Moral essays. With an English translation by J.W. Basore

:ON MERCY, I. XII. 4-xiii. 2because he is hated, and not kno^ving what frenzyis engendered when hatred grows too great, he takesas a motto that accursed verse which has driven manyto their fallLet them hate, if only they fear."Now fear inmoderation restrains men's passions,but the fear that is constant and sharp and bringsdesperation arouses the sluggish to boldness, andurges them to stop at nothing. In the same way, astring of feathers may keep ^\^ld beasts hemmed in,but let a horseman come upon them from behind withjavelins, and they ^vill try to escape through the veryobjects that had made them run, and aWII trampledo^^^l their fear. No courage is so bold as thatforced by utter desperation. Fear should leave somesense of security, and hold out much more of hope thanof peril; otherwise, if an inoffensive man is made to fearthe same peril as others, he takes pleasure in rushinginto peril and making an end of a hfe that is forfeit.A king that is peaceable and gentle finds his guardstrusty, since he employs them for the common safety,and the soldier, seeing that he is gi\ing liis servicefor the security of the state, is proud and wilhng toundergo any hardship as a protector of the father ofhis countr)' ; but he that is harsh and bloodthirstyinevitably gets the ill-will of his own henchmen. Itis impossible for any one to hold the good-will andloyalty of servitors whom he uses, like the rack andthe axe, as instruments of torture and death, to whomhe flings men as he would to wild beasts ; no prisonerat the bar is so troubled and anxious as he, seeingthat he is in fear of men and gods, the witnesses andthe avengers of crimes, yet has reached a point where395*"