Page:A Vindication of Natural Society - Burke (1756).djvu/65

 were suffered to be of little Service either to their Possessors or to the State. Some they banished, others they imprisoned, and all they treated with various Circumstances of the most shameful Ingratitude. Republicks have many things in the Spirit of absolute Monarchy, but none more than this; a shining Merit is ever hated or suspected in a Popular Assembly, as well as in a Court; and all Services done the State, are looked upon as dangerous to the Rulers, whether Sultans or Senators. The Ostracism at Athens was built upon this Principle. The giddy People whom we have now under Consideration, being elated with some Flashes of Success, which they owed to nothing less than any Merit of their own, began to tyrannize over their Equals, who had associated with them for their common Defence. With their Prudence they renounced all Appearance of Justice. They entered into Wars rashly and wantonly. If they were unsuccessful, instead of growing wiser by their