Trusler, John (1735-1820)

Proverbs Exemplified, and Illustrated by Pictures from Real Life

London

Printed for and published by the Rev. J. Trusler

1790

"Not only in the eye of the law, but in the eye of reason, 'the will' is ever 'taken for the deed', and 'they who cannot as they will, must will as they may'; that is, must do as they can."

LAWS are made to keep unruly men in order, and prevent their doing wrong; and punishment is sure to follow when these laws are transgressed or broken through; but necessity has always been a powerful pleader in extenuation of guilt. Not only in the eye of the law, but in the eye of reason, the will is ever taken for the deed, and they who cannot as they will, must will as they may; that is, must do as they can. It is under this consideratio that the law will allow one man to kill another, if he cannot otherwise escape with his own life; but that the killer may never use this necessity as a pretence, it is expected that the person, so urged, shall flee from his enemy as far as he can; but when he can fly no further, and is pressed by a sword, or other deadly weapon, against a wall, he may then, to save his own life, kill his pursuer if he can, and the act will not be called murder.
(pp. 93-4)

Body::Eye

ECCO-TCP

Only 1 entry in ESTC (1790).

See Proverbs Exemplified, and Illustrated by Pictures from Real Life. Teaching Morality and a Knowledge of the World; With Prints. Designed As a Succession-Book to Æsop's Fables. ([London]: Printed for and published by the Rev. J. Trusler, and sold at the Literary-Press, and by all booksellers. London May, 1, 1790). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO-TCP>

03/12/2014