The Present State of Germany

Chapter VIII. Of the German State-Interest

210 u c h a p t e r v i i i u [Of the German State-Interest.]a 1. |[I suppose by this time it is sufficiently shewn, how many and great the Diseases of Germany are; to assigntheRemediesisaWorkof [much] greater difficulty, and which will [would] not become a Stranger and a Traveller, if the Humanity of the German Nation were not so great,that she is apter to [trust and admire Foreigners than her own Natives].b I hope too all wise men will easily pardon the innocent [harmless] Freedom of a Man who has no Attachment to any of the contendingParties, and who, next the Prosperity [preservation]of hisownCountry,wisheth nothing more than [the Prosperity and Welfare of the honest German Nation].c But before I discover my mind in this Affair, I think it is fit [worthwhile] to consider [briefly] the Remedies proposed by [the aforementioned ] Hippolithus a Lapide, [for the Cure of the German Calama . Rather: On the State-Interest of the German Empire [De ratione status Imperii Germanici] / Status refers to both the political entity and the general condition of Germany. Denzer renders the term as Verfassung (constitution), which is ambiguous in the same way (Verfassung des deutschen Reiches, ed. Denzer, 1994, 235). [Ed.] b. Rather: admire foreign things [opinions] more than her own / Compare VII.2 on the German imitation of foreigners, especially the French. The remark may also be an ironic reference to Pufendorf’s cautious assumption of an Italian persona: that is, he has been speaking as the Italian, Monzambano, whom Germans cantrust.[Ed.] c. Rather: that the most upright of nations [integerrima nationum] should enjoy a most flourishing condition / Integer also means “whole” or “unimpaired,” making its use here, in the superlative, ironic in light of the preceding account, which has shown Germany to be anything but whole or integral. [Ed.] The Remedies of these Diseases enquired into. german state-interest 211 ities];a for though many men have admired his Prescriptions, yet I have ever thought they were ill contrived[, and not likely to contribute to her Cure]Ⳮ .]|b 2. In the first place he prescribes [announces] Six Laws,1 which he calls the Interests of such a State, and saith, They ought [carefully]Ⳮ to be observed in a [form of] State like to that of Germany, that is, in an Aristocrasie , where the Supreme Soveraign Power is in the [States, or]Ⳮ great men [optimates], and nothing left to the Emperor [principe], but the Pomps and Images of a King: So (said he) they ought, (1.)c To study the waies and means of Concord, and to avoid Factions, (2.) Not to suffer the Imperial Dignity to continue long in any one Family, lest by the long use of these Pomps and Images, a desire of acquiring a solid and real Soveraignty should grow up in them. (3.) Though the [principate , and with it the] Power of directing and moderating the Offices [functions] of all the Parts to the Common Good is conferr’d upon a [Prince or]Ⳮ Single Person, forthe greaterunionof theCommonwealth; yet the Nobility [proceribus] ought alwaies to keep the Stern [helm] of the State in their own hands, and the Power of directing and ordering the things of great moment, [is] to be exercised in the Diet, whichought [for this reason] to convene frequently; or at least they ought to appoint some Senate [or Counsel]Ⳮ , which shall be perpetual; which kind of Regiment was in use in the beginning of the last Age [century] before this. (4.) That nothing but the Ensigns [symbols] of Royalty be left to a. Rather: to an ailing Germany / The metaphor suggests offering a patient a medicinal drink. [Ed.] b. E.p.: Although others have worked hard to provide remedies forGermany’sills, a certain personage under the pseudonym Hippolithus a Lapide formerlymadespecial claims for himself in this regard. And even though many people initially admired those remedies, since they have nonetheless always seemed to me somehow badly devised, I decided some time ago that I would dismember them [tear them apart]. c. Parentheses have been added to Bohun’s enumeration to distinguish it from Pufendorf’s section numbers. [Ed.] 1. Lapide, De ratione status, part 2, chapters 1–3, 6, 9, 10 (Verfassung des deutschen Reiches, ed. Denzer, 1994, 235, note 2). See VI.7, note 6, p. 169. The Remedies of Hyppolithus a Lapide examined. Six Rules by him prescribed to the Princes of Germany...