Page:Works of Heinrich Heine 07.djvu/238

218 only by the king's not governing in person is the safety of the state independent of his personality, nor is it imperilled by every kingly, great, or niggardly small passion, and thereby attains a security of which earlier state-sages had no conception. Since from Xenophon to Fénélon the education of a prince seemed to be a matter of primary importance, even great Aristotle must aim at it in his "Politics," and the greater Plato could propose nothing better than setting philosophers on the throne, or making princes into philosophers. Therefore, as the king does not himself govern, he cannot be responsible; he is inviolable, and only his Ministers can be accused, condemned, and punished for bad government. Blackstone, the commentator on the English Constitution, erred in including the irresponsibility of the king among his prerogatives. This idea flatters a king