Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (4th ed, 1770, vol IV).djvu/31

Ch. 1. offenders. The injured, through compaion, will often forbear to proecute : juries, through compaion, will ometimes forget their oaths, and either acquit the guilty or mitigate the nature of the offence : and judges, through compaion, will repite one half of the convicts, and recommend them to the royal mercy. Among o many chances of ecaping, the needy and hardened offender overlooks the multitude that uffer ; he boldly engages in ome deperate attempt, to relieve his wants or upply his vices ; and, if unexpectedly the hand of jutice overtakes him, he deems himelf peculiarly unfortunate, in falling at lat a acrifice to thoe laws, which long impunity has taught him to contemn.