Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/132

80  power is thereby enabled to act with greater expedition. But as this expedition may degenerate into rapidity, the laws should use some contrivance to slacken it. They ought not only to favour the nature of each constitution, but likewise to remedy the abuses that might result from this very nature.

Cardinal Richelieu advises monarchs to permit no such thing as societies or communities that raise difficulties upon every trifle. If this man's heart had not been bewitched with the love of despotic power, still these arbitrary notions would have filled his head.

The bodies intruded with the depositum of the laws, are never more obedient than when they proceed slowly, and use that reflection in the prince's affairs which can scarcely be expected from the ignorance of the laws which prevails in a court, or from the precipitation of its councils.

What would have become of the finest monarchy in the world, if the magistrates, by their delays, by their complaints, by their prayers, had not stopped the rapidity even of their princes virtues, when these monarchs consulting only the generous impulse of great minds, wanted to give a boundless reward to services performed with a boundless courage and fidelity?

ONARCHY has a great advantage over a despotic government. As it Rh