第12章

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。

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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]