282 ADVil27CEMENT OP LEAKNINO. [BOOK VIL 



as we may observe in the cruel conduct of Lucius Brutus to 

 his own sons, whicTi by the generality was extolited to the 

 skies ; yet another said, 



*' Infelix, utcunque ferent ea facta ininores.**P 

 So in the discourse betwixt Brutus, Cassius, and others, as 

 to the conspiracy against Cassar, the question Avas artfully 

 introduced whether it were lawful to kill a tyrant ji the 

 company divided in their opinions about it, some saying it 

 was lawful, and that slavery was the greatest of evils ; others 

 denying it, and asserting tyranny to be less destructive than 

 civil war; whilst a third kind, as if followers of Epicurus, 

 made it an unworthy thing that wise men should endanger 

 themselves for fools. But the cases of comparative duties 

 are numerous, among which this question frequently occurs, 

 whether justice may be strained for the safety of one's coun- 

 try, or the like considerable good in future 1 as to which 

 Jason the Thessalian used to say, Some things must be done 

 unjustly, that many more may be done justly. But the 

 answer is ready, — Present justice is in our power, but of 

 future justice we have no security : let men pursue those 

 things which are good and just at present, and leave futurity 

 to Divine providence.'^ And thus much for the doctrine of 

 the image of good.* 



CHAPTER III. 



Tlie Culture of the Mind divided into the Knowledge of Cliatacterlstic 

 Differences of Affections, of Remedies and Cures. Appendix relating 

 to the Harmony between the Pleasures of the Mind and the Body. 



We next proceed to the cultivation of the mind, without 

 which the preceding part of morality is no more than an 



p Y'lTg. JEn. vi. 823. i Plut. Life Brut. 



' Plutarch, Moral. Prsec. Gerend. Reip. i. 24. 



■ Such was the pretext of Titus Quintius Plaminius, who, per 

 cciving that the Achsean league, by which all the Grecian states wei-c 

 associated in one grand confederation, imposed the principal obstacle to 

 the arms of Rome, deceitfully alleged that his sole design was to free 

 each individual state from the thraldom of one dominant power, ano 

 leave it to the action of its own laws. The sequel showed, however, that 

 his policy was only an 'exemplification of the old fable, for the untying 

 the bundle was immediately followed by flje subjugation qI each 

 commwiity. M7 



