DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62267#0012
2
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. I
dependence, but it may be doubted whether for
any length of time she could boast of so exube-
rant a population, so wide a circumference, or
such durable peace and prosperity, as from the
middle to the end of the last century. Many,
we well know, are the blessings which accom-
pany independence; but independence, by which
I mean exemption from foreign influence, is
only a partial advantage if it be not perfected
by liberty. This observation is, I think, in a
peculiar manner elucidated by the history of
Milan, which, from its situation, the fertility of
the surrounding country, and the mildness of
the climate, soon attained, and with a few in-
tervals of visitation and disaster generally
preserved, but never exceeded, a certain medio-
crity of fame and magnificence.
This city, like most of those situated between
the Alps and Apennines, is of Gallic origin. The
Insubrians were its founders, and at an early
period of Roman history, built it, or rather
erected a few hovels, which gradually rose from
a village to a town, and at length became a
city ; or so at least it was called during the reign
of Tarquinius Priscus, or his successor Ancus
Martius. As the capital of a considerable terri-
tory it had acquired, in the year of Rome 531,
strength sufficient to keep a Roman army in
5
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. I
dependence, but it may be doubted whether for
any length of time she could boast of so exube-
rant a population, so wide a circumference, or
such durable peace and prosperity, as from the
middle to the end of the last century. Many,
we well know, are the blessings which accom-
pany independence; but independence, by which
I mean exemption from foreign influence, is
only a partial advantage if it be not perfected
by liberty. This observation is, I think, in a
peculiar manner elucidated by the history of
Milan, which, from its situation, the fertility of
the surrounding country, and the mildness of
the climate, soon attained, and with a few in-
tervals of visitation and disaster generally
preserved, but never exceeded, a certain medio-
crity of fame and magnificence.
This city, like most of those situated between
the Alps and Apennines, is of Gallic origin. The
Insubrians were its founders, and at an early
period of Roman history, built it, or rather
erected a few hovels, which gradually rose from
a village to a town, and at length became a
city ; or so at least it was called during the reign
of Tarquinius Priscus, or his successor Ancus
Martius. As the capital of a considerable terri-
tory it had acquired, in the year of Rome 531,
strength sufficient to keep a Roman army in
5