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[276]
I omit to speak concerning punishments, and how many ways of escaping
them the greatest part of the legislators have afforded malefactors, by
ordaining that, for adulteries, fines in money should be allowed, and for
corrupting 1
[virgins] they need only marry them as also what excuses they may have
in denying the facts, if any one attempts to inquire into them; for amongst
most other nations it is a studied art how men may transgress their laws;
but no such thing is permitted amongst us; for though we be deprived of
our wealth, of our cities, or of the other advantages we have, our law
continues immortal; nor can any Jew go so far from his own country, nor
be so aftrighted at the severest lord, as not to be more aftrighted at
the law than at him. If, therefore, this be the disposition we are under,
with regard to the excellency of our laws, let our enemies make us this
concession, that our laws are most excellent; and if still they imagine,
that though we so firmly adhere to them, yet are they bad laws notwithstanding,
what penalties then do they deserve to undergo who do not observe their
own laws, which they esteem so far superior to them? Whereas, therefore,
length of time is esteemed to be the truest touchstone in all cases, I
would make that a testimonial of the excellency of our laws, and of that
belief thereby delivered to us concerning God. For as there hath been a
very long time for this comparison, if any one will but compare its duration
with the duration of the laws made by other legislators, he will find our
legislator to have been the ancientest of them all.
1 Or "for corrupting other men's wives the same allowance."
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