What controls the slave?
To most, fear.
Fear of the Foreman's whip.
Fear of the Guard's chipped
Axe.

What controls the Foreman?
To most, it matters not.
But it is a job, a warm cot.
Some find pleasure. The fact's
Sadists, the job likely attracts.

Who controls the Foreman?
Sadists as well? No.
Exemplars of the immoral,
With slaves, they have no quarrel.
Owners, Rulers, Entrepreneurs.

What controls these people?
Wealth, the search for gold,
The security of all they hold.
Influence, the ability to choose
Elections, laws, who wins or lose.

Is this control wrong?
No, as before, inherently immoral.
Wealth is a means. Power is a means.
The ends matter. The applications matter.
Do not seek an end to slavery, for it will not come.
The foundations of ambition will not shatter.
Seek an end to the fear. For slavery could be beneficial to some.

Cruelty is not in the taking of autonomy.
So long as they share in the spoils of prosperity.
Cruelty is the infliction of suffering.
An Empire that does not help all in it - slaves too,
Is a worthless thing.

Penned by my hand on the 2nd of Lupar, in the year 832 AF.