The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

friends and towards my enemies.

"Twelfthly. Soldiers, whether associates or adversaries, I held in esteem,—those who sell
their permanent happiness to perishable honor, and throw themselves into the field of
slaughter and battle, and hazard their lives in the hour of danger.

"And the man who drew his sword on the side of my enemy, and committed hostilities
against me, and preserved his fidelity to his master, him I greatly honored; and when such a
man came unto me, knowing his worth, I classed him with my faithful associates; and I
respected and valued his fidelity and his attachment.

"And the soldier who forgot his duty and his honor, and in the hour of action turned his face
from his master, and came in unto me, I considered as the most detestable of men.

"And in the war between Touktummish Khaun, his emirs forgot their duty to Touktummish,
who was their master and my foe, and sent proposals and wrote letters unto me. And I
uttered execrations upon them, because, unmindful of that which they owed to their lord,
they had thrown aside their honor and their duty, and came in unto me. I said unto myself,
'What fidelity have they observed to their liege lord? what fidelity will they show unto me?'

"And, behold, it was known unto me by experience, that every empire which is not
established in morality and religion, nor strengthened by regulations and laws, from that
empire all order, grandeur, and power shall pass away. And that empire may be likened
unto a naked man, who, when exposed to view, commandeth the eye of modesty to be
covered; and it is like unto a house which hath neither roof nor gates nor defences, into
which whoever willeth may enter unmolested.

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