the commonwealth of oceana-第53节
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es of Cleopatra？ You must have some other education for your youth； or they； like that passage； will show better in romance than true story。 〃The custom of the Commonwealth of Rome in distributing her magistracies without respect of age； happened to do well in Corvinus and Scipio； for which cause Machiavel （with whom that which was done by Rome； and that which is well done； are for the most part all one） commends this course。 Yet how much it did worse at other times； is obvious in Pompey and Caesar； examples by which Boccalini illustrates the prudence of Venice in her contrary practice； affirming it to have been no small step to the ruin of the Roman liberty； that these （having tasted in their youth of the supreme honors） had no greater in their age to hope for； but by perpetuating of the same in themselves； which came to blood and ended in tyranny。 The opinion of Verulamius is safe： 'The errors；' says he； 'of young men are the ruin of business； whereas the errors of old men amount but to this； that more might have been done； or sooner。' But though their wisdom be little； their courage is great； wherefore （to come to the main education of this commonwealth） the militia of Oceana is the province of youth。 〃The distribution of this province by the essays is so fully described in the order； that I need repeat nothing； the order itself being but a repetition or copy of that original； which in ancient prudence is of all others the fairest； as that from whence the Commonwealth of Rome more particularly derived the empire of the world。 And there is much more reason in this age； when governments are universally broken； or swerved from their foundations； and the people groan under tyranny； that the same causes （which could not be withstood when the world was full of popular governments） should have the like effects。 〃The causes in the Commonwealth of Rome； whereof the empire of the world was not any miraculous； but a natural （nay； I may safely say a necessary） consequence； are contained in that part of her discipline which was domestic； and in that which she exercises in her provinces or conquest。 Of the latter I shall have better occasion to speak when we come to our provincial orbs； the former divided the whole people by tribes； amounting； as Livy and Cicero show； at their full growth to thirty…five； and every tribe by the sense or valuation of estates into five classes： for the sixth being proletary； that is the nursery； or such as through their poverty contributed nothing to the commonwealth but children； was not reckoned nor used in arms。 And this is the first point of the militia； in which modern prudence is quite contrary to the ancient； for whereas we； excusing the rich and arming the poor； become the vassals of our servants； they； by excusing the poor and arming such as were rich enough to be freemen； became lords of the earth。 The nobility and gentry of this nation； who understand so little what it is to be the lords of the earth that they have not been able to keep their own lands； will think it a strange education for their children to be common soldiers； and obliged to all the duties of arms； nevertheless it is not for four shillings a week； but to be capable of being the best man in the field or in the city the latter part of which consideration makes the common soldier herein a better man than the general of any monarchical army。 〃And whereas it may be thought that this would drink deep of noble blood； I dare boldly say； take the Roman nobility in the heat of their fiercest wars； and you shall not find such a shambles of them as has been made of ours by mere luxury and slothfulness； which； killing the body； kill the soul also： Animasque in vulnere ponunt。 Whereas common right is that which he who stands in the vindication of； has used that sword of justice for which he receives the purple of magistracy。 The glory of a man on earth can go no higher； and if he falls he rises again； and comes sooner to that reward which is so much higher as heaven is above the earth。 To return to the Roman example： every class was divided； as has been more than once shown； into centuries； and every century was equally divided into youth and elders； the youth for foreign service； and the elders for the guard of the territory。 In the first class were about eighteen centuries of horse； being those which； by the institution of Servius； were first called to the suffrage in the centurial assemblies。 But the delectus； or levy of an army； which is the present business； proceeded； according to Polybius； in this manner： 〃Upon a war decreed； the Consuls elected four…and…twenty military tribunes or colonels； whereof ten； being such as had merited their tenth stipend； were younger officers。 The tribunes being chosen； the Consuls appointed a day to the tribes； when those in them of military age were to appear at the capitol。 The day being come； and the youth assembled accordingly； the Consuls ascended their tribunal； and the younger tribunes were straight divided into four parts after this manner： four were assigned to the first legion （a legion at the most consisted of 6；000 foot and 300 horse）； three to the second； four to the third； and three to the fourth。 The younger tribunes being thus distributed； two of the elder were assigned to the first legion； three to the second； two to the third； and three to the fourth； and the officers of each legion thus assigned； having drawn the tribes by lot； and being seated according to their divisions at a convenient distance from each other； the tribe of the first lot was called； whereupon they that were of it knowing the business； and being prepared； presently bolted out four of their number； in the choice whereof such care was taken that they offered none that was not a citizen； no citizen that was not of the youth； no youth that was not of some one of the five classes； nor any one of the five classes that was not expert at his exercises。 Moreover； they used such diligence in matching them for age and stature； that the officers of the legion； except they happened to be acquainted with the youth so bolted； were forced to put themselves upon fortune； while they of the first legion chose one； they of the second the next； they of the third another and the fourth youth fell to the last legion； and thus was the election （the legions and the tribes varying according to their lots） carried on till the foot were complete。 〃The like course with little alteration was taken by the horse officers till the horse also were complete。 This was called giving of names； which the children of Israel did also by lot； and if any man refused to give his name； he was sold for a slave； or his estate confiscated to the commonwealth。 'When Marcus Curius the Consul was forced to make a sudden levy； and none of the youth would give in their names； all the tribes being put to the lot； he commanded the first name drawn out of the urn of the Pollian tribe （which happened to come first） to be called； but the youth not answering； he ordered his goods to be sold； which was conformable to the law in Israel； according to which Saul took a yoke of oxen； and hewed them in pieces； and sent them throughout the tribes； saying； 'Whosoever comes not forth to battle after Saul and Samuel； so shall it be done to his oxen。' By which you may observe also that they who had no cattle were not of the militia in Israel。 But the age of the Roman youth by the Tullian law determined at thirty； and by the law （though it should seem by Machiavel and others that this was not well observed） a man could not stand for magistracy till he was miles emeritus； or had fulfilled the full term of his militia； which was complete in his tenth stipend or service； nor was he afterward obliged under any penalty to give his name； except the commonwealth were invaded； in which case the elders were as well obliged as the youth。 The Consul might also levy milites evocatos； or soldiers； commanded men out of such as had served their turn； and this at his discretion。 The legions being thus complete； were divided by two to each consul； and in these no man had right to serve but a Roman citizen； now because two legions made but a small army； the Romans added to every one of their arms an equal number of foot； and a double number of horse levied among their Latin or Italian associates； so a consular army； with the legions and auxiliaries； amounted to about 30；000； and whereas they commonly levied two such armies together； these being joined made about 60；000。 〃The steps whereby our militia follows the greatest captain； are the three essays； the first； elected by a fifth man in the parishes； and amounting in the whole to 100；000； choose their officers at the hundreds； where they fall also to their games or exercises； invited by handsome prizes； such as for themselves and the honor of them will be coveted； such as will render the hundred a place of sports； and exercise of arms all the year long； such as in the space of ten years will equip 30；000 men horse and foot； with such arms for their forge； proof； and beauty； as （notwithstanding the argyraspides； or silver shields of Alexander's guards） were never worn by so many； such as will present marks of virtue and direction to your g
