orld, might in that have
reduced her to her principles, and yet have been so far from rendering
her immortal that, going no further, he should never have cured her. But
your commonwealth is founded upon an equal agrarian; and if the earth be
given to the sons of men, this balance is the balance of justice, such a
one as in having due regard to the different industry of different men,
yet faithfully judges the poor' And the king that faithfully judges
the poor, his throne shall be established forever;, much more the
commonwealth, seeing that equality, which is the necessary dissolution
of monarchy, is the generation, the very life and soul, of a
commonwealth. And now, if ever, I may be excusable, seeing my assertion,
that the throne of a commonwealth may be established forever, is
consonant to the holy Scriptures.

"The balance of a commonwealth that is equal is of such a nature that
whatever falls into her empire must fall equally; and if the whole
earth falls into your scales, it must fall equally, and so you may be
a greater people and yet not swerve from your principles one hair. Nay,
you will be so far from that that you must bring the world in such a
case to your balance, even to the balance of justice. But hearken, my
lords; are we on earth, do we see the sun, or are we visiting those
shady places which are feigned by the poets?

"'Continuo auditoe voces, vagitus et ingens.'

"These Gothic empires that are yet in the world, were at the first,
though they had legs of their own, but a heavy and unwieldy burden; but
their foundations being now broken, the iron of them enters even into
the souls of the oppressed; and hear the voice of their comforters:
'My father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with
scorpions.' Hearken, I say, if thy brother cries to thee in affliction,
wilt thou not hear him? This is a commonwealth of the fabric that has
an open ear and a public concern; she is not made for herself only, but
given as a magistrate of God to mankind, for the vindication of common
right and the law of nature. Wherefore says Cicero of the like, that of
the Romans, 'We have rather undertaken the patronage than the empire of
the world.' If you, not regarding this example, like some other nations
that are upon the point to smart for it, shall, having attained to your
own liberty, bear the sword of your common magistracy in vain, sit still
and fold your arms, or, which is worse, let out the blood of