第26章

类别:其他 作者:Baron Charles De Secondat Mont字数:10351更新时间:19/01/07 15:06:43
Allthatissurprisinginthefactinquestionwillsoondisappear,onlybycomparingtwopassagesinPlutarch。Theregallaw[33]permittedahusbandtorepudiateinthethreecasesalreadymentioned,and\"itenjoined,\"saysPlutarch,[34]\"thathewhorepudiatedinanyothercaseshouldbeobligedtogivethehalfofhissubstancetohiswife,andthattheotherhalfshouldbeconsecratedtoCeres。\"Theymightthenrepudiateinallcases,iftheywerebutwillingtosubmittothepenalty。NobodyhaddonethisbeforeCarviliusRuga,[35]who,asPlutarchsaysinanotherplace,[36]\"putawayhiswifeforhersterilitytwohundredandthirtyyearsafterRomulus。\"Thatis,shewasrepudiatedseventy—oneyearsbeforethelawoftheTwelveTables,whichextendedboththepowerandcausesofrepudiation。 TheauthorsIhavecitedsaythatCarviliusRugalovedhiswife,butthatthecensorsmadehimtakeanoathtoputheraway,becauseofherbarrenness,totheendthathemightgivechildrentotherepublic;andthatthisrenderedhimodioustothepeople。WemustknowthegeniusandtemperoftheRomansbeforewecandiscoverthetruecauseofthehatredtheyhadconceivedagainstCarvilius。Hedidnotfallintodisgracewiththepeopleforrepudiatinghiswife;thiswasanaffairthatdidnotatallconcernthem。ButCarviliushadtakenanoathtothecensors,thatbyreasonofthesterilityofhiswifehewouldrepudiatehertogivechildrentotherepublic。Thiswasayokewhichthepeoplesawthecensorsweregoingtoputuponthem。Ishalldiscover,intheprosecutionofthiswork,[37]therepugnancewhichtheyalwaysfelttoregulationsofthelikekind。Butwhencecansuchacontradictionbetweenthoseauthorsarise?ItisbecausePlutarchexaminedintoafact,andtheothershaverecountedaprodigy。 ______ 1。\"MahometmarriedCadhisjaatfive,andtookhertohisbedateightyearsold。InthehotcountriesofArabiaandtheIndies,girlsaremarriageableateightyearsofage,andarebroughttobedtheyearafter。\"——Prideaux,LifeofMahomet。WeseewomeninthekingdomofAlgierspregnantatnine,ten,andelevenyearsofage。——LaugierdeTassis,HistoryoftheKingdomofAlgiers,p。61。 2。SeeJornandes,DeRegnoettempor。success。,andtheecclesiastichistorians。 3。SeeLeg。7。Cod。,DeJud?isetC?licolis,andNov。18,cap。v。 4。InCeylonamanmayliveontensolsamonth;theyeatnothingtherebutriceandfish。CollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany,ii,part1。 5。Dr。ArbuthnotfindsthatinEnglandthenumberofboysexceedsthatofgirls;butpeoplehavebeentoblametoconcludethatthecaseisthesameinallclimates。 6。SeeKempfer,whorelatesthatuponnumberingthepeopleofMeacotherewerefound182,072males,and223,573females。 7。FatherDuHalde,HistoryofChina,iv,p。4。 8。Albuzeir—el—hassen,oneoftheMahometanArabswho,intheninthcentury,wentintoIndiaandChina,thoughtthiscustomaprostitution。 AndindeednothingcouldbemorecontrarytotheideasofaMahometan。 9。CollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany,i。 10。SeeFrancisPirard,27。EdifyingLetters,coll。iii,x,ontheMalleamionthecoastofMalabar。Thisisconsideredasanabuseofthemilitaryprofession,asawoman,saysPirard,ofthetribeoftheBraminsneverwouldmarrymanyhusbands。 11。ThisisthereasonwhywomenintheEastaresocarefullyconcealed。 12。LifeandActionsofJustinian,p。403。 13。LaugierdeTassis,HistoryoftheKingdomofAlgiers。 14。SeePirard,Voyages,12。 15。Exod。,21。10,11。 16。\"Itisanadmirabletouch—stone,tofindbyoneselfatreasure,andtoknowtherightowner;ortoseeabeautifulwomaninalonelyapartment;ortohearthecriesofanenemy,whomustperishwithoutourassistance。\"——TranslationofaChinesepieceofmorality,whichmaybeseeninDuHalde,iii,p。151。 17。CollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany,ii,partII,p。196。 18。IntheMaldivianislesthefathersmarrytheirdaughtersattenandelevenyearsofage,becauseitisagreatsin,saythey,tosufferthemtoendurethewantofahusband。SeePirard,12。AtBantam,assoonasagirlistwelveorthirteenyearsold,shemustbemarried,iftheywouldnothaveherleadadebauchedlife。CollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany,p。348。 19。VoyagetoGuinea,partII,p。192。\"Whenthewomenhappentomeetwithaman,theylayholdofhim,andthreatentomakeacomplainttotheirhusbandsifheslighttheiraddresses。Theystealintoaman’sbed,andwakehim;andifherefusestocomplywiththeirdesires,theythreatentosufferthemselvestobecaughtinflagranti。\" 20。Mahometdesiredhisfollowerstowatchtheirwives;acertainIman,whenhewasdying,saidthesamething;andConfuciuspreachedthesamedoctrine。 21。ItdoesnotfollowhencethatrepudiationonaccountofsterilityshouldbepermittedamongstChristians。 22。Theytookthemagainpreferablytoanyother,becauseinthiscasetherewaslessexpense。——Pirard,Travels。 23。Solis,HistoryoftheConquestofMexico,p。499。 24。Romulus。 25。ThiswasalawofSolon。 26。Mimamressuassibihaberejussit,exduodecimtabuliscausamaddidit。——Philipp,ii。69。 27。Justinianalteredthis,Nov。117,cap。x。 28。Bookii。 29。Bookii。4。 30。Bookiv。3。 31。AccordingtoDionysiusHalicarnassusandValeriusMaximus;andfivehundredandtwenty—three,accordingtoAulusGellius。Neitherdidtheyagreeinplacingthisunderthesameconsuls。 32。SeetheSpeechofVeturiainDionysiusHalicarnassus,viii。 33。Plutarch,Romulus。 34。Ibid。 35。IndeedsterilityisnotacausementionedbythelawofRomulus:buttoallappearancehewasnotsubjecttoaconfiscationofhiseffects,sincehefollowedtheordersofthecensors。 36。InhiscomparisonbetweenTheseusandRomulus。 37。Bookxxiii,21。 BookXVII。HowtheLawsofPoliticalServitudeBearaRelationtotheNatureoftheClimate1。OfpoliticalServitude。Politicalservitudedoesnotlessdependonthenatureoftheclimatethanthatwhichiscivilanddomestic;andthisweshallnowdemonstrate。 2。TheDifferencebetweenNationsinpointofCourage。Wehavealreadyobservedthatgreatheatenervatesthestrengthandcourageofmen,andthatincoldclimatestheyhaveacertainvigourofbodyandmind,whichrendersthempatientandintrepid,andqualifiesthemforarduousenterprises。Thisremarkholdsgood,notonlybetweendifferentnations,buteveninthedifferentpartsofthesamecountry。InthenorthofChina[1]peoplearemorecourageousthanthoseinthesouth;andthoseinthesouthofKorea[2]havelessbraverythanthoseinthenorth。 Weoughtnot,then,tobeastonishedthattheeffeminacyofthepeopleinhotclimateshasalmostalwaysrenderedthemslaves;andthatthebraveryofthoseincoldclimateshasenabledthemtomaintaintheirliberties。Thisisaneffectwhichspringsfromanaturalcause。 ThishasalsobeenfoundtrueinAmerica;thedespoticempiresofMexicoandPeruwereneartheLine,andalmostallthelittlefreenationswere,andarestill,nearthePoles。 3。OftheClimateofAsia。Therelationsoftravellers[3]informus\"thatthevastcontinentofthenorthofAsia,whichextendsfromfortydegreesorthereaboutstothePole,andfromthefrontiersofMuscovyeventotheeasternocean,isinanextremelycoldclimate;thatthisimmensetractoflandisdividedbyachainofmountainswhichrunfromwesttoeast,leavingSiberiaonthenorth,andGreatTartaryonthesouth;thattheclimateofSiberiaissocoldthat,exceptingafewplaces,itisunsusceptibleofcultivation;andthat,thoughtheRussianshavesettlementsallalongtheIrtis,theycultivatenothing; thatthiscountryproducesonlysomelittlefirsandshrubs;thatthenativesofthecountryaredividedintowretchedhordesortribes,likethoseofCanada;thatthereasonofthiscoldproceeds,ontheonehand,fromtheheightoftheland,andontheotherfromthemountains,which,inproportionastheyrunfromsouthtonorth,arelevelledinsuchamannerthatthenorthwindeverywhereblowswithoutopposition;thatthiswind,whichrendersNovaZembiauninhabitable,blowinginSiberiamakesitabarrenwaste;thatinEurope,onthecontrary,themountainsofNorwayandLaplandareadmirablebulwarks,whichcoverthenortherncountriesfromthewind;sothatatStockholm,whichisaboutfifty—ninedegreeslatitude,theearthproducesplants,fruits,andcorn;andthataboutAbo,whichissixty—onedegrees,andeventosixty—threeandsixty—four,thereareminesofsilver,andthelandisfruitfulenough。\" Weseealsointheserelations\"thatGreatTartary,situatedtothesouthofSiberia,isalsoexceedinglycold;thatthecountrywillnotadmitofcultivation;thatnothingcanbefoundbutpasturageforflocksandherds;thattreeswillnotgrowthere,butonlybrambles,asinIceland;thatthereare,nearChinaandIndia,somecountrieswheretheregrowsakindofmillet,butthatneithercornnorricewillripen; thatthereisscarcelyaplaceinChineseTartaryatforty—three,forty—four,andforty—fivedegreeswhereitdoesnotfreezesevenoreightmonthsintheyear,sothatitisascoldasIceland,thoughitmightbeimagined,fromitssituation,tobeashotasthesouthofFrance;thattherearenocities,exceptfourorfivetowardstheeasternocean,andsomewhichtheChinese,forpoliticalreasons,havebuiltnearChina;thatintherestofGreatTartarythereareonlyafewsituatedinBuchar,Turkestan,andCathay;thatthereasonofthisextremecoldproceedsfromthenatureofthenitrousearth,fullofsaltpetreandsand,andmoreparticularlyfromtheheightoftheland。 FatherVerbiestfoundthatacertainplace,eightyleaguesnorthofthegreatwall,towardsthesourceofKavamhuran,exceededtheheightoftheseanearPekinthreethousandgeometricalpaces;thatthisheight[4]isthecausethatthoughalmostallthegreatriversofAsiahavetheirsourceinthiscountry,thereis,however,sogreatawantofwaterthatitcanbeinhabitedonlyneartheriversandlakes。\" Thesefactsbeinglaiddown,Ireasonthus:Asiahasproperlynotemperatezone,astheplacessituatedinaverycoldclimateimmediatelytouchuponthosewhichareexceedinglyhot,thatis,Turkey,Persia,India,China,Korea,andJapan。 InEurope,onthecontrary,thetemperatezoneisveryextensive,thoughsituatedinclimateswidelydifferentfromeachother;therebeingnoaffinitybetweentheclimatesofSpainandItalyandthoseofNorwayandSweden。Butastheclimategrowsinsensiblycolduponouradvancingfromsouthtonorth,nearlyinproportiontothelatitudeofeachcountry,itthencefollowsthateachresemblesthecountryjoiningit;thatthereisnoveryextraordinarydifferencebetweenthem,andthat,asIhavejustsaid,thetemperatezoneisveryextensive。 HenceitcomesthatinAsia,thestrongnationsareopposedtotheweak; thewarlike,brave,andactivepeopletouchimmediatelyuponthosewhoareindolent,effeminate,andtimorous;theonemust,therefore,conquer,andtheotherbeconquered。InEurope,onthecontrary,strongnationsareopposedtothestrong;andthosewhojoineachotherhavenearlythesamecourage。ThisisthegrandreasonoftheweaknessofAsia,andofthestrengthofEurope;ofthelibertyofEurope,andoftheslaveryofAsia:acausethatIdonotrecollectevertohaveseenremarked。HenceitproceedsthatlibertyinAsianeverincreases;whilstinEuropeitisenlargedordiminished,accordingtoparticularcircumstances。 TheRussiannobilityhaveindeedbeenreducedtoslaverybytheambitionofoneoftheirprinces;buttheyhavealwaysdiscoveredthosemarksofimpatienceanddiscontentwhicharenevertobeseeninthesouthernclimates。Havetheynotbeenableforashorttimetoestablishanaristocraticgovernment?Anotherofthenorthernkingdomshaslostitslaws;butwemaytrusttotheclimatethattheyarenotlostinsuchamannerasnevertoberecovered。 4。TheConsequencesresultingfromthis。Whatwehavenowsaidisperfectlyconformabletohistory。Asiahasbeensubduedthirteentimes; elevenbythenorthernnations,andtwicebythoseofthesouth。IntheearlyagesitwasconqueredthreetimesbytheScythians;afterwardsitwassubduedoncebytheMedes,andoncebythePersians;againbytheGreeks,theArabs,theMoguls,theTurks,theTartars,thePersians,andtheAfghans。ImentiononlytheUpperAsia,andsaynothingoftheinvasionsmadeintherestofthesouthofthatpartoftheworldwhichhasmostfrequentlysufferedprodigiousrevolutions。 InEurope,onthecontrary,sincetheestablishmentoftheGreekandPhoeniciancolonies,weknowbutoffourgreatchanges;thefirstcausedbytheconquestoftheRomans;thesecondbytheinundationofbarbarians,whodestroyedthoseveryRomans;thethirdbythevictoriesofCharlemagne;andthelastbytheinvasionsoftheNormans。Andifthisberightlyexamined,weshallfind,eveninthesechanges,ageneralstrengthdiffusedthroughallthepartsofEurope。WeknowthedifficultywhichtheRomansmetwithinconqueringEurope,andtheeaseandfacilitywithwhichtheyinvadedAsia。WearesensibleofthedifficultiesthenorthernnationshadtoencounterinoverturningtheRomanempire;ofthewarsandlaboursofCharlemagne;andoftheseveralenterprisesoftheNormans。Thedestroyerswereincessantlydestroyed。 5。ThatwhenthePeopleintheNorthofAsiaandthoseoftheNorthofEuropemadeConquests,theEffectsoftheConquestwerenotthesame。 ThenationsinthenorthofEuropeconqueredasfreemen;thepeopleinthenorthofAsiaconqueredasslaves,andsubduedasothersonlytogratifytheambitionofamaster。 ThereasonisthatthepeopleofTartary,thenaturalconquerorsofAsia,arethemselvesenslaved。TheyareincessantlymakingconquestsinthesouthofAsia,wheretheyformempires:butthatpartofthenationwhichcontinuesinthecountryfindsthatitissubjecttoagreatmaster,who,beingdespoticinthesouth,willlikewisebesointhenorth,andexercisinganarbitrarypoweroverthevanquishedsubjects,pretendstothesameovertheconquerors。ThisisatpresentmostconspicuousinthatvastcountrycalledChineseTartary,whichisgovernedbytheemperor,withapoweralmostasdespoticasthatofChinaitself,andwhichheeverydayextendsbyhisconquests。 WemaylikewiseseeinthehistoryofChinathattheemperors[5]sentChinesecoloniesintoTartary。TheseChinesehavebecomeTartars,andthemortalenemiesofChina;butthisdoesnotpreventtheircarryingintoTartarythespiritoftheChinesegovernment。 ApartoftheTartarswhowereconquerorshaveveryoftenbeenthemselvesexpelled;whentheyhavecarriedintotheirdesertsthatservilespiritwhichtheyhadacquiredintheclimateofslavery。ThehistoryofChinafurnishesuswithstrongproofsofthisassertion,asdoesalsoourancienthistory。[6] HenceitfollowsthatthegeniusoftheGeticorTartariannationhasalwaysresembledthatoftheempiresofAsia。Thepeopleinthesearegovernedbythecudgel;theinhabitantsofTartarybywhips。ThespiritofEuropehaseverbeencontrarytothesemanners;andinallages,whatthepeopleofAsiahavecalledpunishmentthoseofEuropehavedeemedthemostoutrageousabuse。[7] TheTartarswhodestroyedtheGrecianempireestablishedintheconqueredcountriesslaveryanddespoticpower:theGoths,aftersubduingtheRomanempire,foundedmonarchyandliberty。 IdonotknowwhetherthefamousRudbeck,whoinhisAtlanticahasbestowedsuchpraisesonScandinavia,hasmadementionofthatgreatprerogativewhichoughttosetthispeopleaboveallthenationsuponearth;namely,thiscountry’shavingbeenthesourceofthelibertiesofEurope——thatis,ofalmostallthefreedomwhichatpresentsubsistsamongstmankind。 JornandestheGothcalledthenorthofEuropetheforgeofthehumanrace。Ishouldrathercallittheforgewherethoseweaponswereframedwhichbrokethechainsofsouthernnations。Inthenorthwereformedthosevaliantpeoplewhosalliedforthanddesertedtheircountriestodestroytyrantsandslaves,andtoteachmenthat,naturehavingmadethemequal,reasoncouldnotrenderthemdependent,exceptwhereitwasnecessarytotheirhappiness。 6。AnewphysicalCauseoftheSlaveryofAsia,andoftheLibertyofEurope。InAsiatheyhavealwayshadgreatempires;inEuropethesecouldneversubsist。Asiahaslargerplains;itiscutoutintomuchmoreextensivedivisionsbymountainsandseas;andasitliesmoretothesouth,itsspringsaremoreeasilydriedup;themountainsarelesscoveredwithsnow;andtherivers,beingnotsolarge,formmorecontractedbarriers。[8] PowerinAsiaought,then,tobealwaysdespotic;foriftheirslaverywasnotseveretheywouldsoonmakeadivisioninconsistentwiththenatureofthecountry。 InEuropethenaturaldivisionformsmanynationsofamoderateextent,inwhichtherulingbylawsisnotincompatiblewiththemaintenanceofthestate:onthecontrary,itissofavourabletoit,thatwithoutthisthestatewouldfallintodecay,andbecomeapreytoitsneighbours。 Itisthiswhichhasformedageniusforlibertythatrenderseverypartextremelydifficulttobesubduedandsubjectedtoaforeignpower,otherwisethanbythelawsandtheadvantageofcommerce。 Onthecontrary,therereignsinAsiaaservilespirit,whichtheyhaveneverbeenabletoshakeoff,anditisimpossibletofindinallthehistoriesofthatcountryasinglepassagewhichdiscoversafreedomofspirit;weshallneverseeanythingtherebuttheexcessofslavery。 7。OfAfricaandAmerica。ThisiswhatIhadtosayofAsiaandEurope。 AfricaisinaclimatelikethatofthesouthofAsia,andisinthesameservitude。America,[9]beinglatelydestroyedandrepeopledbythenationsofEuropeandAfrica,cannowscarcelydisplayitsgenuinespirit;butwhatweknowofitsancienthistoryisveryconformabletoourprinciples。 8。OftheCapitaloftheEmpire。Oneoftheconsequencesofwhatwehavebeenmentioningis,thatitisoftheutmostimportancetoagreatprincetomakeaproperchoiceoftheseatofhisempire。Hewhoplacesittothesouthwardwillbeindangeroflosingthenorth;buthewhofixesitonthenorthmayeasilypreservethesouth。Idonotspeakofparticularcases。Inmechanicstherearefrictionsbywhichtheeffectsofthetheoryarefrequentlychangedorretarded;andpolicyhasalsoitsfrictions。 ______ 1。FatherDuHalde,i,p。112。 2。TheChinesebooksmakementionofthis。Ibid。,iv,p。448。 3。SeeTravelstotheNorth,viii;theHistoryoftheTartars;andFatherDuHalde,iv。 4。Tartaryis,then,akindofflatmountain。 5。AsVoutyV,emperorofthefifthdynasty。 6。TheScythiansthriceconqueredAsia,andthriceweredriventhence。 Justin,ii。3。 7。ThisisinnowaycontrarytowhatIshallsayinbookxxviii。20 concerningthemannerofthinkingamongtheGermannationsinrespecttothecudgel;lettheinstrumentbewhatitwill,thepoweroractionofbeatingwasalwaysconsideredbythemasanaffront。 8。Thewaterslosethemselvesorevaporatebeforeoraftertheirstreamsareunited。 9。ThepettybarbarousnationsofAmericaarecalledbytheSpaniardsIndiosBravosandaremuchmoredifficulttosubduethanthegreatempiresofMexicoandPeru。 BookXVIII。OfLawsintheRelationTheyBeartotheNatureoftheSoil1。HowtheNatureoftheSoilhasanInfluenceontheLaws。Thegoodnessoftheland,inanycountry,naturallyestablishessubjectionanddependence。Thehusbandmen,whocomposetheprincipalpartofthepeople,arenotveryjealousoftheirliberty;theyaretoobusyandtoointentontheirownprivateaffairs。Acountrywhichoverflowswithwealthisafraidofpillage,afraidofanarmy。\"Whoistherethatformsthisgoodlyparty?\"saidCicerotoAtticus;[1]\"aretheythemenofcommerceandhusbandry?Letusnotimaginethattheseareaversetomonarchy——thesetowhomallgovernmentsareequal,assoonastheybestowtranquillity。\" Thusmonarchyismorefrequentlyfoundinfruitfulcountries,andarepublicangovernmentinthosewhicharenotso;andthisissometimesasufficientcompensationfortheinconveniencestheysufferbythesterilityoftheland。 ThebarrennessoftheAtticsoilestablishedthereademocracy;andthefertilityofthatofLaced?moniaanaristocraticconstitution。ForinthosetimesGreecewasaversetothegovernmentofasingleperson,andaristocracyborethenearestresemblancetothatgovernment。 Plutarchsays[2]thattheCilonianseditionhavingbeenappeasedatAthens,thecityfellintoitsancientdissensions,andwasdividedintoasmanypartiesastherewerekindsoflandinAttica。Themenwhoinhabitedtheeminenceswould,byallmeans,haveapopulargovernment; thoseoftheflat,opencountrydemandedagovernmentcomposedofthechiefs;andtheywhowereneartheseadesiredamixtureofboth。 2。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Thesefertileprovincesarealwaysofalevelsurface,wheretheinhabitantsareunabletodisputeagainstastrongerpower;theyarethenobligedtosubmit;andwhentheyhaveoncesubmitted,thespiritoflibertycannotreturn;thewealthofthecountryisapledgeoftheirfidelity。Butinmountainousdistricts,astheyhavebutlittle,theymaypreservewhattheyhave。Thelibertytheyenjoy,or,inotherwords,thegovernmenttheyareunder,istheonlyblessingworthyoftheirdefence。Itreigns,therefore,moreinmountainousandruggedcountriesthaninthosewhichnatureseemstohavemostfavoured。 Themountaineerspreserveamoremoderategovernment,becausetheyarenotsoliabletobeconquered。Theydefendthemselveseasily,andareattackedwithdifficulty;ammunitionandprovisionsarecollectedandcarriedagainstthemwithgreatexpense,forthecountryfurnishesnone。 Itis,then,amorearduous,amoredangerous,enterprisetomakewaragainstthem;andallthelawsthatcanbeenactedforthesafetyofthepeoplearethereofleastuse。 3。WhatCountriesarebestcultivated。Countriesarenotcultivatedinproportiontotheirfertility,buttotheirliberty;andifwemakeanimaginarydivisionoftheearth,weshallbeastonishedtoseeinmostagesdesertsinthemostfruitfulparts,andgreatnationsinthosewherenatureseemstorefuseeverything。 Itisnaturalforapeopletoleaveabadsoiltoseekabetter,andnottoleaveagoodsoiltogoinsearchofworse。Mostinvasionshave,therefore,beenmadeincountrieswhichnatureseemstohaveformedforhappiness;andasnothingismorenearlyalliedthandesolationandinvasion,thebestprovincesaremostfrequentlydepopulated,whilethefrightfulcountriesofthenorthcontinuealwaysinhabited,fromtheirbeingalmostuninhabitable。 WefindbywhathistorianstellusofthepassageofthepeopleofScandinaviaalongthebanksoftheDanubethatthiswasnotaconquest,butonlyamigrationintodesertcountries。 Thesehappyclimatesmustthereforehavebeendepopulatedbyothermigrations,thoughweknownotthetragicscenesthathappened。\"Itappearsbymanymonumentsofantiquity,\"saysAristotle,[3]\"thattheSardinianswereaGreciancolony。Theywereformerlyveryrich;andAristeus,sofamedforhisloveofagriculture,wastheirlaw—giver。Buttheyhavesincefallentodecay;fortheCarthaginians,becomingtheirmasters,destroyedeverythingpropertorthenourishmentofman,andforbadethecultivationofthelandsonpainofdeath。\"SardiniawasnotrecoveredinthetimeofAristotle,norisittothisday。 ThemosttemperatepartsofPersia,Turkey,Muscovy,andPolandhavenotbeenabletorecoverperfectlyfromthedevastationsoftheTartars。