The custom of the Moon has oblig'd us to show so much
respect to Honesty, that when our Actions have the least colour of
Honesty, yet we will make Reasons to look like a Defence, whether it
be so or no.
'But here is an Action that has neither reality, nor pretence, here
is not Face enough upon it to bear an Apology. First, they
acknowledge one King, and then set up another King against him;
either they first acknowledg'd a wrong King, and thereby became
Parties to a Usurper, or they act now against all the Rules of common
Justice in the World, to set up a sham King, to pull down a true one,
only because 'tis their Interest to have it so.
'This makes the very Name of a Solunarian scandalous to all the Moon,
and Mankind look upon them with the utmost Prejudice, as if they were
a Nation who had sold all their Honesty to their Interest; and who
could act this way to Day, and that way to Morrow, without any regard
to Truth, or the Rule of Honour, Equity or Conscience; This is
Swearing any thing to save the Skip; and never let any Man Reproach
the Gallunarian King with breaking the Treaty of Division, and
disregarding the Faith and Stipulations of Leagues; for this is an
Action so inconsistent with it self, so incongruous to common
Justice, to the Reason and Nature of things, that no History of any
of these latter Times can parallel it, and 'tis past the Power of Art
to make any reasonable Defence for it.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233