The Romans called them thieves, that by fraud, or plea, or judgment got unlawful gain, and deprived others of their right.
Lampridius saith of Alexander Severus, _Tanti eum stomachi fuisse in eos judices qui furtorum fama laborassent, etiamsi damnati non essent, ut si eos casu aliquo videret, commotione animi stomachi choleram evomeret, toto vultu inardescente, ita ut nihil posset loqui_. And afterwards, _Severissimus judex contra fures, appellans eosdem quotidianorum scelerum reos, et solos hostes inimicosque reipublicæ_. Adding this instance, _Eum notarium, qui falsum causæ brevem in consilio imperatorio retulisset, incisis digitorum nervis, ita ut nunquam posset scribere, deportavit_. And that he caused Turinus one of his courtiers to be tied in the market-place to a stake, and choked to death with smoke, for taking men's money on pretence of furthering their suits with the emperor; _Præcone dicente, Fumo punitur, qui vendidit fumum_. He strictly prohibited buying of offices, saying, _Necesse est ut qui emit, vendat: Ego vere nin patiar mercatores potestatum: quos si patiar, damnare non possum_. The frowns or favour of man, or the love of money, will prove at last a poor defence against his justice whom by injustice you offend.[118]
Justum et tenacem propositi virum, Non civium ardor prava jubentium Non vultus instantis tyranni, Mente quatit solida:----Horat.
But if men would first be just, it would not be so hard to bring them to do justly; saith Plautus,
Justa autem ab injustis petere insipientia est: Quippe illi iniqui jus ignorant neque tenent.
_Direct._ IV. Make the cause of the innocent as it were your own; and suffer it not to miscarry through your slothfulness and neglect.[119] He is a lover of money more than justice, that will sweat in the cause of the rich that pay him well, and will slubber over and starve the cause of the poor, because he getteth little by them. Whatever your place obligeth you to do, let it be done diligently and with your might; both in your getting abilities, and in using them. Scævola was wont to say, (ut lib. Pandect. 42. tit. refer.) _Jus civile vigilantibus scriptum est, non dormientibus_. Saith Austin, _Ignorantia judicis plerumque est calamitas innocentis_. And as you look every labourer that you hire should be laborious in your work, and your physician should be diligent in his employment for your health; so is it as just that you be diligent for them whose cause you undertake, and where God who is the lover of justice doth require it.