of the most wicked and incorrigible rascals he could pick out, and put them all together into a city he had caused to be built for that purpose, which bore their name:  I believe that they, even from vices themselves, erected a government amongst them, and a commodious and just society.  I see, not one action, or three, or a hundred, but manners, in common and received use, so ferocious, especially in inhumanity and treachery, which are to me the worst of all vices, that I have not the heart to think of them without horror; and almost as much admire as I detest them:  the exercise of these signal villainies carries with it as great signs of vigour and force of soul, as of error and disorder.  Necessity reconciles and brings men together; and this accidental connection afterwards forms itself into laws:  for there have been such, as savage as any human opinion could conceive, who, nevertheless, have maintained their body with as much health and length of life as any Plato or Aristotle could invent.  And certainly, all these descriptions of polities, feigned by art, are found to be ridiculous and unfit to be put in practice.

These great and tedious debates about the best form of society, and the most commodious rules to bind us, are debates only proper for the exercise of our wits; as in the arts there are several subjects which have their being in agitation and controversy, and have no life but there.  Such an idea of government might be of some value in a new world; but we take a world already made, and formed to certain customs; we do not beget it, as Pyrrha or Cadmus did.  By what means soever we may have the privilege to redress and reform it anew, we can hardly writhe it from its wonted bent, but we shall break all.  Solon being asked whether he had established the best laws he could for the Athenians; “Yes,” said he, “of those they would have received.”  Varro excuses himself after the same manner:  “that if he were to begin to write of religion, he would say what he believed; but seeing it was already received, he would write rather according to use than nature.”

Not according to opinion, but in truth and reality, the best and most excellent government for every nation is that under which it is maintained:  its form and essential convenience depend upon custom.  We are apt to be displeased at the present condition; but I, nevertheless, maintain that to desire command in a few—­[an oligarchy.]—­ in a republic, or another sort of government in monarchy than that already established, is both vice and folly: 

              “Ayme l’estat, tel que to le veois estre
               S’il est royal ayme la royaute;
               S’il est de peu, ou biers communaute,
               Ayme l’aussi; car Dieu t’y a faict naistre.”

["Love the government, such as you see it to be.  If it be royal,
love royalty; if it is a republic of any sort, still love it; for
God himself created thee therein.”]