the commonwealth of oceana-第29章
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onarchy could not bear with such divisions because they tendered to a commonwealth； neither can a commonwealth connive at such accumulations because they tend to a monarchy。 If the monarchy might make bold with so many for the good of one； we may make bold with one for the good of so many； nay； for the good of all。 〃My lords； it comes into my mind； that which upon occasion of the variety of parties enumerated in our late civil wars； was said by a friend of mine coming home from his travels； about the latter end of these troubles； that he admired how it came to pass； that younger brothers； especially being so many more in number than their elder did not unite as one man against a tyranny； the like whereof has not been exercised in any other nation。 And truly； when I consider that our countrymen are none of the worst…natured； I must confess I marvel much how it comes to pass that we should use our children as we do our puppies take one； lay it in the lap； feed it with every good bit； and drown five； nay； yet worse； forasmuch as the puppies are once drowned； whereas the children are left perpetually drowning。 Really； my lords； it is a flinty custom！ and all this for his cruel ambition； that would raise himself a pillar a golden pillar for his monument； though he has children； his own reviving flesh； and a kind of immortality。 And this is that interest of a family； for which we are to think ill of a government that will not endure it。 But quiet ourselves； the land through which the river Nilus wanders in one stream； is barren； but where it parts into seven； it multiplies its fertile shores by distributing； yet keeping and improving； such a propriety and nutrition； as is a prudent agrarian to a well…ordered commonwealth。 〃Nor （to come to the fifth assertion） is a political body rendered any fitter for industry by having one gouty and another withered leg； than a natural。 It tends not to the improvement of merchandise that there be some who have no need of their trading； and others that are not able to follow it。 If confinement discourages industry； an estate in money is not confined； and lest industry should want whereupon to work； land is not engrossed or entailed upon any man； but remains at its devotion。 I wonder whence the computation can arise； that this should discourage industry。 Two thousand pounds a year a man may enjoy in Oceana； as much in Panopea； ？00 in Marpesia； there be other plantations； and the commonwealth will have more。 Who knows how far the arms of our agrarian may extend themselves？ and whether he that might have left a pillar； may not leave a temple of many pillars to his more pious memory？ Where there is some measure in riches； a man may be rich； but if you will have them to be infinite； there will be no end of starving himself； and wanting what he has： and what pains does such a one take to be poor Furthermore； if a man shall think that there may be an industry less greasy or more noble； and so cast his thoughts upon the commonwealth； he will have leisure for her and she riches and honors for him； his sweat shall smell like Alexander's。 My Lord Philautus is a young man who； enjoying his ？0；000 a year； may keep a noble house in the old way； and have homely guests； and having but two； by the means proposed； may take the upper hand of his great ancestors； with reverence to whom； I may say； there has not been one of them would have disputed his place with a Roman consul。 〃My lord； do not break my heart； the nobility shall go to no other ploughs than those which we call our consuls。 But； says he； it having been so with Lacedaemon； that neither the city nor the citizens were capable of increase； a blow was given by that agrarian； which ruined both。 And what are we concerned with that agrarian； or that blow while our citizens and our city （and that by our agrarian） are both capable of increase？ The Spartan； if he made a conquest； had no citizens to hold it； the Oceaner will have enow。 The Spartan could have no trade； the Oceaner may have all。 The agrarian in Laconia； that it might bind on knapsacks； forbidding all other arts but that of war； could not make an army of above 30；000 citizens。 The agrarian in Oceana； without interruption of traffic； provides us in the fifth part of the youth an annual source or fresh spring of 100；000； besides our provincial auxiliaries； out of which to draw marching armies； and as many elders； not feeble； but men most of them in the flower of their age； and in arms for the defence of our territories。 The agrarian in Laconia banished money； this multiplies it； that allowed a matter of twenty or thirty acres to a man； this 2；000 or 3；000； there is no comparison between them。 And yet I differ so much from my lord； or his opinion that the agrarian was the ruin of Lacedaemon； that I hold it no less than demonstrable to have been her main support。 For if； banishing all other diversions； it could not make an army of above 30；000； then； letting in all other diversions； it must have broken that army。 Wherefore Lysander； bringing in the golden spoils of Athens； irrevocably ruined that commonwealth； and is a warning to us； that in giving encouragement to industry； we also remember that covetousness is the root of all evil。 And our agrarian can never be the cause of those seditions threatened by my lord； but is the proper cure of them； as Lucan notes well in the state of Rome before the civil wars； which happened through the want of such an antidote。 〃Why then are we mistaken； as if we intended not equal advantages in our commonwealth to either sex； because we would not have women's fortunes consist in that metal which exposes them to cutpurses？ If a man cuts my purse I may have him by the heels or by the neck for it； whereas a man may cut a woman's purse； and have her for his pains in fetters。 How brutish； and much more than brutish； is that commonwealth which prefers the earth before the fruits of the womb？ If the people be her treasure； the staff by which she is sustained and comforted； with what justice can she suffer them； by whom she is most enriched； to be for that cause the most impoverished？ And yet we see the gifts of God； and the bounties of heaven in fruitful families； through this wretched custom of marrying for money； become their insupportable grief and poverty。 Nor falls this so heavy upon the lower sort； being better able to shift for themselves； as upon the nobility or gentry。 For what avails it in this case； from whence their veins have derived their blood； while they shall see the tallow of a chandler sooner converted into that beauty which is required in a bride？ I appeal； whether my Lord Philautus or myself be the advocate of nobility； against which； in the case proposed by me； there would be nothing to hold the balance。 And why is a woman； if she may have but ？；500； undone？ If she be unmarried； what nobleman allows his daughter in that case a greater revenue than so much money may command？ And if she marry； no nobleman can give his daughter a greater portion than she has。 Who is hurt in this case？ nay； who is not benefited？ If the agrarian gives us the sweat of our brows without diminution； if it prepares our table； if it makes our cup to overflow； and above all this； in providing for our children； anoints our heads with that oil which takes away the greatest of worldly cares； what man； that is not besotted with a covetousness as vain as endless； can imagine such a constitution to be his poverty？ Seeing where no woman can be considerable for her portion； no portion will be considerable with a woman； and so his children will not only find better preferments without his brokage； but more freedom of their own affections。 〃We are wonderful severe in laws； that they shall not marry without our consent； as if it were care and tenderness over them； but is it not lest we should not have the other ？；000 with this son； or the other ？00 a year more in jointure for that daughter？ These； when we are crossed in them； are the sins for which we water our couch with tears； but not of penitence。 Seeing whereas it is a mischief beyond any that we can do to our enemies； we persist to make nothing of breaking the affection of our children。 But there is in this agrarian a homage to pu
