the commonwealth of oceana-第39节
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parties； the fathers conceiving that he was ambitious； and the people that he was false； while the Consul Claudius； continuing to countenance such as daily seized and imprisoned some of the indebted people； had still new and dangerous controversies with them； insomuch that the commonwealth was torn with horrid division； and the people （because they found it not so safe or so effectual in public） minded nothing but laying their heads together in private conventicles。 For this Aulus Virginius and Titus Vetusius； the new Consuls； were reproved by the Senate as slothful； and upbraided with the virtue of Appius Claudius。 Whereupon the Consuls having desired the Senate that they might know their pleasure； showed afterward their readiness to obey it； by summoning the people according to command； and requiring names whereby to draw forth an army for diversion； but no man would answer。 Report hereof being made to the Senate； the younger sort of the fathers grew so hot with the Consuls that they desired them to abdicate the magistracy； which they had not the courage to defend。 〃The Consuls； though they conceived themselves to be roughly handled； made this soft answer。 'Fathers conscript； that you may please to take notice it was foretold some horrid sedition is at hand； we shall only desire that they whose valor in this place is so great； may stand by us to see how we behave ourselves； and then be as resolute in your commands as you will； your fatherhoods may know if we be wanting in the performance。' 〃At this some of the hot young noblemen returned with the Consuls to the tribunal； before which the people were yet standing； and the Consuls having generally required names in vain； to put it to something； required the name of one that was in their eye particularly； on whom； when he moved not； they commanded a lictor to lay hands； but the people； thronging about the party summoned； forbade the lictor； who durst not touch him； at which the hotspurs that came with the consuls； enraged by the affront； descended from the throne to the aid of the lictor； from whom in so doing they turned the indignation of the people upon themselves with such heat that the Consuls interposing； thought fit； by remitting the assembly； to appease the tumult； in which； nevertheless； there had been nothing but noise。 Nor was there less in the Senate； being suddenly rallied upon this occasion； where they that received the repulse； with others whose heads were as addled as their own； fell upon the business as if it had been to be determined by clamor till the Consuls； upbraiding the Senate that it differed not from the market…place； reduced the house to orders。 〃And the fathers； having been consulted accordingly； there were three opinions： Publius Virginius conceived that the consideration to be had upon the matter in question； or aid of the indebted and imprisoned people； was not to be further extended than to such as had engaged upon the promise made by Servilius； Titus Largius； that it was no time to think it enough； if men's merits were acknowledged； while the whole people； sunk under the weight of their debts； could not emerge without some common aid； which to restrain； by putting some into a better condition than others； would rather more inflame the discord than extinguish it； Appius Claudius （still upon the old haunt） would have it that the people were rather wanton than fierce； it was not oppression that necessitated； but their power that invited them to these freaks； the empire of the Consuls since the appeal to the people （whereby a plebeian might ask his fellows if he were a thief） being but a mere scarecrow。 'Go to；' says he； 'let us create the dictator； from whom there is no appeal； and then let me see more of this work； or him that shall forbid my lictor。' 〃The advice of Appius was abhorred by many； and to introduce a general recision of debts with Largius； was to violate all faith； that of Virginius； as the most moderate； would have passed best； but that there were private interests； that constant bane of the public； which withstood it。 So they concluded with Appius； who also had been dictator； if the Consuls and some of the graver sort had not thought it altogether unseasonable； at a time when the Volsci and the Sabines were up again； to venture so far upon alienation of the people： for which cause Valerius； being descended from the Publicolas； the most popular family； as also in his own person of a mild nature； was rather trusted with so rigid a magistracy。 Whence it happened that the people； though they knew well enough against whom the Dictator was created； feared nothing from Valerius； but upon a new promise made to the same effect with that of Servilius； hoped better another time； and throwing away all disputes； gave their names roundly； went out； and； to be brief； came home again as victorious as in the former action； the Dictator entering the city in triumph。 Nevertheless； when he came to press the Senate to make good his promise； and do something for the ease of the people； they regarded him no more as to that point than they had done Servilius。 Whereupon the Dictator； in disdain to be made a stale； abdicated his magistracy； and went home。 Here； then； was a victorious army without a captain； and a Senate pulling it by the beard in their gowns。 What is it （if you have read the story； for there is not such another） that must follow？ Can any man imagine that such only should be the opportunity upon which this people could run away？ 〃Alas； poor men； the AEqui and the Volsci and the Sabines were nothing； but the fathers invincible！ There they sat； some 300 of them armed all in robes； and thundering with their tongues； without any hopes in the earth to reduce them to any tolerable conditions。 Wherefore； not thinking it convenient to abide long so near them； away marches the army； and encamps in the fields。 This retreat of the people is called the secession of Mount Aventin； where they lodged； very sad at their condition； but not letting fall so much as a word of murmur against the fathers。 The Senate by this time were great lords； had the whole city to themselves； but certain neighbors were upon the way that might come to speak with them； not asking leave of the porter。 Wherefore their minds became troubled； and an orator was posted to the people to make as good conditions with them as he could； but； whatever the terms were； to bring them home； and with all speed。 And here it was covenanted between the Senate and the people； that these should have magistrates of their own election； called the tribunes； upon which they returned。 〃To hold you no longer； the Senate having done this upon necessity； made frequent attempts to retract it again； while the tribunes； on the other side； to defend what they had got； instituted their Tributa Comitia； or council of the people； where they came in time； and； as disputes increased； to make laws without the authority of the Senate； called plebiscita。 Now to conclude in the point at which I drive： such were the steps whereby the people of Rome came to assume debate； nor is it in art or nature to debar a people of the like effect； where there is the like cause。 For Romulus； having in the election of his Senate squared out a nobility for the support of a throne； by making that of the patricians a distinct and hereditary order； planted the commonwealth upon two contrary interests or roots； which； shooting forth； in time produced two commonwealths； the one oligarchical in the nobility； the other a mere anarchy of the people； and ever after caused a perpetual feud and enmity between the Senate and the people； even to death。 〃There is not a more noble or useful question in the politics than that which is started by Machiavel； whether means were to be found whereby the enmity that was between the Senate and the people of Rome could have been removed？ Nor is there any other in which we； on the present occasion； are so much concerned； particularly in relation to this author； forasmuch as his judgment in the determination of the question standing； our commonwealth falls。 And he that will erect a commonwealth against the judgment of Machiavel； is obliged to give such reasons for his enterprise as must not go a…begging。 Wherefore to repeat the politician very honestly； but somewhat more briefly； he disputes thus： 〃'There be two sorts of commonwealths； the one for preservation； as Lacedaemon and Venice； the other for increase； as Rome。 〃'Lacedaemon； being governed by a King and a small Senate； could maintain itself a long time in that condition； because the inhabitants； being few； having put a bar upon the reception of strangers； and living in a strict observation of the laws of Lycurgus； which now had got reputation； and taken away all occasion of tumults； might well continue long in tranquillity。 For the laws of Lycurgus introduced a greater equality in estates； and a less equality in honors； whence there was equal poverty； and the plebeians were less ambitious； because the honors or magistracies of the city could extend but to a few and were not communicable to the people； nor did the nobility by using them ill ever give them a desire to participate of the same。 This proceeded from the kings； whose pri
