the commonwealth of oceana-第23节
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The business of the muster being thus happily finished； Hermes de Caduceo； lord orator of the tribe of Nubia； being now put into her first rapture； caused one of the censor's pulpits to be planted in front of the squadron； and ascending into the same； spake after this manner：
〃MY LORDS； THE MAGISTRATES AND THE PEOPLE OF THE TRIBE OF NUBIA： 〃We have this day solemnized the happy nuptials of the two greatest princes that are upon the earth or in nature； arms and councils； in the mutual embraces whereof consists your whole commonwealth； whose councils upon their perpetual wheelings； marches； and countermarches； create her armies； and whose armies with the golden volleys of the ballot at once create and salute her councils。 There be those （such is the world at present） that think it ridiculous to see a nation exercising its civil functions in military discipline； while they； committing their buff to their servants； come themselves to hold trenchards。 For what avails it such as are unarmed； or （which is all one） whose education acquaints them not with the proper use of their swords； to be called citizens？ What were 2；000 or 3；000 of you； though never so well affected to your country； but naked； to one troop of mercenary soldiers？ If they should come upon the field and say； 'Gentlemen； it is thought fit that such and such men should be chosen by you；' where were your liberty？ or； 'Gentlemen； parliaments are exceeding good； but you are to have a little patience； these times are not so fit for them；' where were your commonwealth？ What causes the monarchy of the Turks but servants in arms？ What was it that begot the glorious Commonwealth of Rome but the sword in the hands of her citizens？ Wherefore my glad eyes salute the serenity and brightness of this day with a shower that shall not cloud it。 〃Behold the army of Israel become a commonwealth； and the Commonwealth of Israel remaining an army； with her rulers of tens and of fifties； her rulers of hundreds and thousands； drawing near （as this day throughout our happy fields） to the lot by her tribes； increased above threefold； and led up by her phylarchs or princes； to sit upon fifty thrones； judging the fifty tribes of Oceana！ Or； is it Athens； breaking from her iron sepulchre； where she has been so long trampled by hosts of Janizaries？ For certainly that is the voice of Theseus； having gathered his scattered Athenians into one city。 This freeborn nation lives not upon the dole or bounty of one man； but distributing her annual magistracies and honors with her own hand； is herself King People （At which the orator was awhile interrupted with shouts； but at length proceeded。） is it grave Lacedaemon in her armed tribe； divided by her oboe and her mora； which appears to chide me that I teach the people to talk； or conceive such language as is dressed like a woman； to be a fit usher of the joys of liberty into the hearts of men？ is it Rome in her victorious arms （for so she held her concio or congregation） that congratulates with us； for finding out that which she could not hit on； and binding up her Comitia curiata； centuriata； and tributa； in one inviolable league of union？ Or is it the great council of incomparable Venice； bowling forth by the selfsame ballot her immortal commonwealth？ For； neither by reason nor by experience is it impossible that a commonwealth should be immortal； seeing the people being the materials； never die； and the form； which is motion； must； without opposition； be endless。 The bowl which is thrown from your hand； if there be no rub； no impediment； shall never cease： for which cause the glorious luminaries that are the bowls of God； were once thrown forever； and next these； those of Venice。 But certainly； my lords； whatever these great examples may have shown us； we are the first that have shown to the world a commonwealth established in her rise upon fifty such towers； and so garrisoned as are the tribes of Oceana； containing 100；000 elders upon the annual list； and yet but an outguard； besides her marching armies to be equal in the discipline； and in the number of her youth。 〃And forasmuch as sovereign power is a necessary but a formidable creature； not unlike the powder which （as you are soldiers） is at once your safety and your danger； being subject to take fire against you as well as for you； how well and securely is she； by your galaxies so collected as to be in full force and vigor and yet so distributed that it is impossible you should be blown up by your own magazine？ Let them who will have it； that power if it be confined cannot be sovereign； tell us； whether our rivers do not enjoy a more secure and fruitful reign within their proper banks； than if it were lawful for them； in ravaging our harvests； to spill themselves？ whether souls； not confined to their peculiar bodies； do govern them any more than those of witches in their trances？ whether power； not confined to the bounds of reason and virtue； has any other bounds than those of vice and passion？ or if vice and passion be boundless； and reason and virtue have certain limits； on which of these thrones holy men should anoint their sovereign？ But to blow away this dust； the sovereign power of a commonwealth is no more bounded； that is to say straitened； than that of a monarch； but is balanced。 The eagle mounts not to her proper pitch； if she be bounded； nor is free if she be not balanced。 And lest a monarch should think he can reach further with his sceptre； the Roman eagle upon such a balance spread her wings from the ocean to Euphrates。 Receive the sovereign power； you have received it； hold it fast； embrace it forever in your shining arms。 The virtue of the loadstone is not impaired or limited； but receives strength and nourishment； by being bound in iron。 And so giving your lordships much joy； I take my leave of this tribe。〃
The orator descending； had the period of his speech made with a vast applause and exultation of the whole tribe； attending him for that night to his quarter； as the phylarch with some commanded troops did the next day to the frontiers of the tribe； where leave was taken on both sides with more tears than grief。 So a tribe is the third division of land occasioned by the third collection of the people； whose functions proper to that place are contained in the five foregoing orders。 The institution of the commonwealth was such as needed those props and scaffolds which may have troubled the reader； but I shall here take them away； and come to the constitution which stands by itself； and yields a clearer prospect。 The motions； by what has been already shown； are spherical； and spherical motions have their proper centre； for which cause （ere I proceed further） it will be necessary； for the better understanding of the whole； that I discover the centre whereupon the motions of this commonwealth are formed。 The centre； or basis of every government； is no other than the fundamental laws of the same。 Fundamental laws are such as state what it is that a man； and what the means may call his own； that is to say； property； be whereby a man may enjoy his own； that is to say； protection。 The first is also called dominion； and the second empire or sovereign power； whereof this （as has been shown） is the natural product of the former； for such as is the balance of dominion in a nation； such is the nature of its empire。 Wherefore the fundamental laws of Oceana； or the centre of this commonwealth； are the agrarian and the ballot： the agrarian by the balance of dominion preserving equality in the root； and the ballot by an equal rotation conveying it into the branch； or exercise of sovereign power； as； to begin with the former； appears by The thirteenth order； 〃Constituting the agrarian laws of Oceana； Marpesia； and Panopea； whereby it is ordained； first； for all such lands as are lying and being within the proper territories of Oceana； that every man who is at present possessed； or shall hereafter be possessed； of an estate in land exceeding the revenue of ？；000 a year； and having more than one son； shall leave his lands either equally divided among them； in case the lands amount to above ？；000 a year to each； or so near equally； in case they come under； that the greater part or portion of the same remaining to the eldest exceed not the value of ？；000 revenue。 And no man； not in present possession of lands above the value of ？；000 by the year； shall receive； enjoy （except by lawful inheritance） acquire； or； purchase to himself lands within the said territories； amounting； with those already in his possession； above the said revenue。 And if a man has a daughter or daughters； except she be an heiress or they be heiresses； he shall not leave or give to any。 One of them in marriage； or otherwise； for her portion； above the value of ？；500 in lands； goods； and moneys。 Nor shall any friend； kinsman； or kinswoman add to her or their portion or portions that are so provided for； to make any one of them greater。 Nor shall any man demand or have more in marriage with any woman。 Nevertheless an heiress shall enjoy her lawful inheritance； and a widow； whatsoever the bounty or affection of her husband shall bequeath to her； to be divided in the first generation； wherein it
