This is not like the tie of manners, operative even where it is
not perceived, but like the distinctions of geography--existing to-day,
forgotten to-morrow--and abolished by a stroke of the pen, or a trick of
diplomacy. Russia, again, a mighty empire, as respects the simple grandeur
of magnitude, builds her power upon sterility. She has it in her power to
seduce an invading foe into vast circles of starvation, of which the radii
measure a thousand leagues. Frost and snow are confederates of her
strength. She is strong by her very weakness. But Rome laid a belt about
the Mediterranean of a thousand miles in breadth; and within that zone she
comprehended not only all the great cities of the ancient world, but so
perfectly did she lay the garden of the world in every climate, and for
every mode of natural wealth, within her own ring-fence, that since that
era no land, no part and parcel of the Roman empire, has ever risen into
strength and opulence, except where unusual artificial industry has
availed to counteract the tendencies of nature. So entirely had Rome
engrossed whatsoever was rich by the mere bounty of native endowment.
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