Carthage Compared with Rome
Now the Carthaginian constitution seems to me
note
originally to have been well contrived in
these most distinctively important particulars. For they had
kings, note and the Gerusia
had the powers of an aristocracy, and the multitude were
supreme in such things as affected them; and on the whole
the adjustment of its several parts was very like that of Rome
and Sparta. But about the period of its entering on the
Hannibalian war the political state of Carthage was on the
decline, note that of Rome improving. For whereas there is in
every body, or polity, or business a natural stage of growth,
zenith, and decay; and whereas everything in them is at its
best at the zenith; we may thereby judge of the difference between these two constitutions as they existed at that period.
For exactly so far as the strength and prosperity of Carthage
preceded that of Rome in point of time, by so much was
Carthage then past its prime, while Rome was exactly at its
zenith, as far as its political constitution was concerned. In
Carthage therefore the influence of the people in the policy
of the state had already risen to be supreme, while at Rome
the Senate was at the height of its power: and so, as in the
one measures were deliberated upon by the many, in the
other by the best men, the policy of the Romans in
all public undertakings proved the stronger; on which
account, though they met with capital disasters, by force of
-- 502 --
prudent counsels they finally conquered the Carthaginians in
the war.
