make the land to feed her gulf. For the colonies in the Indies,
they are yet babes that cannot live without sucking the breasts
of their mother cities, but such as I mistake if when they come
of age they do not wean themselves; which causes me to wonder at
princes that delight to be exhausted in that way. And so much for
the principles of power, whether national or provincial, domestic
or foreign; being such as are external, and founded in the goods
of fortune.

I come to the principles of authority, which are internal,
and founded upon the goods of the mind. These the legislator that
can unite in his government with those of fortune, comes nearest
to the work of God, whose government consists of heaven and
earth; which was said by Plato, though in different words, as,
when princes should be philosophers, or philosophers princes, the
world would be happy. And says Solomon: "There is an evil which I
have seen under the sun, which proceeds from the ruler (enimvero
neque nobilem, neque ingenuum, nec libertinum quidem armis
praeponere, regia utilitas est). Folly is set in great dignity,
and the rich (either in virtue and wisdom, in the goods of the
mind, or those of fortune upon that balance which gives them a
sense of the national interest) sit in low places. I have seen
servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the
earth." Sad complaints, that the principles of power and of
authority, the goods of the mind and of fortune, do not meet and
twine in the wreath or crown of empire! Wherefore, if we have
anything of piety or of prudence, let us raise ourselves out of
the mire of private interest to the contemplation of virtue, and
put a hand to the removal of "this evil from under the sun;" this
evil against which no government that is not secured can be good;