the commonwealth of oceana-第54节
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！
r's guards） were never worn by so many； such as will present marks of virtue and direction to your general or strategus in the distribution of his army； which doubles the value of them to the proprietors； who are bound to wear them； and eases the commonwealth of so much charge； so many being armed already。 〃But here will be the objection now。 How shall such a revenue be compassed？ Fifty pounds a year in every hundred is a great deal； not so easily raised； men will not part with their money； nor would the sum； as it is proposed by the order of Pompey； rise in many years。 These are difficulties that fit our genius exactly； and yet ？；000 in each hundred； once levied； establishes the revenue forever。 Now the hundreds one with another are worth ？0；000 a year dry…rent； over and above personal estates； which bring it to twice the value； so that a twentieth part of one year's revenue of the hundred does it。 if you cannot afford this while you pay taxes； though from henceforth they will be but small ones； do it when you pay none。 if it be then too much for one year； do it in two； if it be too much for two years； do it in four。 What husbands have we hitherto been？ what is become of greater sums？ My lords； if you should thus cast your bread upon the waters； after many days you shall find it； stand not huckling when you are offered corn and your money again in the mouth of the sack。 〃But to proceed： the first essay being officered at the hundreds； and mustered at the tribes （where they are entertained with other sports； which will be very fine ones）； proceeds to the election of the second essay； or standing army of this nation； consisting of 30；000 foot and 10；000 horse； and these； upon a war decreed； being delivered at the rendezvous of Oceana to the strategus； are the third essay； which answers to the Roman legions。 But you may observe； that whereas the consuls elected the military tribunes； and raised commanded men out of the veterans at their own discretion； our polemarchs； or field officers； are elected by the scrutiny of the Council of War； and our veterans not otherwise taken on than as volunteers； and with the consent of the polemarchs； which may serve for the removal of certain scruples which might otherwise be incident in this place； though without encouragement by the Roman way of proceeding； much less by that which is proposed。 But whereas the Roman legions in all amounted not in one army to above 30；000 men； or little more； you have here 40；000； and whereas they added auxiliaries； it is in this regard that Marpesia will be a greater revenue to you than if you had the Indies； for whereas heretofore she has yielded you nothing but her native thistles； in ploughing out the rankness of her aristocracy by your agrarian； you will find her an inexhaustible magazine of men； and to her own advantage； who will make a far better account by the arms than by the pins of Poland。 Wherefore as a consular army consisted of about an equal number of auxiliaries added to their legions by their Latin or Italian associates； you may add to a parliamentary army an equal number of Marpesians or Panopeans； as that colony shall hereafter be able to supply you； by which means the commonwealth will be able to go forth to battle with 80；000 men。 〃To make wars with small forces is no husbandry； but a waste； a disease； a lingering and painful consumption of men and money the Romans making theirs thick； made them short； and had little regard to money； as that which they who have men enough can command where it is fittest that it should be levied。 All the ancient monarchies by this means got on wing； and attained to vast riches。 Whereas your modern princes being dear purchasers of small parcels； have but empty pockets。 But it may be some will accuse the order of rashness； in that it commits the sole conduct of the war to the general； and the custom of Venice by her proveditori； or checks upon her commanders…in…chief； may seem to be of greater prudence； but in this part of our government neither Venice nor any nation that makes use of mercenary forces is for our instruction。 A mercenary army； with a standing general； is like the fatal sister that spins； but proper forces； with an annual magistrate； are like her that cuts the thread。 Their interests are quite contrary； and yet you have a better proveditor than the Venetian； another strategus sitting with an army standing by him； whereupon that which is marching； if there were any probability it should； would find as little possibility that it could recoil； as a foreign enemy to invade you。 These things considered； a war will appear to be of a contrary nature to that of all other reckonings； inasmuch as of this you must never look to have a good account if you be strict in imposing checks。 Let a council of huntsmen； assembled beforehand； tell you which way the stag shall run； where you shall cast about at the fault； and how you shall ride to be in at the chase all the day； but these may as well do that； as a council of war direct a general。 The hours that have painted wings； and of different colors； are his council； he must be like the eye that makes not the scene； but has it so soon as it changes。 That in many counsellors there is strength； is spoken of civil administrations； as to those that are military； there is nothing more certain than that in many counsellors there is weakness。 Joint commissions in military affairs； are like hunting your hounds in their couples。 In the Attic War Cleomenes and Demaratus； Kings of Lacedaemon； being thus coupled； tugged one against another； and while they should have joined against the Persian； were the cause of the common calamity； whereupon that commonwealth took better counsel； and made a law whereby from henceforth there went at once but one of her kings to battle。 〃'The Fidenati being in rebellion； and having slain the colony of the Romans； four tribunes with consular power were created by the people of Rome； whereof one being left for the guard of the city； the other three were sent against the Fidenati； who； through the division that happened among them； brought nothing home but dishonor； whereupon the Romans created the Dictator； and Livy gives his judgment in these words： 〃The three tribunes with consular power were a lesson how useless in war is the joint command of several generals； for each following his own counsels； while they all differed in their opinions； gave by this opportunity an advantage to the enemy。〃 When the consuls Quintus and Agrippa were sent against the AEqui； Agrippa for this reason refused to go with his colleague； saying： 〃That in the administration of great actions it was most safe that the chief command should be lodged in one person。〃 And if the ruin of modern armies were well considered； most of it would be found to have fallen upon this point； it being in this case far safer to trust to any one man of common prudence； than to any two or more together of the greatest parts。' The consuls indeed； being equal in power； while one was present with the Senate； and the other in the field with the army； made a good balance； and this with us is exactly followed by the election of a new strategus upon the march of the old one。 〃The seven…and…twentieth order； whereby the elders in case of invasion are obliged to equal duty with the youth； and each upon their own charge； is suitable to reason （for every man defends his own estate） and to our copy； as in the war with the Samnites and Tuscans。 'The Senate ordered a vacation to be proclaimed； and a levy to be made of all sorts of persons； and not only the freemen and youths were listed； but cohorts of the old men were likewise formed。' This nation of all others is the least obnoxious to invasion。 Oceana； says a French politician； is a beast that cannot be devoured but by herself。 Nevertheless； that government is not perfect which is not provided at all points； and in this （ad triarios res rediit） the elders being such as in a martial state must be veterans； the commonwealth invaded gathers strength like Antaeus by her fall； while the whole number of the elders； consisting of 500；000； and the youth of as many； being brought up according to the order； give twelve successive battles； each battle consisting of 80；000 men； half elders and half youth。 And the commonwealth； whose constitution can be no stranger to any of those virtues which are to be acquired in human life； grows familiar with death ere she dies。 If the hand of God be upon her for her transgressions； she shall mourn for her sins； and lie in the dust for her iniquities； without losing her manhood。
〃'Si fractus illabatur orbis； Impavidam ferient ruinoe。'〃
The remaining part； being the constitution of the provincial orb； is partly civil； or consisting of the elders； and partly military； or consisting of the youth。 The civil part of the provincial orb is directed by The twenty…eighth order； 〃Whereby the council of a province being constituted of twelve knights； divided by four into three regions （for their term and revolution conformable to the Parliament）； is perpetuated by the annual election at the tropic of four knights （being triennial magistrates） out of the region of the Senate whose term expires； and of one knig
