Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/261

Rh An empire cultivated by the most industrious nation in the world, that tilled the lands through a principle of religion, an empire abounding with every conveniency of life, furnished the enemy with all necessary means of subsisting.

It was easy to judge by the pride of those kings, who in vain were mortified by their numerous defeats, that they would precipitate their ruin by being so forward to venture battles; and to imagine that flattery would never permit them to doubt of their grandeur.

The project was not only wise, but wisely executed. Alexander in the rapidity of his conquests, even in the fire of his passions, had, if I may presume to use the expression, a slash of reason by which he was directed, and which those who wanted to make a romance of his history, and whose minds were more debauched than his, could not conceal from posterity.

HEN a monarch has conquered a large country, he may make use of an admirable method, equally proper for moderating despotic power, and for preserving the conquest; it is a method practiced by the emperors of China.

In order to prevent the conquered nation from falling into despair, the conquerors from growing insolent and proud, the government from becoming military, and to contain the two nations within duty; the Tartar family now on the throne of China, has ordained that every military corps in the Rh