the commonwealth of oceana-第64节
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n the family； changed their freedom for flattery。 But if a man would know truly what the Romans thought of Caesar； let them observe what they said of Catiline。'〃 And yet by how much he who has perpetrated some heinous crime is more execrable than he who did but attempt it； by so much is Caesar more execrable than Catiline。 On the contrary； let him that would know what ancient and heroic times； what the Greeks and Romans would both have thought and said of my Lord Archon； observe what they thought and said of Solon； Lycurgus； Brutus； and Publicola。 And yet by how much his virtue； that is crowned with the perfection of his work； is beyond theirs； who were either inferior in their aim； or in their performance； by so much is my Lord Archon to be preferred before Solon； Lycurgus； Brutus； and Publicola。 〃Nor will we shun the most illustrious example of Scipio： this hero； though never so little less； yet was he not the founder of a commonwealth； and for the rest； allowing his virtue to have been of the most untainted ray in what did it outshine this of my Lord Archon？ But if dazzling the eyes of the magistrates it overawed liberty； Rome might be allowed some excuse that she did not like it； and I； if I admit not of this comparison： for where is my Lord Archon？ Is there a genius； how free soever； which in his presence would not find itself to be under power？ He is shrunk into clouds； he seeks obscurity in a nation that sees by his light。 He is impatient of his own glory； lest it should stand between you and your liberty 〃 Liberty！ What is even that； if we may not be grateful？ And if we may； we have none： for who has anything that he does not owe？ My lords； there be some hard conditions of virtue： if this debt were exacted； it were not due； whereas being cancelled； we are all entered into bonds。 On the other side； if we make such a payment as will not stand with a free people； we do not enrich my Lord Archon； but rob him of his whole estate immense glory。 〃These particulars had in due deliberation and mature debate； according to the order of this commonwealth； it is proposed by authority of the Senate； to you my lords the people of Oceana： 〃I。 That the dignity and office of Archon； or protector of the commonwealth of Oceana； be and are hereby conferred； by the Senate and the people of Oceana； upon the most illustrious Prince and sole legislator of this commonwealth； Olphaus Megaletor； pater patrioe； whom God preserve； for the term of his natural life。 yet remaining of the ancient 〃 II。 That ？50；000 per annum revenue； be estated upon the said illustrious Prince； or Lord Archon； for the said term； and to the proper and peculiar use of his Highness。 III。 That the Lord Archon have the reception of all foreign ambassadors； by and with the Council of State； according to the orders of this commonwealth。 〃IV。 That the Lord Archon have a standing army of 12；000 defrayed upon a monthly tax； during the term of three years； for the protection of this commonwealth against dissenting parties； to be governed； directed； and commanded by and with the advice of the Council of War； according to the orders of this commonwealth。 〃V。 That this commonwealth make no distinction of persons or parties； but every man being elected and sworn； according to the orders of the same； be equally capable of magistracy； or not elected； be equally capable of liberty； and the enjoyment of his estate free from all other than common taxes。 〃VI。 That a man putting a distinction upon himself； refusing oath upon election； or declaring himself of a party not conformable to the civil government； may within any time of his the three years' standing of the army transport himself and his estate； without molestation or impediment； into any other nation。 〃VII。 That in case there remains any distinction of parties not conforming to the civil government of this commonwealth； after the three years of the standing army being expired； and the commonwealth be thereby forced to prolong the term of the said army； the pay from henceforth of the said army be levied upon the estates of such parties so remaining unconformable to the civil government。〃
The proposer having ended his oration； the trumpets sounded； and the tribunes of the horse being mounted to view the ballot； caused the tribe （which thronging up to the speech； came almost round the gallery） to retreat about twenty paces； when Linceus de Stella； receiving the propositions； repaired with Bronchus de Rauco the herald； to a little scaffold erected in the middle of the tribe； where he seated himself； the herald standing bare upon his right hand。 The ballotins； having their boxes ready； stood before the gallery； and at the command of the tribunes marched； one to every troop on horseback； and one to every company on foot； each of them being followed by other children that bore red boxes： now this is putting the question whether the question should be put。 And the suffrage being very suddenly returned to the tribunes at the table； and numbered in the view of the proposers； the votes were all in the affirmative； whereupon the red or doubtful boxes were laid aside； it appearing that the tribe； whether for the negative or affirmative； Was clear in the matter。 Wherefore the herald began from the scaffold in the middle of the tribe； to pronounce the first proposition； and the ballotins marching with the negative or affirmative only； Bronchus； with his voice like thunder； continued to repeat the proposition over and over again； so long as it was in balloting。 The like was done for every clause； till the ballot was finished； and the tribunes assembling； had signed the points； that is to say； the number of every suffrage； as it was taken by the secretary upon the tale of the tribunes； and in the sight of the proposers； for this may not be omitted： it is the pulse of the people。 Now whereas it appertains to the tribunes to report the suffrage of the people to the Senate； they cast the lot for this office with three silver balls and one gold one； and it fell upon the Right Worshipful Argus de Crookhorn； in the tribe of Pascua； first tribune of the foot。 Argus； being a good sufficient man in his own country； was yet of the mind that he should make but a bad spokesman； and therefore became something blank at his luck； till his colleagues persuaded him that it was no such great matter； if he could but read； having his paper before him。 The proposers； taking coach； received a volley upon the field； and returned in the same order； save that； being accompanied with the tribunes； they were also attended by the whole prerogative to the piazza of the Pantheon； where； with another volley； they took their leaves。 Argus； who had not thought upon his wife and children all the way； went very gravely up： and everyone being seated； the Senate by their silence seemed to call for the report； which Argus； standing up； delivered in this wise：
〃RIGHT HONORABLE LORDS AND FATHERS ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT：
〃So it is； that it has fallen to my lot to report to your excellencies in the votes of the people； taken upon the 3d instant； in the first year of this commonwealth； at the halo； 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； lords commissioners of the great seal of Oceana； and proposers pro temporibus； together with my brethren the tribunes； and myself being present。 Wherefore these are to certify to your fatherhoods； that the said votes of the people were as follows； that is to say：
To the first proposition； nemine contradicente； To the second； nemine contradicente； To the third； the like； To the fourth； 211； above half； To the fifth； 201； above half； To the sixth； 150； above half； in the affirmative； To the seventh； nemine contradicente again； and so forth。
〃My Lords； it is a language that is out of my prayers； and if I be out at it； no harm 〃But as concerning my Lord Archon （as I was saying） these are to signify to you the true…heartedness and goodwill which are in the people； seeing by joining with you； as one man； they confess that all they have to give is too little for his highness。 For truly fathers； if he who is able to do harm； and does none； may well be called honest； what shall we say to my Lord Archon's highness； who having had it in his power to have done us the greatest mischief that ever befell a poor nation； so willing to trust such as they thought well of； has done us so much good； as we should never have known how to do ourselves？ Which was so sweetly delivered by my Lord Chancellor Phosphorus to the people； that I dare say there was never a one of them could forbear to do as I do…and； it please your fatherhoods； they be tears of joy。 Aye； my Lord Archon shall walk the streets （if it be for his ease I mean） with a switch； while the people run after him and pray for him； he shall not wet his foot； they will strew flowers in his way； he shall sit higher in their hearts； and in the judgment of all good men； than the kings that go upstairs to their seats； and one of these had as good pull two or three of his fellows out of their great chairs as wrong him or meddle wi
