登陆注册
19847800000048

第48章

Whilst the Amphictyonic confederacy remained, that of the Achaeans, which comprehended the less important cities only, made little figure on the theatre of Greece. When the former became a victim to Macedon, the latter was spared by the policy of Philip and Alexander. Under the successors of these princes, however, a different policy prevailed. The arts of division were practiced among the Achaeans. Each city was seduced into a separate interest; the union was dissolved. Some of the cities fell under the tyranny of Macedonian garrisons; others under that of usurpers springing out of their own confusions. Shame and oppression erelong awaken their love of liberty. A few cities reunited. Their example was followed by others, as opportunities were found of cutting off their tyrants. The league soon embraced almost the whole Peloponnesus. Macedon saw its progress; but was hindered by internal dissensions from stopping it. All Greece caught the enthusiasm and seemed ready to unite in one confederacy, when the jealousy and envy in Sparta and Athens, of the rising glory of the Achaeans, threw a fatal damp on the enterprise. The dread of the Macedonian power induced the league to court the alliance of the Kings of Egypt and Syria, who, as successors of Alexander, were rivals of the king of Macedon. This policy was defeated by Cleomenes, king of Sparta, who was led by his ambition to make an unprovoked attack on his neighbors, the Achaeans, and who, as an enemy to Macedon, had interest enough with the Egyptian and Syrian princes to effect a breach of their engagements with the league.

The Achaeans were now reduced to the dilemma of submitting to Cleomenes, or of supplicating the aid of Macedon, its former oppressor. The latter expedient was adopted. The contests of the Greeks always afforded a pleasing opportunity to that powerful neighbor of intermeddling in their affairs. A Macedonian army quickly appeared. Cleomenes was vanquished.

The Achaeans soon experienced, as often happens, that a victorious and powerful ally is but another name for a master. All that their most abject compliances could obtain from him was a toleration of the exercise of their laws. Philip, who was now on the throne of Macedon, soon provoked by his tyrannies, fresh combinations among the Greeks. The Achaeans, though weakenened by internal dissensions and by the revolt of Messene, one of its members, being joined by the AEtolians and Athenians, erected the standard of opposition. Finding themselves, though thus supported, unequal to the undertaking, they once more had recourse to the dangerous expedient of introducing the succor of foreign arms. The Romans, to whom the invitation was made, eagerly embraced it.

Philip was conquered; Macedon subdued. A new crisis ensued to the league. Dissensions broke out among it members. These the Romans fostered. Callicrates and other popular leaders became mercenary instruments for inveigling their countrymen. The more effectually to nourish discord and disorder the Romans had, to the astonishment of those who confided in their sincerity, already proclaimed universal liberty[1] throughout Greece. With the same insidious views, they now seduced the members from the league, by representing to their pride the violation it committed on their sovereignty. By these arts this union, the last hope of Greece, the last hope of ancient liberty, was torn into pieces; and such imbecility and distraction introduced, that the arms of Rome found little difficulty in completing the ruin which their arts had commenced. The Achaeans were cut to pieces, and Achaia loaded with chains, under which it is groaning at this hour.

I have thought it not superfluous to give the outlines of this important portion of history; both because it teaches more than one lesson, and because, as a supplement to the outlines of the Achaean constitution, it emphatically illustrates the tendency of federal bodies rather to anarchy among the members, than to tyranny in the head.

PUBLIUS

1. This was but another name more specious for the independence of the members on the federal head.

____

同类推荐
  • 名香谱

    名香谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说首楞严三昧经

    佛说首楞严三昧经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • On Our Selection

    On Our Selection

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 小儿初生诸疾门

    小儿初生诸疾门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 六菩萨亦当诵持经

    六菩萨亦当诵持经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 石器时代之酋长女

    石器时代之酋长女

    莫名穿越到石器时代,成了某一个原始部落酋长的女儿也就算了。只是这时代也太落后了吧?想要生活得好些,她就只能自己动手。制布、建房、引水、造车、做陶、煮蜡,寻药等等,生活变好了,男人也变多了,该嫁人了?这一群找上门的男人算是怎么回事?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 疯狂西部

    疯狂西部

    当别人为科比的81分疯狂,为无敌的詹姆斯尖叫,为飘逸的库里惊叹时,我只爱,那一匹孤冷而桀骜的西部之狼
  • 刃灵之秦时

    刃灵之秦时

    这世界上有神么?什么才是神。在日本长大的少年永井无无法从《封神榜》中得到答案。你相信刀剑有灵魂么?为什么会有灵魂。白泉相信自己,会找到答案。
  • 君心不良

    君心不良

    前世她被母亲利用,被夫婿背叛。一朝重生,她决心远离这庙堂风雨。却不料天不遂人愿,总有头“狼”虎视眈眈地盯着自己。那人说:收起你那些不良心思,乖乖做我的妻。沐清漪怒而暴起:你污我清白,毁我清誉,究竟是谁居心不良!*****************每晚20点左右准时更新,请放心入坑!诚求收藏!
  • 劝发菩提心集

    劝发菩提心集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 做一个精于消费的女人

    做一个精于消费的女人

    本书是专为广大女性消费者量身打造的,告诉她们如何确立消费的品位,把握好消费的准则;引导她们理性地购物,控制自己的消费开支;提示她们如何少消费、多购物,实现超值购物;帮助她们识别商品质量,买到自己最中意的商品;提醒她们防范消费陷阱,不被虚假广告欺骗;书中的内容符合广大女性朋友的生活实际,为女性科学理财出谋划策,为她们精于消费献计支招。
  • 星际之最终使命

    星际之最终使命

    遗留的智能生命在第七衍纪现世!看秦风如何走出银河系,带领地球文明踏上宇宙巅峰!
  • 读故事·作测试·学管理

    读故事·作测试·学管理

    本书汇集了100个经典的管理故事,并附带100句经典的管理名言和管理点评,同时为了使管理更科学,使管理者能更全面地认识自己,书中还精选了37个管理小测试,同样是以一种轻松活泼的方式在诠释管理。如果企业的发展遭遇不顺利,如果你的团队出现了裂痕,如果作为领导者的你思路有些混乱,如果你的企业在经济的大潮中裹足不前,那么读读这些故事,也许这种轻松简单的方式会给你带来意想不到的结果,就像故事里说的,丑小鸭变成了白天鹅,灰姑娘变成了王妃。
  • 用我半世繁华,换你一袭婚纱

    用我半世繁华,换你一袭婚纱

    "恋了五年的未婚夫欠钱被抓,我不顾一切跑去救他。却不曾想,那本身就是他安排的一场陷阱,他竟然为了十万块就将我送上了别人的床。从那一刻起,我就坠入了万丈深渊。裴岩锐的出现是我人生中的一道曙光,初次相遇,他说:“把我说成一个随便和女人约炮的男人,转身就想走?”出卖与背叛,痴缠与阴谋,像一层层谜网,把我困在网中。遇上他,到底是幸还是不幸,到底是我的救赎还是我的魔咒。他说:“是幸还是不幸,现在下结论还太早。”"
  • 血色兰花

    血色兰花

    一桩突发于东京的国际兰花走私案,打破古镇 云江的宁静。刀光血影连夺数命,云遮雾绕案情迷离;算命扑克步步追杀,情色陷阱丝丝入扣;古刹展神秘兰图,深山护绝世奇葩;爱恨情仇理还乱, 生离死别两茫茫;真凶饮弹,卧底深藏;大盗百密一疏,警探智勇双全——枪声响起,有情人魂归何处;风雨过后,贵妇兰青翠欲滴。