19.2. 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?
Footnotes
[1]
They cut out the tongues of the advocates, and cried, "Viper,
don't hiss." — Tacitus.
[4]
"Calumnias litium" -- Ibid.
[5]
"Prompti aditus, nova comitas, ignotæ Parthis virtutes, nova vitia." Tacitus.
[6]
He has described this interview, which happened in 1596, in the
Collection of Voyages that Contributed to the Establishment of the East
India Company, iii, part I, p. 33.
