LETTER II.

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Cicero had read and queftioned at leaft as muchas Lucullus , and would therefore have appearedas great a captain, if he had had as great a princeas MithriDATES to encounter. But the truth is,that Lucullus was made a great captain by theory,or the ftudy of hiftory, alone, no more thanFerdinand of Spain and Alphonsus of Naples‘Were cured of defperate diftempers by reading Livyand Quintus Curtius : a filly tale, which Bodin,Amyot , and others have picked up and propagated.Lucullus had ferved in his youth againft theMarfi, probably in other wars, and Sylla tookearly notice of him: he went into the eaft withthis general, and had a great fliare in his confi-dence. He commanded in feveral expeditions. ItWas he who reflored the Colophonians to theirliberty , and who punifhed the revolt of thepeople of Mytelene. Thus we fee that Lucullus Was formed by experience, as well as ftudy, andby art experience gained in thofe very countries,where he gathered fo many laurels afterwards infighting againft the fame enemy. The late duke ofMarlborough never read Xenophon , molt cer-tainly, nor the relation perhaps of any modernwars; but he ferved in his youth under monfieurde Tukenne, and I have heard that he was takennotice of in thofe early days, by that great man.He afterwards commanded in an expedition toIreland, ferved a campaign or two, if I miftakenot, under king Willi am in Flanders: and,befidesthefe occafions, had none of gaining experience inWar, till he came to the head of our armies in one

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