Pagina 495 van 734

Well, these are generally the changes to which the various

Constitutions are liable, being the least in degree and the

easiest to make.

Likenesses, and, as it were, models of them, one may find even in

Domestic life: for instance, the Communion between a Father and

his Sons presents the figure of Kingship, because the children

are the Father's care: and hence Homer names Jupiter Father

because Kingship is intended to be a paternal rule. Among the

Persians, however, the Father's rule is Despotic, for they treat

their Sons as slaves. (The relation of Master to Slaves is of the

nature of Despotism because the point regarded herein is the

Master's interest): this now strikes me to be as it ought, but

the Persian custom to be mistaken; because for different persons

there should be different rules.