XX. Some nations and individuals indeed have rejected the use of those stratagems, which even the law of nature allows to be employed as a means of self-defence against an enemy. But they did so, not from any opinion of their unlawfulness, but from a noble loftiness of mind, and from a confidence in their own strength. Aelian has preserved a saying of Pythagoras, "that there are two things, in which man approaches nearest to God, in always speaking the truth, and doing good to others." Aristotle, somewhere in his Ethics, calls speaking truth, the freedom of a great soul, and Plutarch says, that falsehood is the qualification of a slave. But an adherence to truth, in simplicity of heart, is not the only duty required of Christians, in this respect, they are commanded to abstain from all vain discourse, as having for their example him, in whose mouth there was found no guile. XXI. With respect to the actions of men, there is another rule which may properly come under this head, and that is, the unlawfulness of urging or persuading any one to do an unlawful act. For instance, no subject has a right to lift his hand against his sovereign, to deliver up a town without public authority, or to despoil his neighbour of his goods. It would be unlawful then to encourage the subject of an enemy, as long as he continues his subject, to do any of these acts. For the person, who urges another to do a wicked act, makes himself a partner in his guilt. Nor can it be received as a just answer, that urging a subject to the perpetration of such a deed is nothing more than employing the lawful means of destroying an enemy. For though it may be necessary and just to destroy him, if possible, yet that is not the way, in which it should be done. Augustin has well observed, that it makes no difference whether any one should commit a crime himself, or employ another as his instrument. But employing the spontaneous offers of a deserter is not contrary to the laws of war, and is a very different action from that of seducing a subject from his allegiance. [Illustration: _WAR AND PEACE_ _This is a frontispiece to a Latin edition of Grotius' De Jure Belli ac Pacis, published at Amsterdam in 1670. It is intended to be symbolical of War and Peace acting under the direction Justice, these three figures forming the central group._ ] CHAPTER II. IN WHAT MANNER THE LAW OF NATIONS RENDERS THE PROPERTY OF SUBJECTS ANSWERABLE FOR THE DEBTS OF SOVEREIGNS. THE NATURE OF REPRISALS. No one but an heir bound by the act of another--Property of subjects answerable for the debts of sovereigns, according to the law of Nations--Capture of persons and property after satisfaction refused by the aggressor--Reprisals--Personal safety of subjects--Distinction made by the law of Nations in this respect.