Jump to content

Page:A Vindication of Natural Society - Burke (1756).djvu/73

From Wikisource
This page has been validated.

[63]

Rome has a more venerable Aspect than Athens; and she conducted her Affairs, so far as related to the Ruin and Oppression of the greatest Part of the World, with more Wisdom and Uniformity. But their domestick Oeconomy was nearly or altogether the same. An internal Dissention constantly tore to Pieces the Bowels of this Commonwealth. You find the same Confusion, the same Factions which subsisted at Athens, the same Tumults, the same Revolutions, and in fine, the same Slavery. If perhaps their former Condition did not deserve that Name altogether as well. All other Republicks were of the same Character. Florence was a Transcript of Athens. And the modern Republicks, as they approach more or less to the Democratick Form, partake more of less of the Nature of those which I have described.

We are now at the Close of our Review of the three simple Forms of Artificial Society, and we have shewn them, howeverthey