That they acted together during several years in imperfect harmony is to be ascribed to the wisdom, patience and firmness of William.
The situation of his great enemy was very different.

The resources of the French monarchy, though certainly not equal to those of England, Holland, the House of Austria, and the Empire of Germany united, were yet very formidable; they were all collected in a central position; they were all under the absolute direction of a single mind.

Lewis could do with two words what William could hardly bring about by two months of negotiation at Berlin, Munich, Brussels, Turin and Vienna.

Thus France was found equal in effective strength to all the states which were combined against her.

For in the political, as in the natural world, there may be an equality of momentum between unequal bodies, when the body which is inferior in weight is superior in velocity.
This was soon signally proved.