"It seems to me (says the excellent Montesquieu) that the Epicurean Sect, which made its Way into Rome towards the Close of the Republic, contributed much to corrupt the Hearts of the Romans. The Greeks had been infatuated with it before them; accordingly, they were sooner corrupt. Polybius tells us, that in His Time, no Greek could be trusted, on the Security of his Oath; whereas, a Roman was inevitably bound by it.[1]"—He adds, "Cyneas having discoursed on the Epicurean System at the Table of Pyrrhus, Fabricius wished that all the Enemies of Rome might hold the Principles of such a Sect.[2]"
Thus, as in the early Periods of the Commonwealth, they had adopted the Virtues, in the later Times they assumed the Vices of the conquered Nations. Thus, by unperceived Gradations, the same Prin-
