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]