Подорож Гулівера

           Thelearnedamongthemconfesstheabsurdityofthisdoctrine;butthepracticestillcontinues,incompliancetothevulgar.

           Therearesomelawsandcustomsinthisempireverypeculiar;andiftheywerenotsodirectlycontrarytothoseofmyowndearcountry,Ishouldbetemptedtosayalittleintheirjustification.Itisonlytobewishedtheywereaswellexecuted.ThefirstIshallmention,relatestoinformers.Allcrimesagainstthestate,arepunishedherewiththeutmostseverity;but,ifthepersonaccusedmakeshisinnocenceplainlytoappearuponhistrial,theaccuserisimmediatelyputtoanignominiousdeath;andoutofhisgoodsorlandstheinnocentpersonisquadruplyrecompensedforthelossofhistime,forthedangerheunderwent,forthehardshipofhisimprisonment,andforallthechargeshehasbeenatinmakinghisdefence;or,ifthatfundbedeficient,itislargelysuppliedbythecrown.Theemperoralsoconfersonhimsomepublicmarkofhisfavour,andproclamationismadeofhisinnocencethroughthewholecity.

           Theylookuponfraudasagreatercrimethantheft,andthereforeseldomfailtopunishitwithdeath;fortheyallege,thatcareandvigilance,withaverycommonunderstanding,maypreserveaman’sgoodsfromthieves,buthonestyhasnodefenceagainstsuperiorcunning;and,sinceitisnecessarythatthereshouldbeaperpetualintercourseofbuyingandselling,anddealinguponcredit,wherefraudispermittedandconnivedat,orhasnolawtopunishit,thehonestdealerisalwaysundone,andtheknavegetstheadvantage.Iremember,whenIwasonceintercedingwiththeemperorforacriminalwhohadwrongedhismasterofagreatsumofmoney,whichhehadreceivedbyorderandranawaywith;andhappeningtotellhismajesty,bywayofextenuation,thatitwasonlyabreachoftrust,theemperorthoughtitmonstrousinmetoofferasadefencethegreatestaggravationofthecrime;