第20章

类别:其他 作者:Baron Charles De Secondat Mont字数:9677更新时间:19/01/07 15:06:43
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。