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bear any proportion to them。 The more men refine upon pleasure；
the less will they indulge in excesses of any kind； because
nothing is more destructive to true pleasure than such excesses。
One may safely affirm； that the TARTARS are oftener guilty of
beastly gluttony； when they feast on their dead horses； than
EUROPEAN courtiers with all their refinements of cookery。 And if
libertine love； or even infidelity to the marriage…bed； be more
frequent in polite ages； when it is often regarded only as a
piece of gallantry； drunkenness； on the other hand； is much less
common： A vice more odious； and more pernicious both to mind and
body。 And in this matter I would appeal； not only to an OVID or a
PETRONIUS； but to a SENECA or a CATO。 We know； that CAESAR；
during CATILINE'S conspiracy； being necessitated to put into
CATO'S hands a billet…doux； which discovered an intrigue with
SERVILIA； CATO'S own sister； that stern philosopher threw it back
to him with indignation； and in the bitterness of his wrath； gave
him the appellation of drunkard； as a term more opprobrious than
that with which he could more justly have reproached him。
But industry； knowledge； and humanity； are not advantageous
in private life alone： They diffuse their beneficial influence on
the public； and render the government as great and flourishing as
they make individuals happy and prosperous。 The encrease and
consumption of all the commodities； which serve to the ornament
and pleasure of life； are advantageous to society； because； at
the same time that they multiply those innocent gratifications to
individuals； they are a kind of storehouse of labour； which； in
the exigencies of state； may be turned to the public service。 In
a nation； where there is no demand for such superfluities； men
sink into indolence； lose all enjoyment of life； and are useless
to the public； which cannot maintain or support its fleets and
armies； from the industry of such slothful members。
The bounds of all the EUROPEAN kingdoms are； at present；
nearly the same they were two hundred years ago： But what a
difference is there in the power and grandeur of those kingdoms？
Which can be ascribed to nothing but the encrease of art and
industry。 When CHARLES VIII of FRANCE invaded ITALY； he carried
with him about 20；000 men： Yet this armament so exhausted the
nation； as we learn from GUICCIARDIN； that for some years it was
not able to make so great an effort。 The late king of FRANCE； in
time of war； kept in pay above 400；000 men； though from
MAZARINE'S death to his own； he was engaged in a course of wars
that lasted near thirty years。
This industry is much promoted by the knowledge inseparable
from ages of art and refinement； as； on the other hand； this
knowledge enables the public to make the best advantage of the
industry of its subjects。 Laws； order； police； discipline； these
can never be carried to any degree of perfection； before human
reason has refined itself by exercise； and by an application to
the more vulgar arts； at least； of commerce and manufacture。 Can
we expect； that a government will be well modelled by a people；
who know not how to make a spinning…wheel； or to employ a loom to
advantage？ Not to mention； that all ignorant ages are infested
with superstition； which throws the government off its bias； and
disturbs men in the pursuit of their interest and happiness。
Knowledge in the arts of government naturally begets mildness
and moderation； by instructing men in the advantages of humane
maxims above rigour and severity； which drive subjects into
rebellion； and make the return to submission impracticable； by
cutting off all hopes of pardon。 When the tempers of men are
softened as well as their knowledge improved； this humanity
appears still more conspicuous； and is the chief characteristic
which distinguishes a civilized age from times of barbarity and
ignorance。 Factions are then less inveterate； revolutions less
tragical； authority less severe； and seditions less frequent。
Even foreign wars abate of their cruelty； and after the field of
battle； where honour and interest steel men against compassion as
well as fear； the combatants divest themselves of the brute； and
resume the man。
Nor need we fear； that men； by losing their ferocity； will
lose their martial spirit； or become less undaunted and vigorous
in defence of their country or their liberty。 The arts have no
such effect in enervating either the mind or body。 On the
contrary； industry； their inseparable attendant； adds new force
to both。 And if anger； which is said to be the whetstone of
courage； loses somewhat of its asperity； by politeness and
refinement； a sense of honour； which is a stronger； more
constant； and more governable principle； acquires fresh vigour by
that elevation of genius which arises from knowledge and a good
education。 Add to this； that courage can neither have any
duration； nor be of any use； when not accompanied with discipline
and martial skill； which are seldom found among a barbarous
people。 The ancients remarked； that DATAMES was the only
barbarian that ever knew the art of war。 And PYRRHUS； seeing the
ROMANS marshal their army with some art and skill； said with
surprize； These barbarians have nothing barbarous in their
discipline！ It is observable； that； as the old ROMANS； by
applying themselves solely to war； were almost the only
uncivilized people that ever possessed military discipline； so
the modern ITALIANS are the only civilized people； among
EUROPEANS； that ever wanted courage and a martial spirit。 Those
who would ascribe this effeminacy of the ITALIANS to their
luxury； or politeness； or application to the arts； need but
consider the FRENCH and ENGLISH； whose bravery is as
uncontestable； as their love for the arts； and their assiduity in
commerce。 The ITALIAN historians give us a more satisfactory
reason for this degeneracy of their countrymen。 They shew us how
the sword was dropped at once by all the ITALIAN sovereigns；
while the VENETIAN aristocracy was jealous of its subjects； the
FLORENTINE democracy applied itself entirely to commerce； ROME
was governed by priests； and NAPLES by women。 War then became the
business of soldiers of fortune； who spared one another； and to
the astonishment of the world； could engage a whole day in what
they called a battle； and return at night to their camp； without
the least bloodshed。
What has chiefly induced severe moralists to declaim against
refinement in the arts； is the example of ancient ROME； which；
joining； to its poverty and rusticity； virtue and public spirit；
rose to such a surprizing height of grandeur and liberty； but
having learned from its conquered provinces the ASIATIC luxury；
fell into every kind of corruption； whence arose sedition and
civil wars； attended at last with the total loss of liberty。 All
the LATIN classics； whom we peruse in our infancy； are full of
these sentiments； and universally ascribe the ruin of their state
to the arts and riches imported from the East： Insomuch that
SALLUST represents a taste for painting as a vice； no less than
lewdness and drinking。 And so popular were these sentiments；
du