If the high courage of Hannibal had not
driven the commonwealth into a new war while it was yet faint and
weak, and if they had been suffered to pursue their victories in
Spain, and to get firm footing in that rich, warlike, and then
populous country, very probably in a few years they might have been
a more equal match for the Roman people. It is true, if the Romans
had endeavoured, at the conquest of Spain, and if they had disturbed
the Carthaginians in that country, the war must have been
unavoidable, because it was evident in that age, and will be
apparent in the times we live in, that whatever foreign power,
already grown great, can add to its dominion the possession of
Spain, will stand fair for universal empire.
But unless some such cogent reason of state, as is here instanced,
intervene, in all appearance the best way for a nation that
apprehends the growing power of any neighbour is to fortify itself
within; we do not mean by land armies, which rather debilitate than
strengthen a country, but by potent navies, by thrift in the public
treasure, care of the people's trade, and all the other honest and
useful arts of peace.
By such an improvement of our native strength, agreeable to the laws
and to the temper of a free nation, England without doubt may be
brought to so good a posture and condition of defending itself, as
not to apprehend any neighbour jealous of its strength or envious of
its greatness.
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