ThepoliticGreeks，wholivedunderapopulargovernment，knewnoothersupportthanvirtue。Themoderninhabitantsofthatcountryareentirelytakenupwithmanufacture，commerce，finances，opulence，andluxury。
Whenvirtueisbanished，ambitioninvadesthemindsofthosewhoaredisposedtoreceiveit，andavaricepossessesthewholecommunity。Theobjectsoftheirdesiresarechanged；whattheywerefondofbeforehasbecomeindifferent；theywerefreewhileundertherestraintoflaws，buttheywouldfainnowbefreetoactagainstlaw；andaseachcitizenislikeaslavewhohasrunawayfromhismaster，thatwhichwasamaximofequityhecallsrigour；thatwhichwasaruleofactionhestylesconstraint；andtoprecautionhegivesthenameoffear。Frugality，andnotthethirstofgain，nowpassesforavarice。Formerlythewealthofindividualsconstitutedthepublictreasure；butnowthishasbecomethepatrimonyofprivatepersons。Themembersofthecommonwealthriotonthepublicspoils，anditsstrengthisonlythepowerofafew，andthelicenceofmany。
Athenswaspossessedofthesamenumberofforceswhenshetriumphedsogloriouslyaswhenwithsuchinfamyshewasenslaved。Shehadtwentythousandcitizens[3]whenshedefendedtheGreeksagainstthePersians，whenshecontendedforempirewithSparta，andinvadedSicily。ShehadtwentythousandwhenDemetriusPhalereusnumberedthem[4]asslavesaretoldbytheheadinamarket—place。WhenPhilipattemptedtolorditoverGreece，andappearedatthegatesofAthens[5]shehadeventhenlostnothingbuttime。WemayseeinDemostheneshowdifficultitwastoawakenher；shedreadedPhilip，notastheenemyofherliberty，butofherpleasures。[6]Thisfamouscity，whichhadwithstoodsomanydefeats，andhavingbeensooftendestroyedhadasoftenrisenoutofherashes，wasoverthrownatCh？ronea，andatoneblowdeprivedofallhopesofresource。WhatdoesitavailherthatPhilipsendsbackherprisoners，ifhedoesnotreturnhermen？ItwaseverafteraseasytotriumphovertheforcesofAthensasithadbeendifficulttosubduehervirtue。
HowwasitpossibleforCarthagetomaintainherground？WhenHannibal，uponhisbeingmadepr？tor，endeavouredtohinderthemagistratesfromplunderingtherepublic，didnottheycomplainofhimtotheRomans？
Wretches，whowouldfainbecitizenswithoutacity，andbebeholdenfortheirrichestotheirverydestroyers！Romesooninsisteduponhavingthreehundredoftheirprincipalcitizensashostages；sheobligedthemnexttosurrendertheirarmsandships；andthenshedeclaredwar。[7]