If a man went simply by what he saw, he might be tempted to affirm that the essence of democracy is melodrama.
“It is to be remedied that the false traitors will suffer no man to come into the king's presence for no cause without bribes where none ought to be had. Any man might have his coming to him to ask him grace or judgment in such case as the king may give.”
“If modesty and candor are necessary to an author in his judgment of his own works, no less are they in his reader.”