[54]
What city ever was there before this time,—I speak not of the city of the
Athenians, which is said formerly to have had a sufficiently extensive naval dominion; nor of
that of the Carthaginians, who had great power with their fleet and maritime resources; nor of
those of the Rhodians, whose naval discipline and naval renown has lasted even to our
recollection,—but was there ever any city before this time so insignificant, if it
was only a small island, as not to be able by its own power to defend its harbours, and its
lands, and some part of its country and maritime coast? But, forsooth, for many years before
the Gabinian law was passed, the Roman people, whose name, till within our own memory remained
invincible in naval battles, was deprived not only of a great, aye, of much the greatest part
of its usefulness, but also of its dignity and dominion.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden. 1856.
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