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the greatness of cities-第7部分

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peopling of Pisa and Livorno。 But as we have afore said; it is neither strength nor necessity that have power to make a city frequented; or to raise it unto greatness。 For a people enforced and violently driven to rest in one place is like unto seed sown in the sands; wherein it never taketh root to grow to ripeness。     But let us return unto our sanctuary。 It cannot be denied but that a moderate liberty and a lawful place of safety very greatly helpeth to draw a multitude of people to a resting place。 And hereof it comes that free cities are in comparison of other places more famous and more replenished with people than cities subject unto princes and to monarchies。     The second means wherewith Rome increased was that they made the towns that well deserved of them (which they after called municipia) to be partakers of their franchises and of their offices。 For these honours; to be citizens of Rome; and to enjoy the great privileges annexed to their enfranchisement; drew into the city all such as through adherency; through favour or through service done unto the commonwealth might have any hope to bear office or rule therein; and such as looked not so high resorted yet thither to serve their kinsmen's turns or their friends with their voices; to advance them to some good office。 And thus Rome was frequented and enriched with concourse of an infinite sight of people; both noble and rich; that in particular or in common which were honoured with the enfranchisement and freedom of Rome。     The third means was the continual entertainment the Romans gave to curiosity; and that was the great number of admirable things they did in Rome。 The triumphs of the victorious captains; the wonderful buildings; the battles on the water; the fights of sword players; the hunting of wild beasts; the public shows and sights; the plays of Apollo; the Seculars and others; which were performed with unspeakable pomp and preparation; and many other suchlike things that drew the curious people unto Rome。 And forasmuch as these alluring sights were; as it were; perpetual; Rome was also; as it were; perpetually full of strangers and foreign people。

 2。 Of colonies

    What shall we say of colonies? Were they a good help to the greatness of Rome or not? That they were a great help to the increase of the power it cannot be doubted; but that they multiplied also the number of inhabitants it is a thing somewhat doubtful。 Howbeit; for mine own opinion I should think they were a great help and means unto it。 For if any man think by taking the people out and sending them to colonies elsewhere that the city thereby comes rather to diminish than increase; haply for all that the contrary may happen。 For as plants cannot prosper so well nor multiply so fast in a nursery where they are set and planted near together as where they are transplanted into an open ground; even so men make no such fruitful propagation of children where they are enclosed and shut up within the walls of the city they are bred and born in as they do abroad in divers other parts where they are sent unto。 For sometimes the plague or other contagious sickness or disease consumeth them; sometimes famine enforceth them to change their habitations; sometimes foreign wars take out of the world the stoutest men amongst them; sometimes civil wars make the quietest sort forsake their dwellings; and from many poverty and misery taketh away the mind; the means and the spirit to wed or think on propagation。     Now they that might have died in Rome with the aforesaid evils; and without children; being removed to other places escape the foresaid perils; and; being bestowed in colonies and provided for both of house and ground to it; betake themselves to wives and children and to propagate and breed them up and so increase infinitely; and of ten become an hundred。     But what is this to the purpose; may some man say? Let us suppose that they that are sent into colonies would not increase their country if they tarried at home how should they then increase it when they are sent thence abroad to other places? Well enough。 First; because colonies with their mother out of which they issued make; as it were; but one body。 Then next; because the love of our original country; which every man affecteth; and the dependence thereof (which many ways help) and the desire and hope to aspire to dignity and honour which evermore draw unto it the worthiest and most noble minds。 By which means the country grows to be more populous and rich。     Who can deny but that the colonies that issued; as it were; out of one stock; from Alba Longa; and so many besides as Rome hath sent out; brought not much magnificence and greatness; both to the one and the other? And that the Portuguese issued out of Lisbon; to possess and inhabit the islands of Azores; Cape Verde; Madeira and others have not amplified and increased Lisbon a great deal more than if they had never removed thence to those same islands?     Howbeit; true it is if colonies must increase their mother; it is very necessary that they be near neighbours; otherwise through long distance of place love waxeth cold; and all commerce is cut off clean。 And therefore the Romans for the space of six hundred years sent not a colony out of Italy; and the first were Carthage and Narbonne; as is at large before declared in my sixth book of Reason of State; in the chapter of Colonies。     And these be the means wherewith the Romans; either through their singular dexterity or excellent wits; have drawn strange nations unto their city。 Let us now speak of the means that other nations also as well as they have used in this case; where it shall not be from the purpose that we begin at religion first as at the thing that ought to be the head and spring of all our works and actions。

 3。 Of Religion

    Religion and the worship of God is a thing so necessary and of such importance as without all doubt it not only draweth a number of people with it but also causeth much commerce together。 And the cities that in this kind excel and flourish in authority and reputation above all others have also the better means to increase their power and glory。     Jerusalem; as Pliny writeth; was the chiefest and most flourishing city of all the East and principally for religion whereof he was the Metropolitan; as also of the kingdom。 The high priests; the prelates and the Levites kept their residence; there offered they their beasts; there celebrated they their sacrifices and rendered unto God their prayers and petitions; thither repaired thrice a year all the people almost of Israel。 Insomuch as Josephus reckoneth that at the time that Titus Vespasian laid his siege unto it there were in the city two millions and a half of people; a number in truth very strange; that I may not say incredible; in respect the city was not much above four miles about。 But it is written by a man that might have perfect knowledge of it; and had no cause to lie。     Jeroboam; when he was chosen king of Israel; advisedly considering his subjects could not live without exercise of religion and use of sacrifice; and that if they should repair to Jerusalem to celebrate and make their sacrifice his people would soon unite the
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