Inthisking’slastillness，thephysicianswouldnotventuretosayhewasindanger；andsurelytheyactedveryright。[31]
　　11。OfThoughts。MarsyasdreamedthathehadcutDionysius’sthroat。[32]
　　Dionysiusputhimtodeath，pretendingthathewouldneverhavedreamedofsuchathingbynightifhehadnotthoughtofitbyday。Thiswasamosttyrannicalaction：forthoughithadbeenthesubjectofhisthoughts，yethehadmadenoattempt[33]towardsit。Thelawsdonottakeuponthemtopunishanyotherthanovertacts。
　　12。OfindiscreetSpeeches。Nothingrendersthecrimeofhightreasonmorearbitrarythandeclaringpeopleguiltyofitforindiscreetspeeches。Speechissosubjecttointerpretation；thereissogreatadifferencebetweenindiscretionandmalice；andfrequentlysolittleisthereofthelatterinthefreedomofexpression，thatthelawcanhardlysubjectpeopletoacapitalpunishmentforwordsunlessitexpresslydeclareswhatwordstheyare。[34]
　　Wordsdonotconstituteanovertact；theyremainonlyinidea。Whenconsideredbythemselves，theyhavegenerallynodeterminatesignification；forthisdependsonthetoneinwhichtheyareuttered。
　　Itoftenhappensthatinrepeatingthesamewordstheyhavenotthesamemeaning；thisdependsontheirconnectionwithotherthings，andsometimesmoreissignifiedbysilencethanbyanyexpressionwhatever。
　　Sincetherecanbenothingsoequivocalandambiguousasallthis，howisitpossibletoconvertitintoacrimeofhightreason？Whereverthislawisestablished，thereisanendnotonlyofliberty，butevenofitsveryshadow。
　　InthemanifestoofthelateCzarinaagainstthefamilyoftheD’Olgoruckys，[35]oneoftheseprincesiscondemnedtodeathforhavingutteredsomeindecentwordsconcerningherperson：another，forhavingmaliciouslyinterpretedherimperiallaws，andforhavingoffendedhersacredpersonbydisrespectfulexpressions。
　　NotthatIpretendtodiminishthejustindignationofthepublicagainstthosewhopresumetostainthegloryoftheirsovereign；whatI
　　meanisthat，ifdespoticprincesarewillingtomoderatetheirpower，amilderchastisementwouldbemoreproperonthoseoccasionsthanthechargeofhightreason——athingalwaysterribleeventoinnocenceitself。[36]
　　Overtactsdonothappeneveryday；theyareexposedtotheeyeofthepublic；andafalsechargewithregardtomattersoffactmaybeeasilydetected。Wordscarriedintoactionassumethenatureofthataction。
　　Thusamanwhogoesintoapublicmarket—placetoincitethesubjecttorevoltincurstheguiltofhightreason，becausethewordsarejoinedtotheaction，andpartakeofitsnature。Itisnotthewordsthatarepunished，butanactioninwhichwordsareemployed。Theydonotbecomecriminal，butwhentheyareannexedtoacriminalaction：everythingisconfoundedifwordsareconstruedintoacapitalcrime，insteadofconsideringthemonlyasamarkofthatcrime。
　　TheEmperorsTheodosius，Arcadius，andHonoriuswrotethustoRufinus，whowaspr？fectuspr？torio："Thoughamanshouldhappentospeakamissofourpersonorgovernment，wedonotintendtopunishhim：[37]ifhehasspokenthroughlevity，wemustdespisehim；ifthroughfolly，wemustpityhim；andifhewrongsus，wemustforgivehim。Therefore，leavingthingsastheyare，youaretoinformusaccordingly，thatwemaybeabletojudgeofwordsbypersons，andthatwemaydulyconsiderwhetherweoughttopunishoroverlookthem。"
　　13。OfWritings。Inwritingsthereissomethingmorepermanentthaninwords，butwhentheyareinnowaypreparativetohightreasontheycannotamounttothatcharge。
　　AndyetAugustusandTiberiussubjectedsatiricalwriterstothesamepunishmentasforhavingviolatedthelawofmaiestas。Augustus，[38]
　　becauseofsomelibelsthathadbeenwrittenagainstpersonsofthefirstquality；Tiberius，becauseofthosewhichhesuspectedtohavebeenwrittenagainsthimself。NothingwasmorefataltoRomanliberty。
　　CremutiusCorduswasaccusedofhavingcalledCassiusinhisannalsthelastoftheRomans。[39]
　　Satiricalwritingsarehardlyknownindespoticgovernments，wheredejectionofmindontheonehand，andignoranceontheother，affordneitherabilitiesnorwilltowrite。Indemocraciestheyarenothindered，fortheverysamereasonwhichcausesthemtobeprohibitedinmonarchies；beinggenerallylevelledagainstmenofpowerandauthority，theyflatterthemalignancyofthepeople，whoarethegoverningparty。
　　Inmonarchiestheyareforbidden，butratherasasubjectofcivilanimadversionthanasacapitalcrime。Theymayamusethegeneralmalevolence，pleasethemalcontents，diminishtheenvyagainstpublicemployments，givethepeoplepatiencetosuffer，andmakethemlaughattheirsufferings。
　　Butnogovernmentissoaversetosatiricalwritingsasthearistocratic。Therethemagistratesarepettysovereigns，butnotgreatenoughtodespiseaffronts。Ifinamonarchyasatiricalstrokeisdesignedagainsttheprince，heisplacedonsuchaneminencethatitdoesnotreachhim；butanaristocraticlordispiercedtotheveryheart。Hencethedecemvirs，whoformedanaristocracy，punishedsatiricalwritingswithdeath。[40]
　　14。BreachofModestyinpunishingCrimes。Therearerulesofmodestyobservedbyalmosteverynationintheworld；nowitwouldbeveryabsurdtoinfringetheserulesinthepunishmentofcrimes，theprincipalviewofwhichoughtalwaystobetheestablishmentoforder。
　　WasittheintentofthoseOrientalnationswhoexposedwomentoelephantstrainedupforanabominablekindofpunishment——wasit，I
　　say，theirintenttoestablishonelawbythebreachofanother？
　　ByanancientcustomoftheRomansitwasnotpermittedtoputgirlstodeathtilltheywereripeformarriage。Tiberiusfoundanexpedientofhavingthemdebauchedbytheexecutionerbeforetheywerebroughttotheplaceofpunishment：[41]thatbloodyandsubtletyrantdestroyedthemoralsofthepeopletopreservetheircustoms。
　　WhenthemagistratesofJapancausedwomentobeexposednakedinthemarket—places，andobligedthemtogouponallfourslikebeasts，modestywasshocked：[42]butwhentheywantedtocompelamother——whentheywantedtoforceason——Icannotproceed；evenNatureherselfisstruckwithhorror。[43]
　　15。OftheEnfranchisementofSlavesinordertoaccusetheirMaster。
　　Augustusmadealawthattheslavesofthosewhoconspiredagainsthispersonshouldbesoldtothepublic，thattheymightdeposeagainsttheirmaster。[44]Nothingoughttobeneglectedwhichmaycontributetothediscoveryofaheinouscrime；itisnatural，therefore，thatinagovernmentwherethereareslavestheyshouldbeallowedtoinform；buttheyoughtnottobeadmittedaswitnesses。
　　VindexdiscoveredtheconspiracythathadbeenformedinfavourofTarquin；buthewasnotadmittedawitnessagainstthechildrenofBrutus。Itwasrighttogivelibertytoapersonwhohadrenderedsogreataservicetohiscountry；butitwasnotgivenhimwithaviewofenablinghimtorenderthisservice。
　　HencetheEmperorTacitusordainedthatslavesshouldnotbeadmittedaswitnessesagainsttheirmasters，eveninthecaseofhightreason：[45]alawwhichwasnotinsertedinJustinian’scompilation。
　　16。OfCalumnywithregardtotheCrimeofHighTreason。TodojusticetotheC？sars，theywerenotthefirstdevisersofthehorridlawswhichtheyenacted。ItwasSulla[46]thattaughtthemthatcalumniatorsoughtnottobepunished；buttheabusewassooncarriedtosuchexcessastorewardthem。[47]
　　17。OftherevealingofConspiracies。"Ifthybrother，thesonofthymother，orthyson，orthydaughter，orthewifeofthybosom，orthyfriend，whichisasthineownsoul，enticetheesecretly，saying，’Letusgoandserveothergods，’thoushaltsurelykillhim，thoushaltstonehim。"[48]ThislawofDeuteronomycannotbeacivillawamongmostofthenationsknowntous，becauseitwouldpavethewayforallmannerofwickedness。
　　Nolesssevereisthelawofseveralcountrieswhichcommandsthesubjects，onpainofdeath，todiscloseconspiraciesinwhichtheyarenotevensomuchasconcerned。Whensuchalawisestablishedinamonarchicalgovernment，itisveryproperitshouldbeundersomerestrictions。
　　Itoughtnottobeappliedinitsfullseveritysavetothestrongestcasesofhightreason。Inthosecountriesitisoftheutmostimportancenottoconfoundthedifferentdegreesofthiscrime。InJapan，wherethelawssubverteveryideaofhumanreason，thecrimeofconcealmentisappliedeventothemostordinarycases。
　　Acertainrelation[49]makesmentionoftwoyoungladieswhowereshutupforlifeinaboxthicksetwithpointednails，oneforhavinghadaloveintrigue，andtheotherfornotdisclosingit。
　　18。HowdangerousitisinRepublicstobetoosevereinpunishingtheCrimeofHighTreason。Assoonasarepublichascompassedthedestructionofthosewhowantedtosubvertit，thereshouldbeanendofterrors，punishments，andevenofrewards。
　　Greatpunishments，andconsequentlygreatchanges，cannottakeplacewithoutinvestingsomecitizenswithanexorbitantpower。Itis，therefore，moreadvisableinthiscasetoexceedinlenitythaninseverity；tobanishbutfew，ratherthanmany；andtoleavethemtheirestates，insteadofmakingavastnumberofconfiscations。Underpretenceofavengingtherepublic’scause，theavengerswouldestablishtyranny。Thebusinessisnottodestroytherebel，buttherebellion。
　　Theyoughttoreturnasquicklyaspossibleintotheusualtrackofgovernment，inwhicheveryoneisprotectedbythelaws，andnooneinjured。
　　TheGreekssetnoboundstothevengeancetheytookupontyrants，orofthosetheysuspectedoftyranny；theyputtheirchildrentodeath，[50]
　　nay，sometimesfiveoftheirnearestrelatives；[51]andtheyproscribedaninfinitenumberoffamilies。Bysuchmeanstheirrepublicssufferedthemostviolentshocks：exiles，orthereturnoftheexiled，werealwaysepochsthatindicatedachangeoftheconstitution。
　　TheRomanshadmoresense。WhenCassiuswasputtodeathforhavingaimedattyranny，thequestionwasproposedwhetherhischildrenshouldundergothesamefate：buttheywerepreserved。"They，"saysDionysiusHalicarnassus，[52]"whowantedtochangethislawattheendoftheMarsianandcivilwars，andtoexcludefrompublicofficesthechildrenofthosewhohadbeenproscribedbySulla，areverymuchtoblame。"
　　WefindinthewarsofMariusandSullatowhatexcesstheRomanshadgraduallycarriedtheirbarbarity。Suchscenesofcrueltyitwashopedwouldneverberevived。Butunderthetriumvirstheycommittedgreateractsofoppression，thoughwithsomeappearanceoflenity；anditisprovokingtoseewhatsophismstheymadeuseoftocovertheirinhumanity。Appianhasgivenus[53]theformulaoftheproscriptions。
　　Onewouldimaginetheyhadnootheraimthanthegoodoftherepublic，withsuchcalmnessdotheyexpressthemselves；suchadvantagesdotheypointouttothestate；suchexpediencydotheyshowinthemeanstheyadopt；suchsecuritydotheypromisetotheopulent；suchtranquillitytothepoor；soapprehensivedotheyseemofendangeringthelivesofthecitizens；sodesirousofappeasingthesoldiers；suchfelicity，infine，dotheypresagetothecommonwealth。
　　RomewasdrenchedinbloodwhenLepidustriumphedoverSpain：yet，byanunparalleledabsurdity，heorderedpublicrejoicingsinthatcity，uponpainofproscription。
　　19。InwhatMannertheUseofLibertyissuspendedinaRepublic。Incountrieswherelibertyismostesteemed，therearelawsbywhichasinglepersonisdeprivedofit，inordertopreserveitforthewholecommunity。SuchareinEnglandwhattheycallBillsofAttainder。[54]
　　TheseareinrelationtothoseAthenianlawsbywhichaprivatepersonwascondemned，[55]providedtheyweremadebytheunanimoussuffrageofsixthousandcitizens。TheyareinrelationalsotothoselawswhichweremadeatRomeagainstprivatecitizens，andwerecalledprivileges。[56]Thesewereneverpassedexceptinthegreatmeetingsofthepeople。Butinwhatmannersoevertheywereenacted，Cicerowasforhavingthemabolished，becausetheforceofalawconsistsinitsbeingmadeforthewholecommunity。[57]Imustown，notwithstanding，thatthepracticeofthefreestnationthateverexistedinducesmetothinkthattherearecasesinwhichaveilshouldbedrawnforawhileoverliberty，asitwascustomarytocoverthestatuesofthegods。
　　20。OfLawsfavourabletotheLibertyoftheSubjectinaRepublic。Inpopulargovernmentsitoftenhappensthataccusationsarecarriedoninpublic，andeverymanisallowedtoaccusewhomsoeverhepleases。Thisrendereditnecessarytoestablishproperlaws，inordertoprotecttheinnocenceofthesubject。AtAthens，ifanaccuserhadnotthefifthpartofthevotesonhisside，hewasobligedtopayafineofathousanddrachms。？schines，whoaccusedCtesiphon，wascondemnedtopaythisfine。[58]AtRome，afalseaccuserwasbrandedwithinfamy[59]bymarkingtheletterKonhisforehead。Guardswerealsoappointedtowatchtheaccuser，inordertopreventhiscorruptingeitherthejudgesorthewitnesses。[60]
　　IhavealreadytakennoticeofthatAthenianandRomanlawbywhichthepartyaccusedwasallowedtowithdrawbeforejudgmentwaspronounced。
　　21。OftheCrueltyofLawsinrespecttoDebtorsinaRepublic。Greatisthesuperioritywhichonefellow—subjecthasalreadyoveranother，bylendinghimmoney，whichthelatterborrowsinordertospend，and，ofcourse，hasnolongerinhispossession。Whatmustbetheconsequenceifthelawsofarepublicmakeafurtheradditiontothisservitudeandsubjection？
　　AtAthensandRome[61]itwasatfirstpermittedtosellsuchdebtorsaswereinsolvent。SolonredressedthisabuseatAthens[62]byordainingthatnoman’sbodyshouldanswerforhiscivildebts。Butthedecemvirs[63]didnotreformthesamecustomatRome；andthoughtheyhadSolon’sregulationbeforetheireyes，yettheydidnotchoosetofollowit。ThisisnottheonlypassageofthelawoftheTwelveTablesinwhichthedecemvirsshowtheirdesignofcheckingthespiritofdemocracy。
　　OftendidthosecruellawsagainstdebtorsthrowtheRomanrepublicintodanger。Amancoveredwithwoundsmadehisescapefromhiscreditor’shouseandappearedintheforum。[64]Thepeopleweremovedwiththisspectacle，andothercitizenswhomtheircreditorsdurstnolongerconfinebrokeloosefromtheirdungeons。Theyhadpromisesmadethem，whichwereallbroken。Thepeopleuponthis，havingwithdrawntotheSacredMount，obtained，notanabrogationofthoselaws，butamagistratetodefendthem。Thustheyquittedastateofanarchy，butweresoonindangeroffallingintotyranny。Manlius，torenderhimselfpopular，wasgoingtosetthosecitizensatlibertywhobytheirinhumancreditors[65]hadbeenreducedtoslavery。Manlius’sdesignswereprevented，butwithoutremedyingtheevil。Particularlawsfacilitatedtodebtorsthemeansofpaying；[66]andintheyearofRome428theconsulsproposedalaw[67]whichdeprivedcreditorsofthepowerofconfiningtheirdebtorsintheirownhouses。[68]Ausurer，bynamePapirius，attemptedtocorruptthechastityofayoungmannamedPublius，whomhekeptinirons。Sextus’scrimegavetoRomeitspoliticalliberty；thatofPapiriusgaveitalsothecivil。
　　Suchwasthefateofthiscity，thatnewcrimesconfirmedthelibertywhichthoseofamoreancientdatehadprocuredit。Appius’sattemptuponVirginiaflungthepeopleagainintothathorroragainsttyrantswithwhichthemisfortuneofLucretiahadfirstinspiredthem。
　　Thirty—sevenyearsafter[69]thecrimeoftheinfamousPapirius，anactionofthelikecriminalnature[70]wasthecauseofthepeople’sretiringtotheJaniculum，[71]andofgivingnewvigourtothelawmadeforthesafetyofdebtors。
　　Sincethattimecreditorswereoftenerprosecutedbydebtorsforhavingviolatedthelawsagainstusurythanthelatterweresuedforrefusingtopaythem。
　　22。OfThingsthatstrikeatLibertyinMonarchies。Libertyoftenhasbeenweakenedinmonarchiesbyathingoftheleastuseintheworldtotheprince：thisisthenamingofcommissionerstotryaprivateperson。
　　Theprincehimselfderivessoverylittleadvantagefromthosecommissionersthatitisnotworthwhiletochangefortheirsakethecommoncourseofthings。Heismorallysurethathehasmoreofthespiritofprobityandjusticethanhiscommissioners，whothinkthemselvessufficientlyjustifiedbyhisnominationandorders，byavagueinterestofstate，andevenbytheirveryapprehensions。
　　UponthearraigningofapeerunderHenryVIIIitwascustomarytotryhimbyacommitteeoftheHouseofLords：bywhichmeansheputtodeathasmanypeersashepleased。
　　23。OfSpiesinMonarchies。ShouldIbeaskedwhetherthereisanynecessityforspiesinmonarchies，myanswerwouldbethattheusualpracticeofgoodprincesisnottoemploythem。Whenamanobeysthelaws，hehasdischargedhisdutytohisprince。Heoughtatleasttohavehisownhouseforanasylum，andtherestofhisconductshouldbeexemptfrominquiry。Thetradeofaspymightperhapsbetolerable，wereitpractisedbyhonestmen；butthenecessaryinfamyofthepersonissufficienttomakeusjudgeoftheinfamyofthething。Aprinceoughttoacttowardshissubjectswithcandour，frankness，andconfidence。
　　Hethathassomuchdisquiet，suspicion，andfearisanactorembarrassedinplayinghispart。Whenhefindsthatthelawsaregenerallyobservedandrespected，hemayjudgehimselfsafe。Thebehaviourofthepublicanswersforthatofeveryindividual。Lethimnotbeafraid：hecannotimaginehownaturalitisforhispeopletolovehim。Andhowshouldtheydootherwisethanlovehim，sinceheisthesourceofalmostallbountiesandfavours；punishmentsbeinggenerallychargedtotheaccountofthelaws？Henevershowshimselftohispeoplebutwithaserenecountenance；theyhaveevenashareofhisglory，andtheyareprotectedbyhispower。Aproofofhisbeingbelovedisthathissubjectshaveconfidenceinhim：whattheministerrefuses，theyimaginetheprincewouldhavegranted。Evenunderpubliccalamitiestheydonotaccusehisperson；theyareapttocomplainofhisbeingmisinformed，orbesetbycorruptmen。"Didtheprincebutknow，"saythepeople；thesewordsareakindofinvocation，andaproofoftheconfidencetheyhaveinhisperson。
　　24。OfAnonymousLetters。TheTartarsareobligedtoputtheirnamestotheirarrows，thatthearmmaybeknownwhichshootsthem。WhenPhilipofMacedonwaswoundedatthesiegeofacertaintown，thesewordswerefoundonthejavelin，"AsterhasgiventhismortalwoundtoPhilip。"[72]
　　Iftheywhoaccuseapersondiditmerelytoservethepublic，theywouldnotcarrytheircomplainttotheprince，whomaybeeasilyprejudiced，buttothemagistrates，whohaverulesthatareformidableonlytocalumniators。Butiftheyareunwillingtoleavethelawsopenbetweenthemandtheaccused，itisapresumptiontheyhavereasontobeafraidofthem；andtheleastpunishmenttheyoughttosufferisnottobecredited。Nonotice，therefore，shouldeverbetakenofthoseletters，exceptincasesthatadmitnotofthedelaysoftheordinarycourseofjustice，andinwhichtheprince’swelfareisconcerned。Thenitmaybeimaginedthattheaccuserhasmadeaneffort，whichhasuntiedhistongue。Butinothercasesoneoughttosay，withtheEmperorConstantius："Wecannotsuspectapersonwhohaswantedanaccuser，whilsthedidnotwantanenemy。"[73]
　　25。OftheMannerofgoverninginMonarchies。Theroyalauthorityisaspringthatoughttomovewiththegreatestfreedomandease。TheChineseboastofoneoftheiremperorswhogoverned，theysay，liketheheavens，thatis，byhisexample。
　　Therearesomecasesinwhichasovereignoughttoexertthefullextentofhispower；andothersinwhichheshouldreduceitwithinnarrowerlimits。Thesublimityofadministrationconsistsinknowingtheproperdegreeofpowerwhichshouldbeexertedondifferentoccasions。
　　Thewholefelicityofmonarchiesconsistsintheopinionwhichthesubjectsentertainofthelenityofthegovernment。Aweakministeriseverreadytoremindusofourslavery。Butgranting，even，thatweareslaves，heshouldendeavourtoconcealourmiseryfromus。Allhecansayorwriteisthattheprinceisuneasy，thatheissurprised，andthathewillredressallgrievances。Thereisacertaineaseincommanding；theprinceoughtonlytoencourage，andletthelawsmenace。[74]
　　26。ThatinaMonarchythePrinceoughttobeofeasyAccess。Theutilityofthismaximwillappearfromtheinconvenienceattendingthecontrarypractice。"TheCzarPeterI，"saystheSieurPerry，[75]"haspublishedanewedict，bywhichheforbidsanyofhissubjectstoofferhimapetitiontillafterhavingpresentedittotwoofhisofficers。Incaseofrefusalofjusticetheymaypresenthimathird，butuponpainofdeathiftheyareinthewrong。AfterthisnooneeverpresumedtoofferapetitiontotheCzar。"
　　27。OftheMannersofaMonarch。Themannersofaprincecontributeasmuchasthelawsthemselvestoliberty；likethesehemaytransformmenintobrutes，andbrutesintomen。Ifheprefersfreeandgenerousspirits，hewillhavesubjects；ifhelikesbase，dastardlysouls，hewillhaveslaves。Wouldheknowthegreatartofruling，lethimcallhonourandvirtuetoattendhisperson；andlethimencouragepersonalmerit。Hemayevensometimescastaneyeontalentsandabilities。Lethimnotbeafraidofthoserivalswhoarecalledmenofmerit；heistheirequalwhenoncehelovesthem。Lethimgaintheheartsofhispeople，withoutsubduingtheirspirits。Lethimrenderhimselfpopular；
　　heoughttobepleasedwiththeaffectionsofthelowestofhissubjects，fortheytooaremen。Thecommonpeoplerequiresoverylittlecondescension，thatitisfittheyshouldbehumoured；theinfinitedistancebetweenthesovereignandthemwillsurelypreventthemfromgivinghimanyuneasiness。Lethimbeexorabletosupplication，andresoluteagainstdemands；lethimbesensible，infine，thathispeoplehavehisrefusals，whilehiscourtiersenjoyhisfavours。
　　28。OftheRegardwhichMonarchsowetotheirSubjects。Princesoughttobeextremelycircumspectwithregardtoraillery。Itpleaseswithmoderation，becauseitisanintroductiontofamiliarity；butasatiricalrailleryislessexcusableinthemthaninthemeanestoftheirsubjects，foritistheyalonethatgiveamortalwound。