It is the greatest glory to the several states to have as wide deserts as possible around them, their frontiers having been laid waste.
Civitatibus maxima laus est quam latissime circum se vastatis finibus solitudines habere.
They consider this the real evidence of their prowess, that their neighbors shall be driven out of their lands and abandon them, and that no one dare settle near them;
Hoc proprium virtutis existimant, expulsos agris finitimos cedere, neque quemquam prope audere consistere:
at the same time they think that they shall be on that account the more secure, because they have removed the apprehension of a sudden incursion.
simul hoc se fore tutiores arbitrantur repentinae incursionis timore sublato.
When a state either repels war waged against it, or wages it against another, magistrates are chosen to preside over that war with such authority, that they have power of life and death.
Cum bellum civitas aut inlatum defendit aut infert, magistratus, qui ei bello praesint, ut vitae necisque habeant potestatem, deliguntur.
In peace there is no common magistrate, but the chiefs of provinces and cantons administer justice and determine controversies among their own people.
In pace nullus est communis magistratus, sed principes regionum atque pagorum inter suos ius dicunt controversiasque minuunt.
Robberies which are committed beyond the boundaries of each state bear no infamy, and they avow that these are committed for the purpose of disciplining their youth and of preventing sloth.
Latrocinia nullam habent infamiam, quae extra fines cuiusque civitatis fiunt, atque ea iuventutis exercendae ac desidiae minuendae causa fieri praedicant.
And when any of their chiefs has said in an assembly "that he will be their leader, let those who are willing to follow, give in their names;" they who approve of both the enterprise and the man arise and promise their assistance and are applauded by the people;
Atque ubi quis ex principibus in concilio dixit se ducem fore, qui sequi velint, profiteantur, consurgunt ei qui et causam et hominem probant suumque auxilium pollicentur atque ab multitudine collaudantur:
such of them as have not followed him are accounted in the number of deserters and traitors, and confidence in all matters is afterward refused them.
qui ex his secuti non sunt, in desertorum ac proditorum numero ducuntur, omniumque his rerum postea fides derogatur.
To injure guests they regard as impious; they defend from wrong those who have come to them for any purpose whatever, and esteem them inviolable; to them the houses of all are open and maintenance is freely supplied.
Hospitem violare fas non putant; qui quacumque de causa ad eos venerunt, ab iniuria prohibent, sanctos habent, hisque omnium domus patent victusque communicatur.