y for what has been done during the last few days, and the
other, to live in greater comfort and security for the time to come. We
must, therefore, I think, in order to be pardoned for our faults, commit
new ones; redoubling the mischief, and multiplying fires and robberies;
and in doing this, endeavor to have as many companions as we can; for
when many are in fault, few are punished; small crimes are chastised,
but great and serious ones rewarded. When many suffer, few seek
vengeance; for general evils are endured more patiently than private
ones. To increase the number of misdeeds will, therefore, make
forgiveness more easily attainable, and will open the way to secure what
we require for our own liberty. And it appears evident that the gain is
certain; for our opponents are disunited and rich; their disunion will
give us the victory, and their riches, when they have become ours, will
support us. Be not deceived about that antiquity of blood by which they
exalt themselves above us; for all men having had one common origin, are
all equally ancient, and nature has made us all after one fashion. Strip
us naked, and we shall all be found alike. Dress us in their clothing,
and they in ours, we shall appear noble, they ignoble--for poverty and
riches make all the difference. It grieves me much to think that some
of you are sorry inwardly for what is done, and resolve to abstain from
anything more of the kind. Certainly, if it be so, you are not the men
I took you for; because neither shame nor conscience ought to have
any influence with you. Conquerors, by what means soever, are never
considered aught but glorious. We have no business to think
about conscience; for when, like us, men have to fear hunger, and
imprisonment, or death, the fear of hell neither can nor ought to have
any influence upon them. If you only notice human proceedings, you may
observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of
either force or fraud; and what they have acquired either by deceit or
violence, in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment,
they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains. Those
who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are
always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty; for faithful servants are
always servants, and honest men are always poor; nor do any ever escape
from servitude but the bold and faithless, or from poverty, but the
rapacious and fraudulent. God and n