the commonwealth of oceana-第17章
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an aristocracy； but for what reason I cannot imagine； these also； as void of any balance； having been void of that which is essential to every commonwealth； whether aristocratical or popular； except he be pleased with them； because that； according to the testimony of Xenophon； they killed more men in eight months than the Lacedaemonians had done in ten years； 〃oppressing the people （to use Sir Walter Raleigh's words） with all base and intolerable slavery。〃 The usurped government of the Decemvirs in Rome was of the same kind。 Wherefore in the fear of God let Christian legislators （setting the pattern given in the Mount on the one side； and these execrable examples on the other） know the right hand from the left； and so much the rather； because those things which do not conduce to the good of the governed are fallacious； if they appear to be good for the governors。 God； in chastising a people； is accustomed to burn his rod。 The empire of these oligarchies was not so violent as short； nor did they fall upon the people； but in their own immediate ruin。 A council without a balance is not a commonwealth； but an oligarchy； and every oligarchy； except it be put to the defence of its wickedness or power against some outward danger； is factious。 Wherefore the errors of the people being from their governors （which maxim in the politics bearing a sufficient testimony to itself； is also proved by Machiavel）； if the people of Oceana have been factious； the cause is apparent； but what remedy？ In answer to this question； I come now to the army； of which the most victorious captain and incomparable patriot； Olphaus Megaletor； was now general； who being a much greater master of that art whereof I have made a rough draught in these preliminaries； had such sad reflections upon the ways and proceedings of the Parliament as cast him upon books and all other means of diversion； among which he happened on this place of Machiavel： 〃Thrice happy is that people which chances to have a man able to give them such a government at once； as without alteration may secure them of their liberties； seeing it was certain that Lacedaemon； in observing the laws of Lycurgus； continued about 800 years without any dangerous tumult or corruption。〃 My lord general （as it is said of Themistocles； that he could not sleep for the glory obtained by Miltiades at the battle of Marathon） took so new and deep an impression at these words of the much greater glory of Lycurgus； that； being on this side assaulted with the emulation of his illustrious object； and on the other with the misery of the nation； which seemed （as it were ruined by his victory） to cast itself at his feet； he was almost wholly deprived of his natural rest； till the debate he had within himself came to a firm resolution； that the greatest advantages of a commonwealth are； first； that the legislator should be one man； and； secondly； that the government should be made all together； or at once。 For the first； it is certain； says Machiavel； that a commonwealth is seldom or never well turned or constituted； except it has been the work of one man； for which cause a wise legislator； and one whose mind is firmly set； not upon private but the public interest； not upon his posterity but upon his country； may justly endeavor to get the sovereign power into his own hands； nor shall any man that is master of reason blame such extraordinary means as in that case will be necessary； the end proving no other than the constitution of a well…ordered commonwealth。 The reason of this is demonstrable； for the ordinary means not failing； the commonwealth has no need of a legislator； but the ordinary means failing； there is no recourse to be had but to such as are extraordinary。 And； whereas a book or a building has not been known to attain to its perfection if it has not had a sole author or architect； a commonwealth； as to the fabric of it； is of the like nature。 And thus it may be made at once； in which there be great advantages； for a commonwealth made at once； takes security at the same time it lends money； and trusts not itself to the faith of men； but launches immediately forth into the empire of laws； and； being set straight； brings the manners of its citizens to its rule； whence followed that uprightness which was in Lacedaemon。 But manners that are rooted in men； bow the tenderness of a commonwealth coming up by twigs to their； bent； whence followed the obliquity that was in Rome； and those perpetual repairs by the consuls' axes； and tribunes' hammers； which could never finish that commonwealth but in destruction。 My lord general being clear in these points； and of the necessity of some other course than would be thought upon by the Parliament； appointed a meeting of the army； where he spoke his sense agreeable to these preliminaries with such success to the soldiery； that the Parliament was soon after deposed； had he himself； in the great hall of the Pantheon or palace of justice； situated in Emporium； the capital city； was created by the universal suffrage of the army； Lord Archon； or sole legislator of Oceana； upon which theatre you have； to conclude this piece； a person introduced； whose fame shall never draw its curtain。 The Lord Archon being created； fifty select persons to assist him； by laboring in the mines of ancient prudence； and bringing its hidden treasures to new light； were added； with the style also of legislators； and sat as a council； whereof he was the sole director and president。
PART II
THE COUNCIL OF LEGISLATORS
OF this piece； being the greater half of the whole work； I shall be able at this time to give no further account； than very briefly to show at what it aims。 My Lord Archon； in opening the Council of legislators； made it appear how unsafe a thing it is to follow fancy in the fabric of a commonwealth； and how necessary that the archives of ancient prudence should be ransacked before any councillor should presume to offer any other matter in order to the work in hand； or toward the consideration to be had by the Council upon a model of government。 Wherefore he caused an urn to be brought； and every one of the councillors to draw a lot。 By the lots as they were drawn；
The Commonwealth of Fell to
Israel。。。。。。 Phosphorus de Auge Athens。。。。。 Navarchus de Paralo Lacedaemon。。。。。 Laco de Scytale Carthage。。 Mago de Syrtibus The Achaeans； AEtolians； and Lycians。。。。Aratus de Isthmo The Switz Alpester de Fulmine Holland and the United Provinces Glaucus de Ulna Rome。。。。。。 Dolabella de Enyo Venice。。。。。 Lynceus de Stella
These contained in them all those excellencies whereof a commonwealth is capable； so that to have added more had been to no purpose。 Upon time given to the councillors； by their own studies and those of their friends； to prepare themselves； they were opened in the order； and by the persons mentioned at the Council of legislators； and afterward by order of the same were repeated at the council of the prytans to the people； for in drawing of the lots； there were about a dozen of them inscribed with the letter P； whereby the councillors that drew them became prytans。 The prytans were a committee or council sitting in the great hall of Pantheon； to whom it was lawful for any man to offer anything in order to the fabric of the commonwealth； for which cause； that they might not be oppressed by the throng； there was a rail about the table where they sat； and on each side of the same a pulpit； that on the right hand for any man that would propose anything； and that on the left for any other that would oppose him。 And all parties （being indemnified by proclamation of the Archon） were invited to dispute their own interests； or propose whatever they thought fit （in order to the future government） to the council of the prytans； who； having a guard of about two or three hundred men； lest the heat of dispute might break the peace； had the right of moderators； and were to report from time to time such propositions or occurrences as they thought fit；
