the commonwealth of oceana-第46节
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w my Lord Epimonus loves me； though I can never get his esteem） I will say； if he had a mistress should use him so； he would find it a sad life； or I appeal to your lordships； how I can resent it from such a friend； that he puts king piper's politics in the balance with mine。 King piper； I deny not； may teach his bears to dance； but they have the worst ear of all creatures。 Now how he should make them keep time in fifty several tribes； and that two years together； for else it will be to no purpose； may be a small matter with my lord to promise； but it seems to me of impossible performance。 First； through the nature of the bean； and； secondly； through that of the ballot； or how what he has hitherto thought so hard； is now come to be easy； but he may think that for expedition they will eat up these balls like apples。 〃However； there is so much more in their way by the constitution of this； than is to be found in that of any other commonwealth； that I am reconciled； it now appearing plainly that the points of my lord's arrows are directed at no other white than to show the excellency of our government above others； which； as he proceeds further； is yet plainer； while he makes it appear that there can be no other elected by the people but smiths：
〃'Brontesque Steropesque et nudus membra Pyracmon：'
Othoniel； Aod； Gideon； Jephtha； Samson； as in Israel； Miltiades； Aristides； Themistocles； Cimon； Pericles； as in Athens； Papyrius； Cincinnatus； Camillus； Fabius Scipio； as in Rome： smiths of the fortune of the commonwealth； not such as forged hob…nails； but thunderbolts。 Popular elections are of that kind； that all of the rest of the world is not able； either in number or glory； to equal those of these three commonwealths。 These indeed were the ablest cudgel and football players； bright arms were their cudgels； and the world was the ball that lay at their feet。 Wherefore we are not so to understand the maxim of legislators； which holds all men to be wicked； as if it related to mankind or a commonwealth； the interests whereof are the only straight lines they have whereby to reform the crooked； but as it relates to every man or party； under what color soever he or they pretend to be trusted apart； with or by the whole。 Hence then it is derived； which is made good in all experience； that the aristocracy is ravenous； and not the people。 Your highwaymen are not such as have trades； or have been brought up to industry； but such commonly whose education has pretended to that of gentlemen。 My lord is so honest； he does not know the maxims that are of absolute necessity to the arts of wickedness； for it is most certain； if there be not more purses than thieves； that the thieves themselves must be forced to turn honest； because they cannot thrive by their trade； but now if the people should turn thieves； who sees not that there would be more thieves than purses？ wherefore that a whole people should turn robbers or levellers； is as impossible in the end as in the means。
〃But that I do not think your artist which you mentioned； whether astronomer or arithmetician； can tell me how many barley…corns would reach to the sun； I could be content he were called to the account； with which I shall conclude this point： when by the way I have chid my lords the legislators； who； as if they doubted my tackling could not hold； would leave me to flag in a perpetual calm； but for my Lord Epimonus； who breathes now and then into my sails and stirs the waters。 A ship makes not her way so briskly as when she is handsomely brushed by the waves； and tumbles over those that seem to tumble against her； in which case I have perceived in the dark that light has been struck even out of the sea； as in this place； where my Lord Epimonus feigning to give us a demonstration of one thing； has given it of another； and of a better。 For the people of this nation； if they amount in each tribe to 2；000 elders and 2；000 youths upon the annual roll； holding a fifth to the whole tribe； then the whole of a tribe； not accounting women and children； must amount to 20；000； and so the whole of all the tribes； being fifty； to 1；000；000。 〃Now you have 10；000 parishes； and reckoning these one with another； each at ？；000 a year dry…rent； the rent or revenue of the nation； as it is or might be let to farm； amounts to ？0；000；000； and ？0；000；000 in revenue divided equally to 1；000；000 of men； comes but to ？0 a year to each wherewith to maintain himself； his wife and children。 But he that has a cow upon the common； and earns his shilling by the day at his labor； has twice as much already as this would come to for his share； because if the land were thus divided； there would be nobody to set him on work。 So my Lord Epimonus's footman； who costs him thrice as much as one of these could thus get； would certainly lose by his bargain。 What should we speak of those innumerable trades whereupon men live； not only better than others upon good shares of lands； but become also purchasers of greater estates？ Is not this the demonstration which my lord meant； that the revenue of industry in a nation； at least in this； is three or four…fold greater than that of the mere rent？ If the people then obstruct industry； they obstruct their own livelihood； but if they make a war； they obstruct industry。 Take the bread out of the people's mouths； as did the Roman patricians； and you are sure enough of a war； in which case they may be levellers； but our agrarian causes their industry to flow with milk and honey。 it will be owned that this is true； if the people were given to understand their own happiness； but where is it they do that？ Let me reply with the like question； where do they not？ They do not know their happiness it should seem in France； Spain； and Italy； but teach them what it is； and try whose sense is the truer。 〃As to the late wars in Germany； it has been affirmed to me there； that the princes could never make the people to take arms while they had bread； and have therefore suffered countries now and then to be wasted that they might get soldiers。 This you will find to be the certain pulse and temper of the people； and if they have been already proved to be the most wise and constant order of a government； why should we think （when no man can produce one example of the common soldiery in an army mutinying because they had not captains' pay） that the prerogative should jolt the heads of the Senate together because these have the better salaries； when it must be as evident to the people in a nation； as to the soldiery in an army； that it is no more possible their emoluments of this kind should be afforded by any commonwealth in the world to be made equal with those of the Senate； than that the common soldiers should be equal with the captains？ It is enough for the common soldier that his virtue may bring him to be a captain； and more to the prerogative； that each of them is nearer to be a senator。 〃If my lord thinks our salaries too great； and that the commonwealth is not housewife enough； whether is it better housewifery that she should keep her family from the snow； or suffer them to burn her house that they may warm themselves？ for one of these must be。 Do you think that she came off at a cheaper rate when men had their rewards by ？；000 or ？；000 a year in land if inheritance？ if you say that they will be more godly than they have been； it may be ill taken； and if you cannot promise that； it is time we find out some way of stinting at least； if not curing them of that same sacra fames。 On the other side； if a poor man （as such a one may save a city） gives his sweat to the public； with what conscience can you suffer his family in the meantime to starve？ but he that lays his hand to this plough shall not lose by taking it off from his own； and a commonwealth that will mend this shall be penny…wise。 The Sanhedrim of Israel； being the supreme； and a constant court of judicature； could not choose but be exceeding gainful。 The Senate of the Bean in Athens； because it was but annual； was moderately salaried； but that of the Areopagites； being for life； bountifully； and what advantages the senators of Lacedaemon had； where there was little money or use of it； were in honors for life。 The patricians having no profit； took all。 Venice being a situation where a man goes but to the door for his employment； the honor is great and the reward very little； but in Holland a councillor of state has ？；500 Flemish a year； besides other accommodations。 The States…General have more。 And that commonwealth looks nearer her penny than ours needs to do。 〃For the revenue of this nation； besides that of her industry； it amounts； as has been shown； to ？0；000；000； and the salaries in the whole come not to ？00；000 a year。 The beauty they will add to the commonwealth will be exceeding great； and the people will delight in this beauty of their commonwealth； the encouragement they will give to the study of the public being very progitable； the accommodation they will afford to your magistrates very honorable and easy。 And the sum； when it or twice as much was spent in bunting and housekeeping； was never any grievance to the people。 I am ashamed to stand huckling upon this point； it is sordid。 Your magistrates are ra
