the commonwealth of oceana-第41章
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a mere lot without suffrage。 Wherefore though the Senate； to correct the temerity of the lot； had power to cast out such as they should judge unworthy of that honor； this related to manners only； and was not sufficient to repair the commonwealth； which by such means became impotent； and forasmuch as her Senate consisted not of the natural aristocracy； which in a commonwealth is the only spur and rein of the people； it was cast headlong by the rashness of her demagogues or grandees into ruin； while her Senate； like the Roman tribunes （who almost always； instead of governing； were rather governed by the multitude）； proposed not to the result only； but to the debate also of the people； who were therefore called to the pulpits； where some vomited； and others drank； poison。 〃The Senate of Lacedaemon； most truly discovered by my Lord Laco de Scytale； consisted but of thirty for life； whereof the two kings； having but single votes； were hereditary； the rest elected by the free suffrage of the people； but out of such as were sixty years of age。 These had the whole debate of the commonwealth in themselves； and proposed to the result only of the people。 And now the riddle which I have heretofore found troublesome to unfold； is out； that is to say； why Athens and Lacedaemon； consisting each of the Senate and the people； the one should be held a democracy； and the other an aristocracy； or laudable oligarchy； as it is termed by Isocrates； for that word is not； wherever you meet it； to be branded； Seeing it is used also by Aristotle； Plutarch； and others； sometimes in a good sense。 The main difference was that the people in this had the result only； and in that the debate and result； too。 But for my part； where the people have the election of the Senate； not bound to a distinct order； and the result； which is the sovereign power； I hold them to have that share in the government （the Senate being not for life） whereof； with the safety of the commonwealth； they are capable in nature； and such a government； for that cause； to be democracy； though I do not deny but in Lacedaemon； the paucity of the senators considered； it might be called oligarchy； in comparison of Athens； or； if we look on their continuance for life； though they had been more； aristocracy。 〃The Senate of Rome （whose fame has been heard to thunder in the eloquence of my Lord Dolabella d'Enyo） consisting of 300； was； in regard of the number； less oligarchical than that of Lacedaemon； but more in regard of the patricians； who； having an hereditary capacity of the same； were not elected to that honor by the people； but； being conscribed by the censors； enjoyed it for life。 Wherefore these； if they had their wills； would have resolved as well as debated； which set the people at such variance with them as dissolved the commonwealth； whereas if the people had enjoyed the result； that about the agrarian； as well as all other strife； must of necessity have ceased。 〃The Senates of Switzerland and Holland （as I have learnt of my Lords Alpester and Glaucus）； being bound up （like the sheaf of arrows which the latter gives） by leagues； lie like those in their quivers； but arrows； when they come to be drawn； fly from this way and from that； and I am contented that these concerned us not。 〃That of Venice （by the faithful testimony of my most excellent Lord Linceus de Stella） has obliged a world； sufficiently punished by its own blindness and ingratitude； to repent and be wiser： for whereas a commonwealth in which there is no senate； or where the senate is corrupt； cannot stand； the great Council of Venice； like the statue of Nilus； leans upon an urn or waterpot； which pours forth the Senate in so pure and perpetual a stream； as being unable to stagnate； is forever incapable of corruption。 The fuller description of this Senate is contained in that of Oceana； and that of Oceana in the foregoing orders。 To every one of which； because something has been already said； I shall not speak in particular。 But in general； your Senate； and the other assembly； or the prerogative； as I shall show in due place； are perpetual； not as lakes or puddles； but as the rivers of Eden； and are beds made； as you have seen； to receive the whole people； by a due and faithful vicissitude； into their current。 They are not； as in the late way； alternate。 Alternate life in government is the alternate death of it。 〃This was the Gothic work； whereby the former government （which was not only a ship； but a gust； too） could never open her sails； but in danger to overset herself； neither could make any voyage nor lie safe in her own harbor。 The wars of later ages； says Verulamius； seem to be made in the dark； in respect of the glory and honor which reflected on men from the wars in ancient times。 Their shipping of this sort Was for voyages； ours dare not launch； nor lies it safe at home。 Your Gothic politicians seem to me rather to have invented some new ammunition or gunpowder； in their King and Parliament； than government。 For what is become of the princes （a kind of people） in Germany？ blown up。 Where are the estates； or the power of the people in France？ blown up。 Where is that of the people in Arragon； and the rest of the Spanish kingdoms？ blown up。 On the other side； where is the King of Spain's power in Holland？ blown up。 Where is that of the Austrian princes in Switzerland？ blown up。 This perpetual peevishness and jealousy； under the alternate empire of the prince and of the people； are obnoxious to every spark。 Nor shall any man show a reason that will be holding in prudence； why the people of Oceana have blown up their King； but that their kings did not first blow up them。 The rest is discourse for ladies。 Wherefore your parliaments are not henceforth to come out of the bag of AEolus； but by your galaxies； to be the perpetual food of the fire of Vesta。 〃Your galaxies； which divide the house into so many regions； are three； one of which constituting the third region is annually chosen； but for the term of three years； which causes the house （having at once blossoms； fruit half ripe； and others dropping off in full maturity） to resemble an orange tree； such as is at the same time an education or spring； and a harvest； too； for the people have made a very ill…choice in the man； who is not easily capable of the perfect knowledge in one year of the senatorian orders； which knowledge； allowing him for the first to have been a novice； brings him the second year to practise； and time enough。 For at this rate you must always have 200 knowing men in the government。 And thus the vicissitude of your senators is not perceivable in the steadiness and perpetuity of your Senate； which； like that of Venice； being always changing； is forever the same。 And though other politicians have not so well imitated their patter； there is nothing more obvious in nature； seeing a man who wears the same flesh but a short time； is nevertheless the same man； and of the same genius； and whence is this but from the constancy of nature； in holding a man to her orders？ Wherefore keep also to your orders。 But this is a mean request； your orders will be worth little if they do not hold you to them； wherefore embark。 They are like a ship； if you be once aboard； you do not carry them； but they you； and see how Venice stands to her tackling： you will no more forsake them than you will leap into the sea。 〃But they are very many and difficult。 O my Lords； what seaman casts away his card because it has four…and…twenty points of the compass？ and yet those are very near as many and as difficult as the orders in the whole circumference of your commonwealth。 Consider； how have we been tossed with every wind of doctrine； lost by the glib tongues of your demagogues and grandees in our own havens？ A company of fiddlers that have disturbed your rest for your groat； ？；000 to one； ？；000 a year to another； has been nothing。 And for what？ Is there one of them that yet knows what a commonwealth is？ And are you yet afraid of such a government in which these shall not dare to scrape for fear of the statute？ Themistocles could not fiddle； but could make of a small city a great commonwealth： these have fiddled； and for your money； till they have brought
