and how
stubborn these were in defending their Freedom._