Priests.—­Suffering is the business of this world.

People.—­Show us the example.

Priests.—­Would you live without gods or kings?

People.—­We would live without oppressors.

Priests.—­You must have mediators, intercessors.

People.—­Mediators with God and with the king! courtiers and priests, your services are too expensive:  we will henceforth manage our own affairs.

And the little group said:  We are lost! the multitude are enlightened.

And the people answered:  You are safe; since we are enlightened we will commit no violence; we only claim our rights.  We feel resentments, but we will forget them.  We were slaves, we might command; but we only wish to be free, and liberty is but justice.

CHAPTER XVI.

A free and legislative people.

Considering that all public power was now suspended, and that the habitual restraint of the people had suddenly ceased, I shuddered with the apprehension that they would fall into the dissolution of anarchy.  But, taking their affairs into immediate deliberation, they said: 

It is not enough that we have freed ourselves from tyrants and parasites; we must prevent their return.  We are men, and experience has abundantly taught us that every man is fond of power, and wishes to enjoy it at the expense of others.  It is necessary, then, to guard against a propensity which is the source of discord; we must establish certain rules of duty and of right.  But the knowledge of our rights, and the estimation of our duties, are so abstract and difficult as to require all the time and all the faculties of a man.  Occupied in our own affairs, we have not leisure for these studies; nor can we exercise these functions in our own persons.  Let us choose, then, among ourselves, such persons as are capable of this employment.  To them we will delegate our powers to institute our government and laws.  They shall be the representatives of our wills and of our interests.  And in order to attain the fairest representation possible of our wills and our interests, let it be numerous, and composed of men resembling ourselves.

Having made the election of a numerous body of delegates, the people thus addressed them: 

We have hitherto lived in a society formed by chance, without fixed agreements, without free conventions, without a stipulation of rights, without reciprocal engagements,—­and a multitude of disorders and evils have arisen from this precarious state.  We are now determined on forming a regular compact; and we have chosen you to adjust the articles.  Examine, then, with care what ought to be its basis and its conditions; consider what is the end and the principles of every association; recognize the rights which every member brings, the powers which he delegates,