"Fourthly, therefore, to come to my next assertion, that it
is destructive to families: this also is so apparent, that it
needs pity rather than proof. Why alas, do you bind a nobility
(which no generation shall deny to have been the first that
freely sacrificed their blood to the ancient liberties of this
people) on an unholy altar? Why are the people taught that their
liberty, which, except our noble ancestors had been born, must
have long since been buried, cannot now be born except we be
buried? A commonwealth should have the innocence of the dove. Let
us leave this purchase of her birth to the serpent, which eats
itself out of the womb of its mother.

"Fifthly but it may be said, perhaps, that we are fallen from
our first love, become proud and idle. It is certain, my lords,
that the hand of God is not upon us for nothing. But take heed
how you admit of such assaults and sallies upon men's estates, as
may slacken the nerve of labor, and give others also reason to
believe that their sweat is vain; or else, whatsoever be
pretended, your agrarian (which is my fifth assertion) must
indeed destroy industry. For, that so it did in Lacedaemon is
most apparent, as also that it could do no otherwise, where every
man having his forty quarters of barley, with wine
proportionable, supplied him out of his own lot by his laborer or
helot; and being confined in that to the scantling above which he
might not live, there was not any such thing as a trade, or other
art, except that of war, in exercise. Wherefore a Spartan, if he
were not in arms, must sit and play with his Angers, whence
ensued perpetual war, and, the estate of the city being as little
capable of increase as that of the citizens, her inevitable ruin.