In English thus:
§. 233. "But if any one should ask: Must the people, then, always lay
themselves open to the cruelty and rage of tyranny — must they see their
cities pillaged and laid in ashes, their wives and children exposed to the
tyrant's lust and fury, and themselves and families reduced by their king to
ruin and all the miseries of want and oppression, and yet sit still — must
men alone be debarred the common privilege of opposing force with force, which
Nature allows so freely to all other creatures for their preservation from
injury? I answer: Self-defence is a part of the law of Nature; nor can it be
denied the community, even against the king himself; but to revenge themselves
upon him must, by no means, be allowed them, it being not agreeable to that
law. Wherefore, if the king shall show an hatred, not only to some particular
persons, but sets himself against the body of the commonwealth, whereof he is
the head, and shall, with intolerable ill-usage, cruelly tyrannise over the
whole, or a considerable part of the people; in this case the people have a
right to resist and defend themselves from injury; but it must be with this
caution, that they only defend themselves, but do not attack their prince. They
may repair the damages received, but must not, for any provocation, exceed the
bounds of due reverence and respect. They may repulse the present attempt, but
must not revenge past violences. For it is natural for us to defend life and
limb, but that an inferior should punish a superior is against nature. The
mischief which is designed them the people may prevent before it be done, but,
when it is done, they must not revenge it on the king, though author of the
villany. This, therefore, is the privilege of the people in general above what
any private person hath: That particular men are allowed, by our adversaries
themselves (Buchanan only excepted), to have no other remedy but patience; but
the body of the people may, with respect, resist intolerable tyranny, for when
it is but moderate they ought to endure it."
