Page:A Vindication of Natural Society - Burke (1756).djvu/26

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tives but Pride, Cruelty and Madness, and without any Benefit to himself; (for Justin expressly tells us, he did not maintain his Conquests) but solely to make so many People, in so distant Countries, feel experimentally, how severe a Scourge Providence intends for the human Race, when he gives one Man the Power over many, and arms his naturally impotent, and feeble Rage, with the Hands of Millions, who know no common Principle of Action, but a blind Obedience to the Passions of their Ruler.

The next Personage who figures in the Tragedies of this ancient Theatre is Semiramis: For we have no Particulars of Ninus, but that he made immense and rapid Conquests, which doubtless were not compassed without the usual Carnage. We hear of her Army of above three Millions employed in a War against the Indians. We hear of their having a yet greater; and of a War continued withmuch