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prejudice。
The pleasant dialogue betwixt Plato's legislator and his citizens will be
an ornament to this place； 〃What；〃 said they； feeling themselves about to
die； 〃may we not dispose of our own to whom we please？ God！ what
cruelty that it shall not be lawful for us； according as we have been
served and attended in our sickness； in our old age； in our affairs； to
give more or less to those whom we have found most diligent about us； at
our own fancy and discretion！〃 To which the legislator answers thus：
〃My friends； who are now； without question； very soon to die； it is hard
for you in the condition you are； either to know yourselves； or what is
yours； according to the delphic inscription。 I； who make the laws； am of
opinion； that you neither are yourselves your own； nor is that yours of
which you are possessed。 Both your goods and you belong to your
families； as well those past as those to come； but； further； both your
family and goods much more appertain to the public。 Wherefore； lest any
flatterer in your old age or in your sickness； or any passion of your
own； should unseasonably prevail with you to make an unjust will； I shall
take care to prevent that inconvenience； but； having respect both to the
universal interests of the city and that of your particular family； I
shall establish laws； and make it by good reasons appear； that private
convenience ought to give place to the common benefit。 Go then
cheerfully where human necessity calls you。 It is for me； who regard no
more the one thing than the other； and who； as much as in me lies； am
provident of the public interest； to have a care as to what you leave
behind you。〃
To return to my subject： it appears to me that women are very rarely
born； to whom the prerogative over men； the maternal and natural
excepted； is in any sort due； unless it be for the punishment of such；
as in some amorous fever have voluntarily submitted themselves to them：
but that in no way concerns the old ones； of whom we are now speaking。
This consideration it is which has made us so willingly to enact and give
force to that law； which was never yet seen by any one； by which women
are excluded the succession to our crown： and there is hardly a
government in the world where it is not pleaded； as it is here； by the
probability of reason that authorises it； though fortune has given it
more credit in some places than in others。 'Tis dangerous to leave the
disposal of our succession to their judgment； according to the choice
they shall make of children； which is often fantastic and unjust； for the
irregular appetites and depraved tastes they have during the time of
their being with child； they have at all other times in the mind。 We
commonly see them fond of the most weak； ricketty； and deformed children；
or of those； if they have such； as are still hanging at the breast。 For；
not having sufficient force of reason to choose and embrace that which is
most worthy； they the more willingly suffer themselves to be carried
away； where the impressions of nature are most alone； like animals that
know their young no longer than they give them suck。 As to the rest； it
is easy by experience to be discerned that this natural affection to
which we give so great authority has but very weak roots。 For a very
little profit； we every day tear their own children out of the mothers'
arms； and make them take ours in their room： we make them abandon their
own to some pitiful nurse； to whom we disdain to commit ours； or to some
she…goat； forbidding them； not only to give them suck； what danger soever
they run thereby； but； moreover； to take any manner of care of them； that
they may wholly be occupied with the care of and attendance upon ours；
and we see in most of them an adulterate affection； more vehement than
the natural； begotten by custom toward the foster children； and a greater
solicitude for the preservation of those they have taken charge of； than
of their own。 And that which I was saying of goats was upon this
account； that it is ordinary all about where I live； to see the
countrywomen； when they want milk of their own for their children； to
call goats to their assistance； and I have at this hour two men…servants
that never sucked women's milk more than eight days after they were born。
These goats are immediately taught to come to suckle the little children；
know their voices when they cry； and come running to them。 If any other
than this foster…child be presented to them； they refuse to let it suck；
and the child in like manner will refuse to suck another goat。 I saw one
the other day from whom they had taken away the goat that used to nourish
it； by reason the father had only borrowed it of a neighbour； the child
would not touch any other they could bring； and died； doubtless of
hunger。 Beasts as easily alter and corrupt their natural affection as
we： I believe that in what Herodotus relates of a certain district of
Lybia； there are many mistakes； he says that the women are there in
common； but that the child； so soon as it can go； finds him out in the
crowd for his father； to whom he is first led by his natural inclination。
Now； to consider this simple reason for loving our children； that we have
begot them； therefore calling them our second selves； it appears；
methinks； that there is another kind of production proceeding from us；
that is of no less recommendation： for that which we engender by the
soul； the issue of our understanding； courage； and abilities； springs
from nobler parts than those of the body； and that are much more our own：
we are both father and mother in this generation。 These cost us a great
deal more and bring us more honour； if they have anything of good in
them。 For the value of our other children is much more theirs than ours；
the share we have in them is very little； but of these all the beauty；
all the grace and value； are ours； and also they more vividly represent
us than the others。 Plato adds； that these are immortal children that
immortalise and deify their fathers； as Lycurgus； Solon； Minos。 Now；
histories being full of examples of the common affection of fathers to
their children； it seems not altogether improper to introduce some few of
this other kind。 Heliodorus； that good bishop of Trikka； rather chose to
lose the dignity； profit； and devotion of so venerable a prelacy； than to
lose his daughter； a daughter that continues to this day very graceful
and comely； but； peradventure； a little too curiously and wantonly
tricked； and too amorous for an ecclesiastical and sacerdotal daughter。
There was one Labienus at Rome； a man of great worth and authority； and
amongst other qualities excellent in all sorts of literature； who was； as
I take it； the son of that great Labienus； the chief of Caesar's captains
in the wars of Gaul； and who； afterwards； siding with Pompey the great；
so valiantly maintained his cause； till he was by Caesar defeated in
Spain。 This Labienus； of whom I am now speaking； had several enemies；
envious of his good qualities； and； tis likely； the courtiers and minions
of the emperors of his time who were very angry at his freedom and the
paternal humour which he yet retained against tyranny； with which it is
to be supposed he had tinctured his books and writings。 His adversaries
prosecuted several pieces he had published before the magistrates at
Rome； and prevailed so far against him； as to have them condemned to the
fire。 It was in him that this new example of punishment was begun； which
was afterwards continued against others at Rome； to punish even writing
and studies with death。 There would not be means and matter enough of
cruelty； did we not mix with them things that nature has exempted from
all sense and suffering； as reputation and the products of the mind； and
did we not communicate corporal punishments to the teachings and
monuments of the Muses。 Now； Labienus could not suffer this loss； nor
survive these his so dear issue； and therefore caused himself to be
conveyed and shut up alive in the monument of his ancestors； where he
made shift to kill and bury himself at once。 'Tis hard to shew a more
vehement paternal affection than this。 Cassius Severus； a man of great
eloquence and his very intimate friend； seeing his books burned； cried
out that by the same sentence they should as well condemn him to the fire
too； seeing that he carried in his memory all that they contained。 The
like accident befel Cremutius Cordus； who being accused of having in his
books commended Brutus and Cassius； that dirty； servile； and corrupt
Senate； worthy a worse master than Tiberius； condemned his writings to
the flame。 He was willing to bear them company； and killed himself with
fasting。 The good Lucan； being condemned by that rascal Nero； at the
last gasp of his life； when the greater part of his blood was already
spent through the veins of his arms； which he had caused his physician to
open to make him die； and when the cold had seized upon all his
extremities； and began to approach his vital parts； the last thing he had
in his memory was some of the verses of his Battle of Phaysalia； which he
recited； dying with them in his