按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
33。 Prope soli Barbarorum singulis uxoribus contenti stint。 De Moribus Germanorum； 18。
34。 Exceptis admodum paucis qui non libidine； sed ob nobilitatem； plurimis nuptiis ambiuntur。 Ibid。
35。 See Fredegarius； Chronicle of the year 628。
36。 Severa matrimonia 。 。 。 nemo illic vitia ridet； nec corrumpere et corrumpi s？culum vocatur。 De Moribus Germanorum； 19。
37。 Paucissima in tam numerosa gente adulteria。 Ibid。
38。 Nihil neque public？ neque privat？ rei nisi armati agunt。 Ibid。； 13。
39。 Si displicuit sententia； fremitu aspernantur； sin placuit； frameas concutiunt。 Ibid。； 11。
40。 Sed arma sumere non ante cuiquam moris； quam civitas suffecturum probaverit。 Ibid。； 13。
41。 Tum in ipso concilia vel principum aliquis； vel pater； vel propinquus； scuto； frameaque juvenem ornant。
42。 H？c apud illos toga； hic primus juvent？ honos； ante hoc domni pars videntur； mox reipublic？。
43。 Theodoric in Cassiodorus； i。 38。
44。 He was scarcely five years old； says Gregory of Tours； v。 1； when he succeeded to his father； in the year 575。 Gontram declared him of age in the year 585； he was； therefore； at that time no more than fifteen。
45。 Tit。 81。
46。 Tit。 87。
47。 There was no change in the time with regard to the common people。
48。 St。 Louis was not of age till twenty…one； this was altered by an edict of Charles V in the year 1374。
49。 It appears from Gregory of Tours； iii； that she chose two natives of Burgundy； which had been conquered by Clodomir； to raise them to the see of Tours； which also belonged to Clodomir。
50。 Ibid。； v。 1： Vix lustro ？tatis uno jam peracto qui die Dominic？ Natalis regnare coepit。
51。 See Ibid。； vii。 23。
52。 In Cassiodorus； iv。 2。
53。 Gregory of Tours； ii。
54。 Ibid。
55。 Nec Regibus libera aut infinita potestas。 C？terum neque animadvertere； neque vincire； neque verberare； &c。 De Moribus Germanorum； 7。
56。 In pace nullus est communis magistratus； sed principes regionum atque pagorum inter suos jus dicunt。 De Bello Gall。； vi。 22。
57。 Book ii。
58。 De minoribus principes consultant； de majoribus omnes； ita tamen ut ea quorum penes plebem arbitrium est； apud principes pertractentur。 De Moribus Germanorum； 11。
59。 Lex consensu Populi fit et constitutione Regis。 Capitularies of Charles the Bald； year 864； art。 6。
60。 Licet apud Concilium accusare et discrimen capitis intendere。 De Moribus Germanorum； 12。
61。 Silentium per sacerdotes； quibus et coercendi jus est； imperatur。 Ibid。； 11。
62。 Nec Regibus libera aut infinita potestas。 C？terum neque animadvertere； neque vincire； neque verberare； nisi sacerdotibus est permissum； non quasi in poenam； nec Ducis jussu； sed velut Deo imperante； quem adesse； bellatoribus credunt。 Ibid。； 7。
63。 See the Constitutions of Clotarius； year 560； art。 6。
Book XIX。 Of Laws in Relation to the Principles Which Form the General Spirit； Morals； and Customs of a Nation
1。 Of the Subject of this Book。 This subject is very extensive。 In that crowd of ideas which presents itself to my mind； I shall be more attentive to the order of things than to the things themselves。 I shall be obliged to wander to the right and to the left； that I may investigate and discover the truth。
2。 That it is necessary People's Minds should be prepared for the Reception of the best Laws。 Nothing could appear more insupportable to the Germans than the tribunal of Varus。＇1＇ That which Justinian＇2＇ erected amongst the Lazi； to proceed against the murderers of their king； appeared to them as an affair most horrid and barbarous。 Mithridates；＇3＇ haranguing against the Romans； reproached them more particularly for their law proceedings。＇4＇ The Parthians could not bear with one of their kings who； having been educated at Rome； rendered himself affable and easy of access to all。＇5＇ Liberty itself has appeared intolerable to those nations who have not been accustomed to enjoy it。 Thus pure air is sometimes disagreeable to such as have lived in a fenny country。
Baibi； a Venetian； being at Pegu； was introduced to the king。＇6＇ When the monarch was informed that they had no king at Venice； he burst into such a fit of laughter that he was seized with a cough； and with difficulty could speak to his courtiers。 What legislator could propose a popular government to a people like this？
3。 Of Tyranny。 There are two sorts of tyranny： one real； which arises from oppression； the other is seated in opinion； and is sure to be felt whenever those who govern establish things shocking to the existing ideas of a nation。
Dio＇7＇ tells us that Augustus was desirous of being called Romulus； but having been informed that the people feared that he would cause himself to be crowned king； he changed his design。 The old Romans were averse to a king； because they could not suffer any man to enjoy such power； these would not have a king； because they could not bear his manners。 For though C？sar； the Triumvirs； and Augustus were really invested with regal power； they had preserved all the outward appearance of equality； while their private lives were a kind of contrast to the pomp and luxury of foreign monarchs； so that when the Romans were resolved to have no king； this only signified that they would preserve their customs； and not imitate those of the African and eastern nations。
The same writer informs us that the Romans were exasperated against Augustus for making certain laws which were too severe； but as soon as he had recalled Pylades the comedian； whom the jarring of different factions had driven out of the city； the discontent ceased。 A people of this stamp have a more lively sense of tyranny when a player is banished than when they are deprived of their laws。
4。 Of the general Spirit of Mankind。 Mankind are influenced by various causes： by the climate； by the religion； by the laws； by the maxims of government； by precedents； morals； and customs； whence is formed a general spirit of nations。
In proportion as； in every country； any one of these causes acts with more force； the others in the same degree are weakened。 Nature and the climate rule almost alone over the savages； customs govern the Chinese； the laws tyrannise in Japan； morals had formerly all their influence at Sparta； maxims of government； and the ancient simplicity of manners； once prevailed at Rome。
5。 How far we should be attentive lest the general Spirit of a Nation be changed。 Should there happen to be a country whose inhabitants were of a social temper； open…hearted； cheerful； endowed with taste and a facility in communicating their thoughts； who were sprightly and agreeable； sometimes imprudent； often indiscreet； and besides had courage； generosity； frankness； and a certain notion of honour； no one ought to endeavour to restrain their manners by laws； unless he would lay a constraint on their virtues。 If in general the character be good； the little foibles that may be found in it are of small importance。
They might lay a restraint upon women； enact laws to reform their manners and to reduce their luxury； but who knows but that by these means they might lose that peculiar taste which would be the source of the wealth of the nation； and that politeness which would