第36页 / 共310页

It was necessary, therefore, to Moses that he should find the

people of Israel in Egypt enslaved and oppressed by the

Egyptians, in order that they should be disposed to follow him so

as to be delivered out of bondage. It was necessary that Romulus

should not remain in Alba, and that he should be abandoned at his

birth, in order that he should become King of Rome and founder of

the fatherland. It was necessary that Cyrus should find the

Persians discontented with the government of the Medes, and the

Medes soft and effeminate through their long peace. Theseus could

not have shown his ability had he not found the Athenians

dispersed. These opportunities, therefore, made those men

fortunate, and their high ability enabled them to recognize the

opportunity whereby their country was ennobled and made famous.