the commonwealth of oceana-第52节
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iberty of their own consciences； in regard that； however they behave themselves； the ignorance of the unlearned in this case cannot lose your religion nor disturb your government； which otherwise it would most certainly do； and the universities with their emoluments； as also the benefices of the whole nation； are to be improved by such augmentations as may make a very decent and comfortable subsistence for the ministry； which is neither to be allowed synods nor assemblies； except upon the occasion shown in the universities； when they are consulted by the Council of State； and suffered to meddle with affairs of religion； nor to be capable of any other public preferment whatsoever； by which means the interest of the learned can never come to corrupt your religion； nor disturb your government； which otherwise it would most certainly do。 Venice； though she does not see； or cannot help the corruption of her religion； is yet so circumspect to avoid disturbance of her government in this kind； that her Council proceeds not to election of magistrates till it be proclaimed fora papalini； by which words such as have consanguinity with red hats； or relation to the Court of Rome； are warned to withdraw。 〃If a minister in Holland meddles with matter of state； the magistrate sends him a pair of shoes； whereupon； if he does not go； he is driven away from his charge。 I wonder why ministers； of all men； should be perpetually tampering with government； first because they； as well as others； have it in express charge to submit themselves to the ordinances of men； and secondly because these ordinances of men must go upon such political principles as they of all others； by anything that can be found in their writings or actions； least understand： whence you have the suffrage of all nations to this sense； that an ounce of wisdom is worth a pound of clergy。 Your greatest clerks are not your wisest men： and when some foul absurdity in state is committed； it is common with the French； and even the Italians； to call it 'pas de clerc；' or 'governo de prete。' They may bear with men that will be preaching without study； while they will be governing without prudence。 My lords； if you know not how to rule your clergy； you will most certainly； like a man that cannot rule his wife； have neither quiet at home nor honor abroad。 Their honest vocation is to teach your children at the schools and the universities； and the people in the parishes； and yours is concerned to see that they do not play the shrews； of which parts does consist the education of your commonwealth； so far as it regards religion。 〃To justice； or that part of it which is commonly executive； answers the education of the inns of court and chancery。 Upon which to philosophize； requires a public kind of learning that I have not。 But they who take upon them any profession proper to the educations mentioned that is； theology； physic； or law are not at leisure for the essays。 Wherefore the essays； being degrees whereby the youth commence for all magistracies； offices； and honors in the parish； hundred； tribe； Senate； or prerogative； divines； physicians； and lawyers not taking these degrees； exclude themselves from all such magistracies； offices； and honors。 And whereas lawyers are likest to exact further reason for this； they （growing up from the most gainful art at the bar to those magistracies upon the bench which are continually appropriated to themselves； and not only endowed with the greatest revenues； but also held for life） have the least reason of all the rest to pretend to any other； especially in an equal commonwealth； where accumulation of magistracy or to take a person engaged by his profit to the laws； as they stand； into the power； which is legislative； and which should keep them to what they were； or ought to he； were a solecism in prudence。 It is true that the legislative power may have need of advice and assistance from the executive magistracy； or such as are learned in the law； for which cause the judges are； as they have heretofore been； assistants in the Senate。 Nor； however it came about； can I see any reason why a judge； being but an assistant or lawyer； should be member of a legislative council。 〃I deny not that the Roman patricians were all patrons； and that the whole people were clients； some to one family and some to another； by which means they had their causes pleaded and defended in some appearance gratis； for the patron took no money； though if he had a daughter to marry； his clients were to pay her portion； nor was this so great a grievance。 But if the client accused his patron； gave testimony or suffrage against him； it was a crime of such a nature that any man might lawfully kill him as a traitor； and this； as being the nerve of the optimacy； was a great cause of ruin to that commonwealth； for when the people would carry anything that pleased not the Senate； the senators were ill provided if they could not intercede…that is； oppose it by their clients； with whom； to vote otherwise than they pleased； was the highest crime。 The observation of this bond till the time of the Gracchi that is to say； till it was too late； or to no purpose to break it was the cause why； in all the former heats and disputes that had happened between the Senate and the people； it never came to blows； which indeed was good； but withal； the people could have no remedy； which was certainly evil。 Wherefore I am of opinion that a senator ought not to be a patron or advocate； nor a patron or advocate to be a senator； for if his practice be gratis it debauches the people； and if it be mercenary it debauches himself： take it which way you will； when he should be making of laws； he will be knitting of nets。 〃Lycurgus； as I said； by being a traveller became a legislator； but in times when prudence was another thing。 Nevertheless we may not shut out this part of education in a commonwealth； which will be herself a traveller； for those of this make have seen the world； especially because this is certain （though it be not regarded in our times； when things being left to take their chance； it fares with us accordingly） that no man can be a politician except he be first a historian or a traveller； for except he can see what must be； or what may be； he is no politician。 Now if he has no knowledge in history he cannot tell what has been； and if he has not been a traveller； he cannot tell what is； but he that neither knows what has been； nor what is； can never tell what must be； or what may be。 Furthermore； the embassies…in…ordinary by our constitution are the prizes of young men； more especially such as have been travellers。 Wherefore they of these inclinations； having leave of the censors； owe them an account of their time； and cannot choose but lay it out with some ambition of praise or reward； where both are open； whence you will have eyes abroad； and better choice of public ministers； your gallants showing themselves not more to the ladies at their balls than to your commonwealth at her Academy when they return from their travels。 〃But this commonwealth being constituted more especially of two elements； arms and councils； drives by a natural instinct at courage and wisdom； which he who has attained is arrived at the perfection of human nature。 It is true that these virtues must have some natural root in him that is capable of them； but this amounts not to so great a matter as some will have it。 For if poverty makes an industrious； a moderate estate a temperate； and a lavish fortune a wanton man； and this be the common course of things； wisdom then is rather of necessity than inclination。 And that an army which was meditating upon flight； has been brought by despair to win the field； is so far from being strange； that like causes will evermore produce like effects。 Wherefore this commonwealth drives her citizens like wedges； there is no way with them but thorough； nor end but that glory whereof man is capable by art or nature。 That the genius of the Roman families commonly preserved itself throughout the line （as to instance in some； the Manlii were still severe； the Publicolae lovers； and the Appii haters of the people） is attributed by Machiavel to their education； nor； if interest might add to the reason why the genius of a patrician was one thing； and that of a plebeian another； is the like so apparent between different nations； who； according to their different educations； have yet as different manners。 It was anciently noted； and long confirmed by the actions of the French； that in their first assaults their courage was more than that of men； and for the rest less than that of women； which nevertheless； through the amendment of their discipline； we see now to be otherwise。 I will not say but that some man or nation upon an equal improvement of this kind may be lighter than some other； but certainly education is the scale without which no man or nation can truly know his or her own weight or value。 By our histories we can tell when one Marpesian would have beaten ten Oceaners； and when one Oceaner would have beaten ten Marpesians。 Marc Antony was a Roman； but how did that appear in the embraces of Cleopatra？ You must have some other education for your youth； or they； like that passage； will
