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

—ON MERCY, I. x^^ 4-.v^i. 1what was brought up in accusation against himCaesar requested each man to give his verdict in^\Titing, lest all should vote according to his lead.Then, before the tablets were opened, he solemnlydeclaredthat he would accept no bequest fromTarius, who was a rich man. Some will say, " Heshowed weakness in fearing that he might seem tobe trying to clear the field for his ovm prospects bysentencing the son." I think differently ; any oneof us might well have had enough faith in his owngood conscience to \\ithstand hostile criticism, butprinces are bound to give much heed even to report.He solemnly declared that he would not accept abequest. Tarius did indeed on one and the same daylose a second heir " also, but Caesar saved the integrityof his vote ; and after he had proved that his severitywas disinterested—for a prince should always haveregard for this—he said that the son ought to bebanished to whatever place the father should decide.His sentence was not the sack,^ nor serpents, norprison, since his thought was not of the man on whomhe was passing sentence, but of him for whom heMas acting as counsellor. He said that the mildestsort of punishment ought to satisfy a father in thecase of a son who was verj- youthful and had beenmoved to commit this crime, but in committing ithad shown himself faint-hearted—which was nextdoor to being innocent ; therefore the son should bebanished from the city and from his father's sight.How worthy he was of being asked by parents toshare their counsels ! how worthy of being recordeda co-heir with the children who were innocent ! Thisis the spirit of mercy that graces the prince ; whereverhe goes he should make everything more peaceable.403