the commonwealth of oceana-第13节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e thought to be against any example in human nature； but for those alleged by Machiavel of Agathocles； and Oliveretto di Fermo； the former whereof being captain…general of the Syracusans； upon a day assembled the Senate and the people； as if he had something to communicate with them； when at a sign given he cut the senators in pieces to a man； and all the richest of the people； by which means he came to be king。 The proceedings of Oliveretto； in making himself Prince of Fermo； were somewhat different in circumstances； but of the same nature。 Nevertheless Catiline； who had a spirit equal to any of these in his intended mischief； could never bring the like to pass in Rome。 The head of a small commonwealth； such a one as was that of Syracuse or Fermo； is easily brought to the block； but that a populous nation； such as Rome； had not such a one； was the grief of Nero。 If Sylvia or Caesar attained to be princes； it was by civil war； and such civil war as yielded rich spoils； there being a vast nobility to be confiscated； which also was the case in Oceana； when it yielded earth by earldoms； and baronies to the Neustrian for the plantation of his new potentates。 Where a conqueror finds the riches of a land in the hands of the few； the forfeitures are easy； and amount to vast advantage； but where the people have equal shares； the confiscation of many comes to little； and is not only dangerous but fruitless。 The Romans； in one of their defeats of the Volsci； found among the captives certain Tusculans； who； upon examination； confessed that the arms they bore were by command of their State； whereupon information being given to the Senate by the general Camillus； he was forthwith commanded to march against Tusculum which doing accordingly； he found the Tusculan fields full of husbandmen； that stirred not otherwise from the plough than to furnish his army with all kinds of accommodations and victuals。 Drawing near to the city； he saw the gates wide open； the magistrates coming out in their gowns to salute and bid him welcome； entering； the shops were all at work； and open； the streets sounded with the noise of schoolboys at their books； there was no face of war。 Whereupon Camillus； causing the Senate to assemble； told them； that though the art was understood； yet had they at length found out the true arms whereby the Romans were most undoubtedly to be conquered； for which cause he would not anticipate the Senate； to which he desired them forthwith to send； which they did accordingly； and their dictator with the rest of their ambassadors being found by the Roman senators as they went into the house standing sadly at the door were sent for in as friends； and not as enemies； where the dictator having said； 〃If we have offended； the fault was not so great as is our penitence and your virtue；〃 the Senate gave them peace forthwith； and soon after made the Tusculans citizens of Rome。 But putting the case； of which the world is not able to show an example； that the forfeiture of a populous nation； not conquered； but friends； and in cool blood； might be taken； your army must be planted in one of the ways mentioned。 To plant it in the way of absolute monarchy； that is； upon feuds for life； such as the Timars； a country as large and fruitful as that of Greece； would afford you but 16；000 Timariots； for that is the most the Turk （being the best husband that ever was of this kind） makes of it at this day： and if Oceana； which is less in fruitfulness by one…half； and in extent by three parts； should have no greater a force； whoever breaks her in one battle； may be sure she shall never rise； for such （as was noted by Machiavel） is the nature of the Turkish monarchy； if you break it in two battles； you have destroyed its whole militia； and the rest being all slaves； you hold it without any further resistance。 Wherefore the erection of an absolute monarchy in Oceana； or in any other country that is no larger； without making it a certain prey to the first invader is altogether impossible。 To plant by halves； as the Roman emperors did their beneficiaries； or military colonies； it must be either for life； and this an army of Oceaners in their own country； especially having estates of inheritance； will never bear because such an army so planted is as well confiscated as the people； nor had the Mamelukes been contented with such usage in Egypt； but that they were foreigners； and daring not to mix with the natives； it was of absolute necessity to their being。 Or planting them upon inheritance； whether aristocratically as the Neustrians； or democratically as the Israelites； they grow up by certain consequences into the national interest； and this； if they be planted popularly； comes to a commonwealth； if by way of nobility； to a mixed monarchy； which of all other will be found to be the only kind of monarchy whereof this nation； or any other that is of no greater extent； has been or can be capable； for if the Israelites； though their democratical balance； being fixed by their agrarian； stood firm； be yet found to have elected kings； it was because； their territory lying open； they were perpetually invaded； and being perpetually invaded； turned themselves to anything which； through the want of experience； they thought might be a remedy； whence their mistake in election of their kings； under whom they gained nothing； but； on the contrary； lost all they had acquired by their commonwealth； both estates and liberties； is not only apparent； but without parallel。 And if there have been； as was shown； a kingdom of the Goths in Spain； and of the Vandals in Asia； consisting of a single person and a Parliament （taking a parliament to be a council of the people only； without a nobility）； it is expressly said of those councils that they deposed their kings as often as they pleased； nor can there be any other consequence of such a government； seeing where there is a council of the people they do never receive laws； but give them； and a council giving laws to a single person； he has no means in the world whereby to be any more than a subordinate magistrate but force： in which case he is not a single person and a parliament； but a single person and an army； which army again must be planted as has been shown； or can be of no long continuance。 It is true； that the provincial balance bring in nature quite contrary to the national； you are no way to plant a provincial army upon dominion。 But then you must have a native territory in strength； situation； or government； able to overbalance the foreign； or you can never hold it。 That an army should in any other case be long supported by a mere tax； is a mere fancy as void of all reason and experience as if a man should think to maintain such a one by robbing of orchards； for a mere tax is but pulling of plum…trees； the roots whereof are in other men's grounds； who； suffering perpetual violence； come to hate the author of it； and it is a maxim； that no prince that is hated by his people can be safe。 Arms planted upon dominion extirpate enemies and make friends； but maintained by a mere tax； have enemies that have roots； and friends that have none。 To conclude； Oceana； or any other nation of no greater extent； must have a competent nobility； or is altogether incapable of monarchy； for where there is equality of estates； there must be equality of power； and where there is equality of power； there can be no monarchy。 To come then to the generation of the commonwealth。 It has been shown how； through the ways and means used by Panurgus to abase the nobility； and so to mend that flaw which we have asserted to be incurable in this kind of constitution； he suffered the balance to fall into the power of the people； and so broke the government； but the balance being in the people； the commonwealth （though they do not see it） is already in the nature of them。 There wants nothing else but time； which is slow and dangerous； or art； which would be more quick and secure； for the bringing those native arms； wherewithal they are found already； to resist； they know not how； everything that opposes them； to such maturity as may fix them upon their own strength and bottom。 But whereas this art is prudence； and that part of prudence which regards the present work is nothing else but the skill of raising such superstructures of government as are natural to the known foundations； they never mind the foundation； but through certain animosities； wherewith by striving one against another they are infected； or through freaks； by which； not regarding the course of things； nor how they conduce to their purpose； they are given to building in the air； come to be divided and subdivided into endless parties and factions； both civil and ecclesiastical； which； briefly to open； I shall first speak of the people in general； and then of their divisions。 A people； says Machiavel； that is corrupt； is not capable of a commonwealth。 But in showing what a corrupt people is； he has either involved himself； or me； nor can I otherwise come out of the labyrinth； than by saying； the balance altering a people； as to the foregoing government； must of necessity be corrupt； but corruption in this sense signifies no more than that the corruption of one government； as
