the commonwealth of oceana-第63节
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e; who in this signify no less than that they had a scorn of slavery beyond the fear of ruin; which is the height of magnanimity。 The like might be shown by other examples objected against this and other popular governments; as in the banishment of Aristides the Just from Athens; by the ostracism; which; first; was no punishment; nor ever understood for so much as a disparagement; but tended only to the security of the commonwealth; through the removal of a citizen (whose riches or power with a party was suspected) out of harm's way for the space of ten years; neither to the diminution of his estate or honor。 And next; though the virtue of Aristides might in itself be unquestioned; yet for him under the name of the Just to become universal umpire of the people in all cases; even to the neglect of the legal ways and orders of the commonwealth; approached so much to the prince; that the Athenians; doing Aristides no wrong; did their government no more than right in removing him; which therefore is not so probable to have come to pass; as Plutarch presumes; through the envy of Themistocles; seeing Aristides was far more popular than Themistocles; who soon after took the same walk upon a worse occasion。 Wherefore as Machiavel; for anything since alleged; has。 irrefragably proved that popular governments are of all others the least ungrateful; so the obscurity; I say; into which my Lord Archon had now withdrawn himself caused a universal sadness and clouds in the minds of men upon the glory of his rising commonwealth。 Much had been ventilated in private discourse; and the people (for the nation was yet divided into parties that had not lost their animosities); being troubled; bent their eyes upon the Senate; when after some time spent in devotion; and the solemn action of thanksgiving; his Excellency Navarchus de Paralo in the tribe of Dorean; lord strategus of Oceana (though in a new commonwealth a very prudent magistrate) proposed his part or opinion in such a manner to the Council of State; that; passing the ballot of the same with great unanimity and applause; it was introduced into the Senate; where it passed with greater。 Wherefore the decree being forthwith printed and published; copies were returned by the secretaries to the phylarchs (which is the manner of promulgation) and the commissioners of the seal; that is to say; the Right Honorable Phosphorus de Auge in the tribe of Eudia; Dolabella d'Enyo in the tribe of Turmae; and Linceus de Stella in the tribe of Nubia; being elected proposers pro tempore; bespoke of the tribunes a muster of the people to be held that day six weeks; which was the time allowed for promulgation at the halo。 The satisfaction which the people throughout the tribes received upon promulgation of the decree; loaded the carriers with weekly letters between friend and friend; whether magistrates or private persons。 But the day for proposition being come; and the prerogative upon the place appointed in discipline; Sanguine de Ringwood in the tribe of Saltum; captain of the Phoenix; marched by order of the tribunes with his troop to the piazza of the Pantheon; where his trumpets; entering into the great hall; by their blazon gave notice of his arrival; at which the sergeant of the house came down; and returning; in formed the proposers; who descending; were received at the foot of the stairs by the captain; and attended to the coaches of state; with which Calcar de Gilvo in the tribe of Phalera; master of the horse; and the ballotins upon their great horses; stood waiting at the gate。 The proposers being in their coaches; the train for the pomp; the same that is used at the reception of ambassadors; proceeded in this order。 In the front marched the troop with the cornet in the van and the captain in the rear; next the troop came the twenty messengers or trumpets; the ballotins upon the curvet with their usher in the van; and the master of the horse in the rear; next the ballotins; Bronchus de Rauco; in the tribe of Bestia; king of the heralds; with his fraternity in their coats…of…arms; and next to Sir Bronchus; Boristhenes de Holiwater in the tribe of Ave; master of the ceremonies; the mace and the seal of the chancery went immediately before the coaches; and on either side; the doorkeepers or guard of the Senate; with their pole…axes; accompanied with some 300 or 400 footmen belonging to the knights or senators; the trumpeters; ballotins; guards; postilions; coachmen and footmen; being very gallant in the liveries of the commonwealth; but all; except the ballotins; without hats; in lieu whereof they wore black velvet calots; being pointed with a little peak at the forehead。 After the proposers came a long file of coaches full of such gentlemen as use to grace the commonwealth upon the like occasions。 In this posture they moved slowly through the streets (affording; in the gravity of the pomp and the welcomeness of the end; a most reverend and acceptable prospect to the people all the way from the Pantheon; being about half a mile) and arrived at the halo; where they found the prerogative in a close body environed with scaffolds that were covered with spectators。 The tribunes received the proposers; and conducted them into a seat placed in the front of the tribe; like a pulpit; but that it was of some length; and well adorned by the heralds with all manner of birds and beasts; except that they were ill…painted; and never a one of his natural color。 The tribunes were placed at a table that stood below the long seat; those of the horse in the middle; and those of the foot at either end; with each of them a bowl or basin before him; that on the right hand being white; and the other green: in the middle of the table stood a third; which was red。 And the housekeepers of the pavilion; who had already delivered a proportion of linen balls or pellets to every one of the tribe; now presented boxes to the ballotins。 But the proposers as they entered the gallery; or long seat; having put off their hats by way of salutation; were answered by the people with a shout; whereupon the younger commissioners seated themselves at either end; and the first; standing in the middle; spoke after this manner:
〃MY LORDS; THE PEOPLE OF OCEANA: 〃While I find in myself what a felicity it is to salute you by this name; and in every face; anointed as it were with the oil of gladness; a full and sufficient testimony of the like sense; to go about to feast you with words; who are already filled with that food of the mind which; being of pleasing and wholesome digestion; takes in the definition of true joy; were a needless enterprise。 I shall rather put you in mind of that thankfulness which is due; than puff you up with anything that might seem vain。 Is it from the arms of flesh that we derive these blessings? Behold the Commonwealth of Rome falling upon her own victorious sword。 Or is it from our own wisdom; whose counsels had brought it even to that pass; that we began to repent ourselves of victory? Far be it from us; my lords; to sacrifice to our own nets; which we ourselves have so narrowly escaped! Let us rather lay our mouths in the dust; and look up (as was taught the other day when we were better instructed in this lesson) to the hills with our gratitude。 Nevertheless; seeing we read how God upon the neglect of his prophets has been provoked to wrath; it must needs follow that he expects honor should be given to them by whom he has chosen to work as his instruments。 For which cause; nothing doubting of my warrant; I shall proceed to that which more particularly concerns the present occasion; the discovery of my Lord Archon's virtues and merit; to be ever placed by this nation in their true meridian。 〃My lords; I am not upon a subject which persuades me to balk; but necessitates me to seek out the greatest examples。 To begin with Alexander; erecting trophies common to his sword and the pestilence: to what good of mankind did he infect the air with his heap of carcasses? The sword of war; if it be any otherwise used than as the sword of magistracy; for the fear and punishment of those that do evil; is as guilty in the sight of God as the sword of a murderer; nay more; for if the blood of Abel; of one innocent man; cried in the ears of the Lord for vengeance; what shall the blood of an innocent nation? Of this kind of empire; the throne of ambition; and the quarry of a mighty hunter; it has been truly said that it is but a great robbery。 But if Alexander had restored the liberty of Greece; and propagated it to mankind; he had done like my Lord Archon; and might have been truly called the Great。 Alexander cared not to steal a victory that would be given; but my Lord Archon has torn away a victory which had been stolen; while we went tamely yielding up obedience to a nation reaping in our fields; whose fields he has subjected to our empire; and nailed them with his victorious sword to their native Caucasus。 〃Machiavel gives a handsome caution: 'Let no man;' says he; 'be circumvented with the glory of Caesar; from the false reflection of their pens; who through the longer continuance of his empire in the name than in the family; changed their freedom for flattery。 But if a man would know truly what the Romans thou