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"But is it possible that I should be made to suffer for a defeat on the battle-field?" asked Blanka. "H'm! Quidquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi," returned the advocate, sententiously; and he hurried away without explaining that the quotation meant, Whenever kings fall to quarrelling, the common people suffer for it. Such was the old Greek usage.
Quidquid delirant reges, plectuntur achivi! The achivi is the people, and the McClellanists are the reges. Mr. Seward, elated by victories, insinuates to foreign powers that they may stop the "recognition of belligerents." Oh imagination! Such things ought not even to be insinuated, as logic and common sense clearly show that the foreign cabinets cannot do it, and thus stultify themselves.
Certainly German progress shows that the Germans can have no ground to quote: "Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi," of their Emperor. In the discussion of this question, I may remind my American readers, although the German constitution is dealt with elsewhere, that there is one difference between Germany and America politically, that must never be left out of our calculations.
Poor deluded wretches! Their democratic deluders, conscious of their own guilt, and fearful of the public vengeance, are most active in bringing them to punishment. "Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi"! Two important facts have been established by the witnesses on the different trials.
What his Majesty said was, "How splendid a thing to be wounded in this glorious war!" It is easy to point a cheap moral to the tale. So kings find pleasure in their peculiar sport. So boys who would much rather be watching football matches at home suffer and are sad. Delirant reges. Plectuntur Achivi. It is all as old as the hills, and republicans may make the most of it.
Consequently, German policy must be to prevent war or confine it as much as possible: to keep in the background while the European game of cards is going on: and not by loss of patience or concession at the cost of the country, or vanity, or provocation from friends, allow ourselves to be driven from the waiting attitude: otherwise plectuntur Achivi! third parties will rejoice."
If you handle this Subject as you ought, I question not but your Paper will set half the Kingdom a Yawning, tho' I dare promise you it will never make any Body fall asleep. No. 180. Wednesday, September 26, 1711. Steele. ... Delirant Reges, plectuntur Achivi. Hor.
The greater anger expels the less, but his character is still preserved. In the meantime the Grecian army receives loss on loss, and is half destroyed by a pestilence into the bargain: "Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi."
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