Book V.
Chap. 19
II. Question.Secondly, it is questioned whether a subject should be obliged to accept of a post in the army inferior to that which he held before: Among the Romans it was usual to see a captain serve the next year under his lieutenant [1]. This is because virtue in republics requires a continual sacrifice of our persons and of our repugnances for the good of the state. But in monarchies, honor true or false will never bear with what it calls degrading itself.
In despotic governments where honor, posts and ranks are equally abused, they indiscriminately make of a prince a scullion, and of a scullion a prince.
III. Question.Thirdly it may be inquired, whether civil and military employments should be conferred on the same person? In republics, I think, they should be joined, but in monarchies separated. In republics it would be extremely dangerous to make the profession of arms a particular state, distinct from that of civil functions; and in monarchies no less dangerous would it be to confer these two employments on the same person.
In republics a person takes up arms only with a view to defend his country and its laws; it is because he is a citizen he makes himself for a while a soldier. Were these two distinct states, the person who under arms thinks himself a citizen, would soon be made sensible he is only a soldier.
In monarchies they whose condition engages them in the profession of arms, have nothing but glory, or
- ↑ Some centurions having appealed to the people for the employments which they had before enjoyed, it is just, my comrades, said a centurion, that you should look upon every post as honorable in which you have an opportunity of defending the republic. Liv. Dec. 5. lib. 42.
