太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the commonwealth of oceana >

第44节

the commonwealth of oceana-第44节

小说: the commonwealth of oceana 字数: 每页4000字

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!



ses as were of highest importance in that State。 The five ephors in Lacedaemon; which were popular magistrates; might question their kings; as appears by the cases of Pausanias; and of Agis; who being upon his trial in this court; was cried to by his mother to appeal to the people; as Plutarch has it in his life。 The tribunes of the people of Rome (like; in the nature of their magistracy; and for some time in number; to the ephors; as being; according to Halicarnassus and Plutarch; instituted in imitation of them) had power to summon any man; his magistracy at least being expired (for from the Dictator there lay no appeal) to answer for himself to the people。 As in the case of Coriolanus; who was going about to force the people; by withholding corn from them in a famine; to relinquish the magistracy of the tribunes; in that of Spurius Cassius for affecting tyranny; of Marcus Sergius for running away at Veii; of Caius Lucretius for spoiling his province; of Junius Silanus for making war without a command from the people against the Cimbri; with divers others。 And the crimes of this nature were called loesoe majestatis; or high treason。 Examples of such as were arraigned or tried for peculation; or defraudation of the commonwealth; were Marcus Curius for intercepting the money of the Samnites; Salinator for the unequal division of spoils to his soldiers; Marcus Posthumius for cheating the commonwealth by a feigned shipwreck。 Causes of these two kinds were of a more public nature; but the like power upon appeals was also exercised by the people in private matters; even during the time of the kings; as in the case of Horatius。 Nor is it otherwise with Venice; where the Doge Loredano was sentenced by the great Council; and Antonio Grimani; afterward doge; questioned; for that he; being admiral; had suffered the Turk to take Lepanto in view of his fleet。     〃Nevertheless; there lay no appeal from the Roman dictator to the people; which; if there had; might have cost the commonwealth dear; when Spurius Melius; affecting empire; circumvented and debauched the tribunes: whereupon Titus Quintus Cincinnatus was created Dictator; who having chosen Servilius Ahala to be his lieutenant; or magister equitum; sent him to apprehend Melius; whom; while he disputed the commands of the Dictator and implored the aid of the people; Ahala cut off upon the place。 By which example you may see in what cases the dictator may prevent the blow which is ready sometimes to fall ere the people be aware of the danger。 Wherefore there lies no appeal from the Dieci; or the Council of Ten; in Venice; to the Great Council; nor from our Council of War to the people。 For the way of proceeding of this tribe; or the ballot; it is; as was once said for all; Venetian。     〃This discourse of judicatories whereupon we are fallen; brings us rather naturally than of design from the two general orders of every commonwealth; that is to say; from the debating part; or the Senate; and the resolving part; or the people; to the third; which is the executive part or the magistracy; whereupon I shall have no need to dwell; for the executive magistrates of this commonwealth are the strategus in arms; the signory in their several courts; as the chancery; the exchequer; as also the councils in divers cases within their instructions; the censors as well in their proper magistracy; as in the Council of Religion; the tribunes in the government of the prerogative; and that judicatory; and the judges with their courts; of all which so much is already said or known as may suffice。     〃The Tuesday lectures or orations to the people will be of great benefit to the Senate; the prerogative; and the whole nation。 To the Senate; because they will not only teach your Senators elocution; but keep the system of the government in their memories。 Elocution is of great use to your Senators; for if they do not understand rhetoric (giving it at this time for granted that the art were not otherwise good) and come to treat with; or vindicate the cause of the commonwealth against some other nation that is good at it; the advantage will be subject to remain upon the merit of the art; and not upon the merit of the cause。 Furthermore; the genius or soul of this government being in the whole and in every part; they will never be of ability in determination upon any particular; unless at the same time they have an idea of the whole。 That this therefore must be; in that regard; of equal benefit to the prerogative; is plain; though these have a greater concernment in it。 For this commonwealth is the estate of the people; and a man; you know; though he be virtuous; yet if he does not understand his estate; may run out or be cheated of it。 Last of all; the treasures of the politics will by this means be so opened; rifled; and dispersed; that this nation will as soon dote; like the Indians; upon glass beads; as disturb your government with whimsies and freaks of mother…wit; or suffer themselves to be stuttered out of their liberties。 There is not any reason why your grandees; your wise men of this age; that laugh out and openly at a commonwealth as the most ridiculous thing; do not appear to be; as in this regard they are; mere idiots; but that the people have not eyes。〃     There remains no more relating to the Senate and the people than      The twenty…fourth order; 〃Whereby it is lawful for the province of Marpesia to have thirty knights of their own election continually present in the Senate of Oceana; together with sixty deputies of horse; and 120 of foot in the prerogative tribe; endued with equal power (respect had to their quality and number) in the debate and result of this commonwealth; provided that they observe the course or rotation of the same by the annual return of ten knights; twenty deputies of the horse; and forty of the foot。 The like in all respects is lawful for Panopea; and the horse of both the provinces amounting to one troop; and the foot to one company; one captain and one cornet of the horse shall be annually chosen by Marpesia; and one captain and one ensign of the foot shall be annually chosen by Panopea。〃     The orb of the prerogative being thus complete; is not unnaturally compared to that of the moon; either in consideration of the light borrowed from the Senate; as from the sun; or of the ebbs and floods of the people; which are marked by the negative or affirmative of this tribe。 And the constitution of the Senate and the people being shown; you have that of the Parliament of Oceana; consisting of the Senate proposing; and of the people resolving; which amounts to an act of Parliament。 So the Parliament is the heart; which; consisting of two ventricles; the one greater and replenished with a grosser matter; the other less and full of a purer; sucks in and spouts forth the vital blood of Oceana by a perpetual circulation。 Wherefore the life of this government is no more unnatural or obnoxious upon this score to dissolution than that of a man; nor to giddiness than the world; seeing the earth; whether it be itself or the heavens that are in rotation; is so far from being giddy; that it could not subsist without motion。 But why should not this government be much rather capable of duration and steadiness by motion? Than which God has ordained no other to the universal commonwealth of mankind: seeing one generation comes and another goes; but the earth remains firm forever; that is; in her proper situation or place; whether she be moved or not moved upon her proper centre。 The Senate; the people; and the magistracy; or the Parliament so constituted; as you have seen; is the guardian of this commonwealth; and the husband of such a wife as is elegantly described by Solomon: 〃She is like the merchant's ships; she brings her food from far。 She considers a field; and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard。 She perceives that her merchandise is good。 She stretches forth her hands to the poor。 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet。 She makes herself coverings of tapestry。 her clothing is silk and purple。 Her husband is known (by his robes) in the gates; when he sits among the senators of the land。〃 The gates; or inferior courts; were branches; as it were; of the Sanhedrim; or Senate; of Israel。 Nor is our commonwealth a worse housewife; nor has she less regard to her magistrates; as may pear by      The twenty…fifth order; 〃That; whereas the public revenue is through the late civil wars dilapidated; the excise; being improved or improvable to the revenue of ?;000;000; be applied; for the space of eleven years to come; to the reparation of the same; and for the present maintenance of the magistrates; knights; deputies; and other officers; who; according to their several dignities and functions; shall annually receive toward the support of the same; as follows:     〃The lord strategus marching; is; upon another account; to have field…pay as general。

                                         Per Annum The lord strategus sitting。。。。。。            ?;000 The lord orator。。。。。。                        2;000 The three commissioners of the seal。。。       4;500 The three commissioners of the treasury。。。   4;500 The two censors。。。。       

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的