Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1798 edition. Excerpt: ...country. Apprehensive of the consequences, and trusting to his skill in arms, he marches to action; his conduct there is perfectly consistent; he saved himself the part of the engagement, and at last more fortunate than brave, he effected by his cunning what the valour of his brothers could not accomplish. This was the spring of his conduct, this the source of his glory! Upon what plea then could he lay claim to an indulgence of his crime, to the gratitude of his country, or to the admiration of posterity? But allow him for a moment to-possess that merit, and to wear those laurels, to which he is not entitled, yet still it appears that the murder of his sister was a crime of such unnatural barbarity, as ought to have been punished with death. No merit surely can exempt a man from obedience to the primary laws of nature, on the strict observance servance of which, good government and human happiness depend. The first law of nature, and first end of government, Is the safety and security of life; and if the violation of the law is allowed to pass with impunity, or if former merit be able to screen the criminal from punishment, the consequences must be alarming. But the case of Horatius will be deemed extremely singular:--let it be asked, were th,e services of Horatius just sufficient to place him above the sanction of the law? And could not services somewhat less entitle another to the same indulgence? Did his merit precisely entitle him to commit an act of murder? And might not the same merit also have warranted a repetition of the same crime. Thus others inferior to Horatius, might have embrued their hands in human blood, and defended themselves from justice upon the same principles, and Horatius himself might have continued to perpetrate...
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