Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/87

Rh in his political testament seems to hint that a prince should take care not to employ him. So true is it that virtue is not the spring of this government!

UT it is high time for me to have done with this subject, lest I should be suspected of writing a satire against monarchical government. Far be it from me; if monarchy wants one spring, it is provided with another. Honor, that is, the prejudice of every person and rank, supplieth the place of virtue, and is every where her representative: here it is capable of inspiring the most glorious actions, and joined with the force of laws may lead us to the end of government as well as virtue itself.

Hence in well regulated monarchies, they are almost all good subjects, and very few good men, for to be a good man, a good intention is necessary.

Monarchical government supposeth, as we have already observed, pre-eminences, and Rh