If any metall be to massie, and way downe the ballance, or if any metallish meane, where money will scale, do enter that fort, where is small resistance, that is solde, which ought not, the enheritaunce of vertue: that is bought, which should not, the liuelihood of learning: that is betrayed, which neither should for feare, nor ought for freindship, the treasure of the state, and prouision of the countrey. And if there be neede, which enforceth such dealing, yet deale, where it is due, and let neede be remedyed, with her owne prouision, not by vnhonest intrusion. I do not blame any one, bycause my selfe know none, and I thinke well of most, bycause I know some sincere. But some thing there is that feedeth the generall complaint, and some contentious factions there be, that bring catchers into colleges. For both these two inconueniences, worse then mischeifes as our common law termeth them, I haue nothing to say more then to renue the memorie of two accidentes, which happened to the _Romain_ common weale, and may be vnderstood by scholers that will marke and applie them. 1. The first is, that in _Tullie_,[55] when _Pontius_ the _Samnite_ wished that he either had not bene borne vntill, or but then borne, when the _Romaines_ would haue receiued giftes and rewardes, Why? what if? I would not haue suffred them to haue reigned one day longer, by selling their libertie, they should haue become bond. The fellow said much, and that state felt more, when they fell to fingering.
[Sidenote: The main rot of the Romaine empire.]
2. The second is this, not noted in any one, but obserued by all, that marke and write of the declining and ruine of the _Romain Empire_. The principall cause among many, to raze that state, which did rise in the blood of other nations and fell in their owne, was, when their generalls vsed the helpe of forreine and barbarous fellowes, late foes, new freindes, to ouerthrow the contrarie factions in their ciuill warres, both before and in their Emperours time, and let them both smell and taste of the _Romish_ wealth and fatnesse of _Italie_. Wherwith the horesons being rauished, euer as they went home sent more of their countreymen to serue in seditious or necessarie defenses: till at the last their whole nations ouerflew that flourishing towne, and that fertile countrey. Wherby that great abundance, that vnspeakeable wealth, those inestimable riches, which the whether conquering or rauening _Romaines_ had gathered together in so many hundred yeares, from so many seuerall countries, in a verie small time, became a bootie to that barbarous offall of all kinde of people, which neuer had any, till they became lordes, both of the _Romain_ substance and the soile of _Italie_. A glasse for those to gase on, which will rather stirre to fall, then be still to stand. If ye shew a child an apple, he will crye for it, but if you make a mightier then your selfe priuie to your pleasures, if he be desirous to haue, and speede not, he will make you crye for it.