Page:An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals - Hume (1751).djvu/244

 Character, which might not be found in the Man of highest Merit at Athens, without diminishing, in the least, from the Brightness of his Character. The Greek Love, their Marriages, and the exposing of their Children cannot but strike you immediately. The Death of Usbek is an exact Counter-part to that of Caesar.

to a Trifle, say'd I, interrupting him; you did not mention, that Usbek was an Usurper.

not, reply'd he; lest you should discover the Parallel I aim'd at. But even adding this Circumstance, we should make no Scruple, according to our Sentiments of Morals, to denomitate Brutus, and Cassius, ungrateful Traitors and Assassins: Tho' you know, that they are, perhaps, the highest Characters of all Antiquity; and the Athenians erected Statues to them; which they plac'd near those of Harmodius and Aristogiton, their own Deliverers. And if you think this Circumstance, you mention, so material to absolve these Patriots, I shall compensate it by another, not mention'd, which will equally aggravate their Crime. A few Days before the Execution