Originally published in 1850 "La loi" was written two years after the third French Revolution of 1848 and a few months before Bastiat's death of tuberculosis at age 49. This translation to American English is from 1874.
There is scarcely a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharaoh, get first all the people's money, then all their lands and then make them and their children servants forever.