Book XX

IN" the mean time, the chiefs of the army aflembled, to consider whether it was expedient to pofTefs themselves of Venufmm, a flrong town, which Adraftus had formerly taken from a neighbouring people, the Peucetian Apulians. They had entered into the alliance that was formed against him, to obtain fatisfadhon for the injury -, and Adraftus, to foften their refentment, had put the town,, as a depofit, into the hands of the Lucanians: he had, however,, at the fame time, corrupted the Lucanian garrifon, and its commander, with money; fo that he had still more authority in Venufium, than the Lucanians; and the Apulians, who had consented. that Venufium should be garrifoned with Lucanian forces,, were thus defrauded in the negociatiom

A citizen of Vcnufiu^n, whose name was Demophantes, had secretly offered to put the. allies in pofleffion of one of the gates.

by

35(5 BO O K XX.

by night; an advantage which was of the greater importance, as Adraftus had placed his magazine of mihtary ftores and provisions in a neighbouring castle, which could not hold out against an enemy, that was in pofleffion of Venufmm. PhiloAetes and Neftor had already given their opinion, that this offer lliould be accepted; and the rest of the chiefs, influenced by their authority, and struck with the facility of the enterprife, and its immediate advantages, applauded their determination: but Telemachus, as soon as he returned, exerted his utmost abilities to set it aside.

" I confess, said he, that if any man can deserve to be surprised and deceived, it is Adraftus, who has pradlifed fraud against all mankind: and I am sensible, that the furprize of Venufmm, will only put you into pofTeflion of a town, which, by right, is yours already; because it belongs to the Apulians, who are confederates in your expedition: I also acknowledge, that you may improve this opportunity with the greater appearance of justice, as Adraftus, who has made a depofit of the town in question, has, at the fame time, corrupted the commander and the garrifon, to suffer him to €nter it, whenever he shall think fit: and I am convinced, as well as you, that if you should take pofTeflion of Venufmm to-day, you would, to-rhorrow, be masters of the neighbouring castle, in which Adraftus has formed his magazine; and that, the day following, this formidable war would be at an end. But is it not better to perish, than to conquer by means like thcfe? Must fraud be countera6led by fraud? Shall it be said, that fo many kings, who united to punish the perfidy of Adraftus, were thcmfelves perfidious! If we can adopt the practices of Adraftus without guilt, Adraftus himself is innocent; and our attempt to punish him, injurious. Has all Hefperia, fuftained by fo many colonies of Greece, by fo many heroes returned from the siege of Troy, no other arms to oppose the fraud and treachery of Adraftus, than treachery and fraud!

You

BO O K XX. 367

You have fworn by all that is most sacred, to leave Venufuim, a tlcpofit in the hands of the Lucanians: the Lucanian garrifon, you say, is Corrupted by Adraflus, and I believe it to be true; but this garrifon is ilill Lucanian; it receives the pay of the Lucaniansr and has not yet refused to obey them; it has preserved, at lead, an appearance of neutrality; nciiUer Adraflus nor his people have yet entered it; the treaty is flill fubiifling; and the Gods have not forgotten your oath. Is a promise never to be kept, but when a plaufible pretence to break it is wanting r Shall an oath be sacred only, when nothing Is to be gained by its violation? If you are infenlible to the love of virtue, and the fear of the Gods, have ye no regard to your interest and reputation? If you give io pernicious an example to mankind, by breaking your promise and violating your oath, in order to put an end to a war, how many wars will this in>pious conducfl: excite? By which of your neighbours, will you not be, at once, dreaded and abhorred; and by whom will you afterwards be trusted, in the most prelling neceillty? What security can you give for your faith, when you design to keep it; and how will yau convince your neighbours, that you intend no fraud, even when you are iincere? Shall this security be a solemn treaty? you have trodden treaties under foot. Shall it be an oath? will they not know, that you set the Gods at defiance^ when you can derive any advantage from perjury? With refpec5t to you, peace will be a flate of no greater security than war; for whatever you do, will be conlidered as the operations of war, either secret or avowed. You will be the constant enemies of all, who have the misfortune to be your neighbours. Every affair, which requires reputation, probity, or confidence, will, to you, become imprad;icable; and you will never be able to make any promise that can be believed. But there is yet another interest, yet nearer and more prefling, which must strike you, if you are not lost to all sense of probity, and wlaolly blind to your advantage: a con* ducT:

3^8 B O O K XX.

du6l fo perfidious, will be a canker in the very heart of your alliance, which it must finally destroy. The fraud that you ar^ ^bout to pradife against Adraftus, will inevitably render him vi^ftorious."

At thcfe words, the assembly demanded, with great emotion, how he could take upon him to nffirm, that the alliance would be ruined by a measure, that would procure them certain and immediate vidtoiy. " How can you, said he, confide in each other, if you violate the only bond of society and confidence, your plighted faith? After you have admitted this maxim, that the laws of honelly and truth may be violated, to secure a considerable advantage; who, among you, would confide in another, when that other may secure a considerable advantage, by breaking his promise and defrauding you? and when this is the case, what will be your situation? Which of you would not pradtife fraud, to preclude the fraudulent pra<5tices of his neighbour? What must become of an alliance consisting of fo many nations, each of which has a separate interest, when it is agreed among them, in a public deliberation, that every one is at liberty to circumvent his neighbour, and violate his engagements f Will not the immediate consequence be, diftruft and difiTenfion; an impatience to destroy each other, excited by the dread of being destroyed? Adraftus will have no need to attack you; you will eifedl his purpose upon yourselves, and justify the perfidy you combined to punish.

" Ye mighty chiefs! renowned for magnanimity and wisdom, who govern innumerable people with experienced command, despise not the counsel of a yoiuh. Whatever is your danger or distress, yoiu' rcfources should be diligence and virtue. True fortitude can never despair: but, if once you pass the barrier of integrity and honour, your retreat is cut off, and your ruin inevitable: you can never moje eftablilli that confidence, without which no affair