Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/402

350

ENITY and humane treatment may prevent the dangers to be apprehended from the multitude of slaves in a moderate government. Men grow reconciled to every thing, and even to servitude, if not aggravated by the severity of the master. The Athenians treated their slaves with great lenity; and this secured that state from the commotions raised by the slaves among the austere Lacedæmonians.

It does not appear that the primitive Romans met with any trouble from their slaves. Those civil wars, which have been compared to the Punic wars, were the consequences of their having divested themselves of all humanity towards their slaves.

A frugal and laborious people generally use their slaves more kindly, than those who are above labour. The primitive Romans lived, worked, and eat with their slaves; they behaved towards them with great justice and humanity. The greatest punishment they made them suffer, was to make them pass before their neighbours with a forked piece of wood on their backs. Their manners were sufficient to secure the fidelity of their slaves; there was no necessity for laws.

But when the Romans aggrandized themselves; when their slaves were no longer the companions of their labour, but the instruments of their luxury and pride; as they then wanted morals, they had Rh