Theinstitutionofthedomestictribunal[20]suppliedthemagistracyestablishedamongtheGreeks。[21]
Thehusbandsummonedthewife’srelatives,andtriedherintheirpresence。[22]Thistribunalpreservedthemannersoftherepublic;andatthesametimethoseverymannersmaintainedthistribunal。Foritdecidednotonlyinrespecttotheviolationofthelaws,butalsoofmanners:now,inordertojudgeoftheviolationofthelatter,mannersarerequisite。Thepenaltiesinflictedbythistribunaloughttobe,andactuallywere,arbitrary:forallthatrelatestomanners,andtotherulesofmodesty,canhardlybecomprisedunderonecodeoflaws。Itiseasyindeedtoregulatebylawswhatweowetoothers;butitisverydifficultofcompriseallweowetoourselves。
Thedomestictribunalinspectedthegeneralconductofwomen:buttherewasonecrimewhich,besidetheanimadversionofthistribunal,waslikewisesubjecttoapublicaccusation。Thiswasadultery;whetherthatinarepublicsogreatadepravationofmannersinterestedthegovernment;orwhetherthewife’simmoralitymightrenderthehusbandsuspected;orwhether,infine,theywereafraidlestevenhonestpeoplemightchoosethatthiscrimeshouldratherbeconcealedthanpunished。
11。InwhatMannertheInstitutionschangedatRome,togetherwiththeGovernment。Asmannersweresupportedbythedomestictribunal,theywerealsosupportedbythepublicaccusation;andhenceitisthatthesetwothingsfelltogetherwiththepublicmanners,andendedwiththerepublic。[23]
Theestablishingofperpetualquestions,thatis,thedivisionofjurisdictionamongthepr?tors,andthecustomgraduallyintroducedofthepr?torsdeterminingallcausesthemselves,[24]weakenedtheuseofthedomestictribunal。Thisappearsbythesurpriseofhistorians,wholookuponthedecisionswhichTiberiuscausedtobegivenbythistribunalassingularfacts,andasarenewaloftheancientcourseofpleading。
Theestablishmentofmonarchyandthechangeofmannersputlikewiseanendtopublicaccusations。Itmightbeapprehendedlestadishonestman,affrontedattheslightshownhimbyawoman,vexedatherrefusal,andirritatedevenbyhervirtue,shouldformadesigntodestroyher。TheJulianlawordainedthatawomanshouldnotbeaccusedofadulterytillafterherhusbandhadbeenchargedwithfavouringherirregularities;
whichlimitedgreatly,andannihilated,asitwere,thissortofaccusation。[25]SextusQuintusseemedtohavebeendesirousofrevivingthepublicaccusations。[26]Butthereneedsverylittlereflectiontoseethatthislawwouldbemoreimproperinsuchamonarchyashisthaninanyother。
12。OftheGuardianshipofWomenamongtheRomans。TheRomanlawssubjectedwomentoaperpetualguardianship,excepttheywereundercoverandsubjecttotheauthorityofahusband。[27]Thisguardianshipwasgiventothenearestofthemalerelatives;andbyavulgarexpression[28]itappearstheywereverymuchconfined。Thiswasproperforarepublic,butnotatallnecessaryinamonarchy。[29]
ThatthewomenamongtheancientGermanswerelikewiseunderaperpetualtutelageappearsfromthedifferentcodesoftheLawsoftheBarbarians。[30]Thiscustomwascommunicatedtothemonarchiesfoundedbythosepeople;butwasnotoflongduration。
13。OfthePunishmentsdecreedbytheEmperorsagainsttheIncontinenceofWomen。TheJulianlawordainedapunishmentagainstadultery。Butsofarwasthislaw,anymorethanthoseafterwardsmadeonthesameaccount,frombeingamarkofregularityofmanners,thatonthecontraryitwasaproofoftheirdepravity。
Thewholepoliticalsysteminrespecttowomenreceivedachangeinthemonarchicalstate。Thequestionwasnolongertoobligethemtoaregularityofmanners,buttopunishtheircrimes。Thatnewlawsweremadetopunishtheircrimeswasowingtotheirleavingthosetransgressionsunpunishedwhichwerenotofsocriminalanature。
Thefrightfuldissolutionofmannersobligedindeedtheemperorstoenactlawsinordertoputsomestoptolewdness;butitwasnottheirintentiontoestablishageneralreformation。Ofthisthepositivefactsrelatedbyhistoriansareamuchstrongerproofthanalltheselawscanbeofthecontrary。WemayseeinDiotheconductofAugustusonthisoccasion,andinwhatmannerheeluded,bothinhispr?torianandcensorianoffice,therepeatedinstancesthatweremadehim[31]forthatpurpose。
Itistruethatwefindinhistoriansveryrigidsentences,passedinthereignsofAugustusandTiberius,againstthelewdnessofsomeRomanladies:butbyshowingusthespiritofthosereigns,atthesametimetheydemonstratethespiritofthosedecisions。
TheprincipaldesignofAugustusandTiberiuswastopunishthedissolutenessoftheirrelatives。Itwasnottheirimmoralitytheypunished,butaparticularcrimeofimpietyorhightreason[32]oftheirowninvention,whichservedtopromotearespectformajesty,andansweredtheirprivaterevenge。HenceitisthattheRomanhistoriansinveighsobitterlyagainstthistyranny。
ThepenaltyoftheJulianlawwassmall。[33]Theemperorsinsistedthatinpassingsentencethejudgesshouldincreasethepenaltyofthelaw。
Thiswasthesubjectoftheinvectivesofhistorians。Theydidnotexaminewhetherthewomenweredeservingofpunishment,butwhethertheyhadviolatedthelaw,inordertopunishthem。
OneofthemosttyrannicalproceedingsofTiberius[34]wastheabusehemadeoftheancientlaws。WhenhewantedtoextendthepunishmentofaRomanladybeyondthatinflictedbytheJulianlaw,herevivedthedomestictribunal。[35]
Theseregulationsinrespecttowomenconcernedonlysenatorialfamilies,notthecommonpeople。Pretenceswerewantedtoaccusethegreat,whichwereconstantlyfurnishedbythedissolutebehaviouroftheladies。
Infine,whatIhaveaboveobserved,namely,thatregularityofmannersisnottheprincipleofmonarchy,wasneverbetterverifiedthanunderthosefirstemperors;andwhoeverdoubtsitneedonlyreadTacitus,Suetonius,Juvenal,orMartial。
14。SumptuaryLawsamongtheRomans。Wehavespokenofpublicincontinencebecauseitistheinseparablecompanionofluxury。Ifweleavethemotionsoftheheartatliberty,howshallwebeabletorestraintheweaknessesofthemind?
AtRome,besidesthegeneralinstitutions,thecensorsprevailedonthemagistratestoenactseveralparticularlawsformaintainingthefrugalityofwomen。ThiswasthedesignoftheFannian,Licinian,andOppianlaws。WemayseeinLivy[36]thegreatfermentthesenatewasinwhenthewomeninsistedupontherevocationoftheOppianlaw。TheabrogationofthislawisfixeduponbyValeriusMaximusastheperiodwhencewemaydatetheluxuryoftheRomans。
15。OfDowriesandNuptialAdvantagesindifferentConstitutions。
Dowriesoughttobeconsiderableinmonarchies,inordertoenablehusbandstosupporttheirrankandtheestablishedluxury。Inrepublics,whereluxuryshouldneverreign,[37]theyoughttobemoderate;butthereshouldbehardlyanyatallindespoticgovernments,wherewomenareinsomemeasureslaves。
ThecommunityofgoodsintroducedbytheFrenchlawsbetweenmanandwifeisextremelywelladaptedtoamonarchicalgovernment;becausethewomenaretherebyinterestedindomesticaffairs,andcompelled,asitwere,totakecareoftheirfamily。Itislesssoinarepublic,wherewomenarepossessedofmorevirtue。Butitwouldbequiteabsurdindespoticgovernments,wherethewomenthemselvesgenerallyconstituteapartofthemaster’sproperty。
Aswomenareinastatethatfurnishessufficientinducementstomarriage,theadvantageswhichthelawgivesthemoverthehusband’spropertyareofnoservicetosociety。Butinarepublictheywouldbeextremelyprejudicial,becauserichesareproductiveofluxury。Indespoticgovernmentstheprofitsaccruingfrommarriageoughttobemeresubsistence,andnomore。
16。AnexcellentCustomoftheSamnites。TheSamniteshadacustomwhichinsosmallarepublic,andespeciallyintheirsituation,musthavebeenproductiveofadmirableeffects。Theyoungpeoplewereallconvenedinoneplace,andtheirconductwasexamined。Hethatwasdeclaredthebestofthewholeassemblyhadleavegivenhimtotakewhichgirlhepleasedforhiswife;thesecondbestchoseafterhim;andsoon。[38]
Admirableinstitution!Theonlyrecommendationthatyoungmencouldhaveonthisoccasionwastheirvirtueandtheservicesdonetheircountry。
Hewhohadthegreatestshareoftheseendowmentschosewhichgirlhelikedoutofthewholenation。Love,beauty,chastity,virtue,birth,andevenwealthitself,wereall,insomemeasure,thedowryofvirtue。
Anoblerandgranderrecompense,lesschargeabletoapettystate,andmorecapableofinfluencingbothsexes,couldscarcelybeimagined。
TheSamnitesweredescendedfromtheLaced?monians;andPlato,whoseinstitutesareonlyanimprovementofthoseofLycurgus,enactednearlythesamelaw。[39]
17。OfFemaleAdministration。Itiscontrarytoreasonandnaturethatwomenshouldreigninfamilies,aswascustomaryamongtheEgyptians;
butnotthattheyshouldgovernanempire。Intheformercasethestateoftheirnaturalweaknessdoesnotpermitthemtohavethepre—eminence;
inthelattertheirveryweaknessgenerallygivesthemmorelenityandmoderation,qualificationsfitterforagoodadministrationthanroughnessandseverity。
IntheIndiestheyareveryeasyunderafemalegovernment;anditissettledthatifthemaleissuebenotofamotherofthesameblood,thefemalesbornofamotheroftheblood—royalmustsucceed。[40]Andthentheyhaveacertainnumberofpersonswhoassistthemtobeartheweightofthegovernment。AccordingtoMr。Smith,[41]theyareveryeasyinAfricaunderfemaleadministration。IftothisweaddtheexampleofEnglandandRussia,weshallfindthattheysucceedalikebothinmoderateanddespoticgovernments。
______
1。Thefirstcensuswasthehereditaryshareinland,andPlatowouldnotallowthemtohave,inothereffects,aboveatripleofthehereditaryshare。SeehisLaws,v。
2。"Inlargeandpopulouscities,"saystheauthoroftheFableoftheBees,i,p。133,"theywearclothesabovetheirrank,and,consequently,havethepleasureofbeingesteemedbyavastmajority,notaswhattheyare,butwhattheyappeartobe。Theyhavethesatisfactionofimaginingthattheyappearwhattheywouldbe:which,toweakminds,isapleasurealmostassubstantialastheycouldreapfromtheveryaccomplishmentoftheirwishes。"
3。Chapters3,4。
4。Fragmentofthe36thbookofDiodorus,quotedbyConstantinePorphyrogenitus,inhisExtractofVirtuesandVices。
5。Cummaximusomniumimpetusadluxuriantesset。——Ibid。
6。DeMoribusGermanorum,44。
7。DioCassius,liv。16。
8。Tacitus,Annals,iii。34。
9。Maltaduritieiveterummeliusetlatiusmutata——Tacitus,Annals,iii。34。
10。Opulentiaparituramoxegestatem。——Florus,iii。12。
11。ConstitutionofJamesIintheyear1234,art。6,inMarcaHispanica,p。1429。
12。Theyhaveprohibitedrichwinesandothercostlymerchandise。
13。Lettrespersanes,106。Seebelow,xx。20。
14。Luxuryhasbeenherealwaysprohibited。
15。InanordinancequotedbyFatherDuHalde,ii,p。497。
16。HistoryofChina,21stDynasty,inFatherDuHalde’swork,i。
17。InadiscoursecitedbyFatherDuHalde,iii,p。418。
18。"Inrespecttotruelove,"saysPlutarch,"thewomenhavenothingtosaytoit。"InhisTreatiseofLove,p。600。Hespokeinthestyleofhistime。SeeXenophoninthedialogueintitledHiero。
19。AtAthenstherewasaparticularmagistratewhoinspectedtheconductofwomen。
20。Romulusinstitutedthistribunal,asappearsfromDionysiusHalicarnassus,ii,p。96。
21。SeeinLivy,xxxix,theusethatwasmadeofthistribunalatthetimeoftheconspiracyoftheBacchanalians(theygavethenameofconspiracyagainsttherepublictoassembliesinwhichthemoralsofwomenandyoungpeopleweredebauched。)
22。ItappearsfromDionysiusHalicarnassus,ii,thatRomulus’sinstitutionwasthatinordinarycasesthehusbandshouldsitasjudgeinthepresenceofthewife’srelatives,butthatinheinouscrimesheshoulddetermineinconjunctionwithfiveofthem。HenceUlpian,tit。6,9,12,13,distinguishesinrespecttothedifferentjudgmentsofmannersbetweenthosewhichhecallsimportant,andthosewhicharelessso:moresgraviores,moresleviores。
23。Judiciodemoribus(quodanteaquideminantiquislegibuspositumerat,nonautemfrequentabatur)penitusabolito。Leg。11。Cod。derepud。
24。Judiciaextraordinaria。
25。ItwasentirelyabolishedbyConstantine:"Itisashame,"saidhe,"thatsettledmarriagesshouldbedisturbedbythepresumptionofstrangers。"
26。SextusQuintusordained,thatifahusbanddidnotcomeandmakehiscomplainttohimofhiswife’sinfidelity,heshouldbeputtodeath。
SeeLeti,LifeofSextusV。
27。Nisiconvenissentinmanumviri。
28。Nesismihipatruusoro。
29。ThePapianlawordained,underAugustus,thatwomenwhohadbornethreechildrenshouldbeexemptfromthistutelage。
30。ThistutelagewasbytheGermanscalledMundeburdium。
31。Upontheirbringingbeforehimayoungmanwhohadmarriedawomanwithwhomhehadbeforecarriedonanillicitcommerce,hehesitatedalongwhile,notdaringtoapproveortopunishthesethings。Atlengthrecollectinghimself,"Seditions,"sayshe,"havebeenthecauseofverygreatevils;letusforgetthem。"Dio,liv。16。Thesenatehavingdesiredhimtogivethemsomeregulationsinrespecttowomen’smorals,heevadedtheirpetitionbytellingthemthattheyshouldchastisetheirwivesinthesamemannerashedidhis;uponwhichtheydesiredhimtotellthemhowhebehavedtohiswife。(Ithinkaveryindiscreetquestion。)
32。Tacitus,Annals,iii。24。
33。ThislawisgivenintheDigest,butwithoutmentioningthepenalty。
Itissupposeditwasonlyrelegatio,becausethatofincestwasonlydeportatio。Leg。,siquisviduam,ff。dequ?st。
34。Tacitus,Annals,iv。19。
35。Ibid。,ii。50。
36。Dec。4,iv。
37。Marseilleswasthewisestofalltherepublicsinitstime;hereitwasordainedthatdowriesshouldnotexceedonehundredcrownsinmoney,andfiveinclothes,asStraboobserves,iv。
38。FragmentofNicolausDamascenus,takenfromStob?usinthecollectionofConstantinePorphyrogenitus。
39。Heevenpermitsthemtohaveamorefrequentinterviewwithoneanother。
40。EdifyingLetters,coll。xiv。
41。VoyagetoGuinea,partthesecond,p。165,ofthekingdomofAngola,ontheGoldenCoast。
BookVIII。OftheCorruptionofthePrinciplesoftheThreeGovernments1。GeneralIdeaofthisBook。Thecorruptionofthisgovernmentgenerallybeginswiththatoftheprinciples。
2。OftheCorruptionofthePrinciplesofDemocracy。Theprincipleofdemocracyiscorruptednotonlywhenthespiritofequalityisextinct,butlikewisewhentheyfallintoaspiritofextremeequality,andwheneachcitizenwouldfainbeuponalevelwiththosewhomhehaschosentocommandhim。Thenthepeople,incapableofbearingtheverypowertheyhavedelegated,wanttomanageeverythingthemselves,todebateforthesenate,toexecuteforthemagistrate,andtodecideforthejudges。
Whenthisisthecase,virtuecannolongersubsistintherepublic。Thepeoplearedesirousofexercisingthefunctionsofthemagistrates,whoceasetoberevered。Thedeliberationsofthesenateareslighted;allrespectisthenlaidasideforthesenators,andconsequentlyforoldage。Ifthereisnomorerespectforoldage,therewillbenonepresentlyforparents;deferencetohusbandswillbelikewisethrownoff,andsubmissiontomasters。Thislicencewillsoonbecomegeneral,andthetroubleofcommandbeasfatiguingasthatofobedience。Wives,children,slaveswillshakeoffallsubjection。Nolongerwilltherebeanysuchthingasmanners,order,orvirtue。
WefindinXenophon’sBanquetaverylivelydescriptionofarepublicinwhichthepeopleabusedtheirequality。Eachguestgivesinhisturnthereasonwhyheissatisfied。"ContentIam,"saysChamides,"becauseofmypoverty。WhenIwasrich,Iwasobligedtopaymycourttoinformers,knowingIwasmoreliabletobehurtbythemthancapableofdoingthemharm。Therepublicconstantlydemandedsomenewtaxofme;andIcouldnotdeclinepaying。SinceIhavegrownpoor,Ihaveacquiredauthority;
nobodythreatensme;Iratherthreatenothers。IcangoorstaywhereI
please。Therichalreadyrisefromtheirseatsandgivemetheway。Iamaking,Iwasbeforeaslave:Ipaidtaxestotherepublic,nowitmaintainsme:Iamnolongerafraidoflosing:butIhopetoacquire。"
Thepeoplefallintothismisfortunewhenthoseinwhomtheyconfide,desirousofconcealingtheirowncorruption,endeavourtocorruptthem。
Todisguisetheirownambition,theyspeaktothemonlyofthegrandeurofthestate;toconcealtheirownavarice,theyincessantlyflattertheirs。
Thecorruptionwillincreaseamongthecorruptors,andlikewiseamongthosewhoarealreadycorrupted。Thepeoplewilldividethepublicmoneyamongthemselves,and,havingaddedtheadministrationofaffairstotheirindolence,willbeforblendingtheirpovertywiththeamusementsofluxury。Butwiththeirindolenceandluxury,nothingbutthepublictreasurewillbeabletosatisfytheirdemands。
Wemustnotbesurprisedtoseetheirsuffragesgivenformoney。Itisimpossibletomakegreatlargessestothepeoplewithoutgreatextortion:andtocompassthis,thestatemustbesubverted。Thegreatertheadvantagestheyseemtoderivefromtheirliberty,thenearertheyapproachtowardsthecriticalmomentoflosingit。Pettytyrantsarisewhohaveallthevicesofasingletyrant。Thesmallremainsoflibertysoonbecomeinsupportable;asingletyrantstartsup,andthepeoplearestrippedofeverything,evenoftheprofitsoftheircorruption。
Democracyhas,therefore,twoexcessestoavoid——thespiritofinequality,whichleadstoaristocracyormonarchy,andthespiritofextremeequality,whichleadstodespoticpower,asthelatteriscompletedbyconquest。
TrueitisthatthosewhocorruptedtheGreekrepublicsdidnotalwaysbecometyrants。Thiswasbecausetheyhadagreaterpassionforeloquencethanforthemilitaryart。BesidestherereignedanimplacablehatredinthebreastsoftheGreeksagainstthosewhosubvertedarepublicangovernment;andforthisreasonanarchydegeneratedintoannihilation,insteadofbeingchangedintotyranny。
ButSyracusebeingsituatedinthemidstofagreatnumberofpettystates,whosegovernmenthadbeenchangedfromoligarchytotyranny,[1]
andbeinggovernedbyasenate[2]scarcelyevermentionedinhistory,underwentsuchmiseriesasaretheconsequenceofamorethanordinarycorruption。Thiscity,everapreytolicentiousness[3]oroppression,equallylabouringunderthesuddenandalternatesuccessionoflibertyandservitude,andnotwithstandingherexternalstrength,constantlydeterminedtoarevolutionbytheleastforeignpower——thiscity,I
say,hadinherbosomanimmensemultitudeofpeople,whosefateitwastohavealwaysthiscruelalternative,eitherofchoosingatyranttogovernthem,orofactingthetyrantthemselves。
3。OftheSpiritofextremeEquality。Asdistantasheavenisfromearth,soisthetruespiritofequalityfromthatofextremeequality。
Theformerdoesnotimplythateverybodyshouldcommand,orthatnooneshouldbecommanded,butthatweobeyorcommandourequals。Itendeavoursnottoshakeofftheauthorityofamaster,butthatitsmastersshouldbenonebutitsequals。
Inthestateofnature,indeed,allmenarebornequal,buttheycannotcontinueinthisequality。Societymakesthemloseit,andtheyrecoveritonlybytheprotectionofthelaws。
Suchisthedifferencebetweenawell—regulateddemocracyandonethatisnotso,thatintheformermenareequalonlyascitizens,butinthelattertheyareequalalsoasmagistrates,assenators,asjudges,asfathers,ashusbands,orasmasters。
Thenaturalplaceofvirtueisneartoliberty;butitisnotnearertoexcessivelibertythantoservitude。
4。ParticularCauseoftheCorruptionofthePeople。Greatsuccess,especiallywhenchieflyowingtothepeople,intoxicatesthemtosuchadegreethatitisimpossibletocontainthemwithinbounds。Jealousoftheirmagistrates,theysoonbecamejealouslikewiseofthemagistracy;
enemiestothosewhogovern,theysoonproveenemiesalsototheconstitution。ThusitwasthatthevictoryoverthePersiansinthestraitsofSalamiscorruptedtherepublicofAthens;[4]andthusthedefeatoftheAtheniansruinedtherepublicofSyracuse。[5]
Marseillesneverexperiencedthosegreattransitionsfromlownesstograndeur;thiswasowingtotheprudentconductofthatrepublic,whichalwayspreservedherprinciples。
5。OftheCorruptionofthePrincipleofAristocracy。Aristocracyiscorruptedifthepowerofthenoblesbecomesarbitrary:whenthisisthecase,therecannolongerbeanyvirtueeitherinthegovernorsorthegoverned。
Ifthereigningfamiliesobservethelaws,itisamonarchywithseveralmonarchs,andinitsownnatureoneofthemostexcellent;foralmostallthesemonarchsaretieddownbythelaws。Butwhentheydonotobservethem,itisadespoticstateswayedbyagreatmanydespoticprinces。
Inthelattercase,therepublicconsistsonlyinthenobles。Thebodygoverningistherepublic;andthebodygovernedisthedespoticstate;
whichformstwoofthemostheterogeneousbodiesintheworld。
Theextremityofcorruptioniswhenthepowerofthenoblesbecomeshereditary;[6]forthentheycanhardlyhaveanymoderation。Iftheyareonlyafew,theirpowerisgreater,buttheirsecurityless:iftheyarealargernumber,theirpowerisless,andtheirsecuritygreater,insomuchthatpowergoesonincreasing,andsecuritydiminishing,uptotheverydespoticprincewhoisencircledwithexcessofpoweranddanger。
Thegreatnumber,therefore,ofnoblesinanhereditaryaristocracyrendersthegovernmentlessviolent:butasthereislessvirtue,theyfallintoaspiritofsupinenessandnegligence,bywhichthestatelosesallitsstrengthandactivity。[7]
Anaristocracymaymaintainthefullvigourofitsconstitutionifthelawsbesuchasareapttorenderthenoblesmoresensibleoftheperilsandfatiguesthanofthepleasureofcommand:andifthegovernmentbeinsuchasituationastohavesomethingtodread,whilesecuritysheltersunderitsprotection,anduncertaintythreatensfromabroad。
Asacertainkindofconfidenceformsthegloryandstabilityofmonarchies,republics,onthecontrary,musthavesomethingtoapprehend。[8]AfearofthePersianssupportedthelawsofGreece。
CarthageandRomewerealarmed,andstrengthenedbyeachother。Strange,thatthegreatersecuritythosestatesenjoyed,themore,likestagnatedwaters,theyweresubjecttocorruption!
6。OftheCorruptionofthePrincipleofMonarchy。Asdemocraciesaresubvertedwhenthepeopledespoilthesenate,themagistrates,thejudgesoftheirfunctions,somonarchiesarecorruptedwhentheprinceinsensiblydeprivessocietiesorcitiesoftheirprivileges。Intheformercasethemultitudeusurpthepower,inthelatteritisusurpedbyasingleperson。
"ThedestructionofthedynastiesofTsinandSoui,"saysaChineseauthor,"wasowingtothis:theprinces,insteadofconfiningthemselves,liketheirancestors,toageneralinspection,theonlyoneworthyofasovereign,wantedtogoverneverythingimmediatelybythemselves。"[9]TheChineseauthorgivesusinthisinstancethecauseofthecorruptionofalmostallmonarchies。
Monarchyisdestroyedwhenaprincethinksheshowsagreaterexertionofpowerinchangingthaninconformingtotheorderofthings;whenhedeprivessomeofhissubjectsoftheirhereditaryemploymentstobestowthemarbitrarilyuponothers;andwhenheisfonderofbeingguidedbyfancythanjudgment。
Again,itisdestroyedwhentheprince,directingeverythingentirelytohimself,callsthestatetohiscapital,thecapitaltohiscourt,andthecourttohisownperson。
Itisdestroyed,infine,whentheprincemistakeshisauthority,hissituationandtheloveofhispeople,andwhenheisnotfullypersuadedthatamonarchoughttothinkhimselfsecure,asadespoticprinceoughttothinkhimselfindanger。
7。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Theprincipleofmonarchyiscorruptedwhenthefirstdignitiesaremarksofthefirstservitude,whenthegreatmenaredeprivedofpublicrespect,andrenderedthelowtoolsofarbitrarypower。
Itisstillmorecorruptedwhenhonourissetupincontradictiontohonours,andwhenmenarecapableofbeingloadedattheverysametimewithinfamy[10]andwithdignities。
Itiscorruptedwhentheprincechangeshisjusticeintoseverity;whenheputs,liketheRomanemperors,aMedusa’sheadonhisbreast;[11]andwhenheassumesthatmenacingandterribleairwhichCommodusorderedtobegiventohisstatues。[12]