the commonwealth of oceana-第37章
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be perused by the provosts themselves； they shall distribute them as they please to be read by the gentlemen of the Academy； who； finding anything in them material； will find matter of discourse； or if they happen upon a business that requires privacy； return it with a note upon it to a provost。 And the provosts by the secretaries attending shall cause such notes out of discourses or letters to be taken as they please； to the end that they may propose； as occasion serves； what any two of them shall think fit out of their notes so taken to their respective councils； to the end that not only the ear of the commonwealth be open to all； but that men of such education being in her eve； she may upon emergent elections or occasions be always provided of her choice of fit persons。 〃Every council being adorned with a state for the signory； shall be attended by two secretaries； two doorkeepers； and two messengers…in…ordinary； and have power to command more upon emergencies； as occasion requires。 And the Academy shall be attended with two secretaries； two messengers； and two doorkeepers； this with the other councils being provided with their further conveniences at the charge of the State。 〃But whereas it is incident to commonwealths； upon emergencies requiring extraordinary speed or secrecy； either through their natural delays or unnatural haste； to incur equal danger； while holding to the slow pace of their orders； they come not in time to defend themselves from some sudden blow； or breaking them for the greater speed； they but haste to their own destruction； if the Senate shall at any time make election of nine knights…extraordinary； to be added to the Council of War； as a juncta for the term of three months； the Council of War with the juncta so added； is for the term of the same Dictator of Oceana； having power to levy men and money； to make war and peace； as also to enact laws； which shall be good for the space of one year （if they be not sooner repealed by the Senate and the people） and for no longer time； except they be confirmed by the Senate and the people。 And the whole administration of the commonwealth for the term of the said three months shall be in the Dictator； provided that the Dictator shall have no power to do anything that tends not to his proper end and institution； but all to the preservation of the commonwealth as it is established； and for the sudden restitution of the same to the natural channel and common course of government。 And all acts； orders； decrees； or laws of the Council of War with the junota being thus created； shall be signed； 〃DICTATOR OCEANAE。〃
This order of instructions to the councils being （as in a matter of that nature is requisite） very large； I have used my best skill to abbreviate it in such manner as might show no more of it than is necessary to the understanding of the whole； though as to the parts； or further duties of the councils； I have omitted many things of singular use in a commonwealth。 But it was discoursed at the council by the Archon in this manner：
〃MY LORDS； THE LEGISLATORS： 〃Your councils； except the Dictator only； are proper and native springs and sources； you see； which （hanging a few sticks and straws； that； as less considerable； would otherwise be more troublesome； upon the banks of their peculiar channels） derive the full stream of business into the Senate； so pure； and so far from the possibility of being troubled or stained （as will Undeniably appear by the course contained in the ensuing order） with any kind of private interest or partiality； that it shall never be possible for any assembly hearkening to the advice or information of this or that worthy member （either instructed upon his pillow； or while he was making himself ready； or by the petition or ticket which he received at the door） to have half the security in his faith； or advantage by his wisdom； such a Senate or council being； through the uncertainty of the winds； like a wave of the sea。 Nor shall it otherwise mend the matter by flowing up into dry ditches； or referring businesses to be better examined by committees； than to go further about with it to less purpose； if it does not ebb back again with the more mud in it。 For in a case referred to an occasional committee； of which any member that is desirous may get himself named； and to which nobody will come but either for the sake of his friend or his own interest； it fares little better as to the information of the Senate； than if it had been referred to the parties。 Wherefore the Athenians being distributed into four tribes； out of which by equal numbers they annually chose 400 men； called the Senate of the Bean； because the ballot at their election was performed by the use of beans； divided them by fifties into eight parts。 And every fifty in their turn； for one…eighth part of the year； was a council apart called the Prytans。 〃The Prytans in their distinct council receiving all comers； and giving ear to every man that had anything to propose concerning the commonwealth； had power to debate and prepare all the businesses that were to be introduced into the Senate。 The Achaeans had ten selected magistrates called the demiurgs； constituting a council apart called the synarchy； which； with the strategus； prepared all the business that was introduced into their Senate。 But both the Senate of the Athenians； and that of the Achaeans； would have wondered if a man had told them that they were to receive all comers and discourses； to the end that they might refer them afterward to the Prytans or the synarchy； much less to an occasional committee； exposed to the catch that catch may of the parties interested。 And yet Venice in this； as in most of her orders； excels them all by the constitution of her councils； that of the College； and the other of the Dieci； or Council of Ten。 The course of the College is exactly described in the ensuing order： and for that of the Dieci； it so little differs from what it has bestowed upon Our Dictator； that I need not make any particular description of it。 But to dictatorian power in general； and the use of it （because it must needs be of difficult digestion to such as； puking still at ancient prudence； show themselves to be in the nursery of mother…wit）； it is no less than necessary to say something。 And； first； in a commonwealth that is not wrought up； or perfected； this power will be of very frequent； if not continual； use； wherefore it is said more than once； upon defects of the government； in the book of Judges； 'that in those days there was no king in Israel。' Nor has the translator； though for 'no king； he should have said 'no judge；' abused you so much； seeing that the Dictator （and such was the Judge of Israel） or the dictatorian power being in a single person； so little differs from monarchy； which followed in that； that from the same cause there has been no other effect in any commonwealth： as in Rome was manifest by Sylla and Caesar； who to make themselves absolute or sovereign； had no more to do than to prolong their magistracy； for the dictatorian power was reputed divine； and therefore irresistible。 〃Nevertheless； so it is； that without this power； which is so dangerous； and subject to introduce monarchy； a commonwealth cannot be safe from falling into the like dissolution； unless you have an expedient in this case of your own； and bound up by your providence from recoiling。 Expedients in some cases you must not only have； but be beholden for them to such whom you must trust at a pinch； when you have not leisure to stand with them for security； which will be a thousand times more dangerous。 And there can never be a commonwealth otherwise than by the order in debate wrought up to that perfection； but this necessity must sometimes happen in regard of her natural slowness and openness； and the suddenness of assaults that may be made upon her； as also the secrecy which in some cases may be of absolute necessity to her affairs。 Whence Machiavel concludes it positively； that a commonwealth unprovided of such a refuge； must fall to ruin； for her course is either broken by the blow in one of those cases； or by herself； while it startles her out of her orders。 And i
