Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/13

 Rh ''Religion. And which is still more commendable, he practis'd his Maxims upon himself, and made his Life a Transcript of his Doctrin. He was so great a lover of Truth and clear Dealing, that he would rather have lost his Empire than strain'd a'' Principle. Indeed, Falshood and Legerdemain sink the Character of a Prince, and make him look like a Royal Jugler: Publick Character, and Common Good, as they call it, are no sufficient Defence in such Cases. Sixtus the Fifth, who must be allow'd a great Man, us'd to say, That 'twas short Thinking which made Conscience Impracticable, and Politicks fall foul upon Morals: That if Statesmen were well Qualified, and worked their Heads, there would be no Occasion for Latitude, ''and Insincerity. Reason without doubt, well manag'd, would fence against Inconvenience much better than Craft: In earnest, 'twould be a very hard Case, and a great Reflection upon Providence, if Men could not be happy without breaking their Faith, and blemishing their Honour. However, to say nothing more, some People are too Lazy to be Honest. But this Custom apart, there's no Necessity to make Reasons of State, incompatible with the Laws of justice; our Emperour is a noble Instance to the contrary. For never were the Functions of Peace and War better perform'd, the Subject more Easy, and the Empire more Flourishing '' Rh