the commonwealth of oceana-第42章
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f a small city a great commonwealth： these have fiddled； and for your money； till they have brought a great commonwealth to a small city。 〃It grieves me； while I consider how； and from what causes； imaginary difficulties will be aggravated； that the foregoing orders are not capable of any greater clearness in discourse or writing； but if a man should make a book； describing every trick and passage； it would fare no otherwise with a game at cards； and this is no more； if a man plays upon the square。 'There is a great difference；' says Verulamius； 'between a cunning man and a wise man （between a demagogue and a legislator）； not only in point of honesty； but in point of ability as there be that can pack the cards； and yet cannot play well； so there be some that are good in canvasses and fractions； that are otherwise weak men。' Allow me but these orders； and let them come with their cards in their sleeves； or pack if they can。 'Again；' says he； 'it is one thing to understand persons； and another to understand matters； for many are perfect in men's humors that are not greatly capable of the real part of business； which is the constitution of one that has studied men more than books。 But there is nothing more hurtful in a State than that cunning men should pass for wise。' His words are an oracle。 As Dionysius； when he could no longer exercise his tyranny among men； turned schoolmaster； that he might exercise it among boys。 Allow me but these orders； and your grandees； so well skilled in the baits and palates of men； shall turn rat…catchers。 〃And whereas 'councils （as is discreetly observed by the same author in his time） are at this day； in most places； but familiar meetings （somewhat like the Academy of our provosts）； where matters are rather talked on than debated； and run too swift to order an act of council；' give me my orders； and see if I have not puzzled your demagogues。 〃It is not so much my desire to return upon haunts； as theirs that will not be satisfied； wherefore if； notwithstanding what was said of dividing and choosing in our preliminary discourses； men will yet be returning to the question； Why the Senate must be a council apart （though even in Athens； where it was of no other constitution than the popular assembly； the distinction of it from the other was never held less than necessary） this may be added to the former reasons； that if the aristocracy be not for the debate； it is for nothing； but if it be for debate； it must have convenience for it； and what convenience is there for debate in a crowd； where there is nothing but jostling； treading upon one another； and stirring of blood； than which in this case there is nothing more dangerous？ Truly； it was not ill said of my Lord Epimonus； that Venice plays her game； as it were； at billiards or nine…holes； and so may your lordships； unless your ribs be so strong that you think better of football： for such sport is debate in a popular assembly as； notwithstanding the distinction of the Senate； was the destruction of Athens。〃 This speech concluded the debate which happened at the institution of the Senate。 The next assembly is that of the people or prerogative tribe。 The face； or mien； of the prerogative tribe for the arms； the horses； and the discipline； but more especially for the select men； is that of a very noble regiment； or rather of two； the one of horse； divided into three troops （besides that of the provinces； which will be shown hereafter）； with their captains； cornets； and two tribunes of the horse at the head of them； the other of foot in three companies （beside that of the provinces）； with their captains； ensigns； and two tribunes of the foot at the head of them。 The first troop is called the Phoenix； the second the Pelican； and the third the Swallow。 The first company the Cypress； the second the Myrtle； and the third the Spray。 Of these again （not without a near resemblance of the Roman division of a tribe） the Phoenix and the Cypress constitute the first class； the Pelican and the Myrtle the second； and the Swallow with the Spray the third； renewed every spring by The one…and…twentieth order； 〃Directing； that upon every Monday next ensuing the last of March； the deputies of the annual galaxy arriving at the pavilion in the halo； and electing one captain and one cornet of the Swallow （triennial officers） by and out of the cavalry at the horse urn； according to the rules contained in the ballot of the hundred； and one captain with one ensign of the Spray （triennial officers） by and out of the infantry at the foot urn； after the same way of balloting； constitute and become the third classes of the prerogative tribe。〃 Seven deputies are annually returned by every tribe； whereof three are horse and four are foot； and there be fifty tribes： so the Swallow must consist of 150 horse； the Spray of 200 foot。 And the rest of the classes being two； each of them in number equal； the whole prerogative （beside the provinces； that is； the knights and deputies of Marpesia and Panopea） must consist of 1；050 deputies。 And these troops and companies may as well be called centuries as those of the Romans； for the Romans related not； in so naming theirs； to the number。 And whereas they were distributed according to the valuation of their estates； so are these； which； by virtue of the last order； are now accommodated with their triennial officers。 But there be others appertaining to this tribe whose election； being of far greater importance； is annual； as follows in The twenty…second order； 〃Whereby the first class having elected their triennial officers； and made oath to the old tribunes； that they will neither introduce； cause； nor to their power suffer debate to be introduced into any popular assembly of this government； but to their utmost be aiding and assisting to seize and deliver any person or persons in that way offending； and striking at the root of this commonwealth； to the Council of War； are to proceed with the other two classes of the prerogative tribe to election of the new tribunes； being four annual magistrates； whereof two are to be elected out of the cavalry at the horse urn； and two out of the infantry at the foot urn； according to the common ballot of the tribes。 And they may be promiscuously chosen out of any classes； provided that the same person shall not be capable of bearing the tribunitian honor twice in the term of one galaxy。 The tribunes thus chosen shall receive the tribe （in reference to the power of mustering and disciplining the same） as commanders…in…chief； and for the rest as magistrates； whose proper function is prescribed by the next order。 The tribunes may give leave to any number of the prerogative； not exceeding 100 at a time； to be absent； so they be not magistrates nor officers； and return within three months。 If a magistrate or officer has a necessary occasion； he may also be absent for the space of one month； provided that there be not above three cornets or ensigns； two captains； or one tribune so absent at one time。〃
To this the Archon spoke at the institution after this manner：
〃MY LORDS： 〃It is affirmed by Cicero； in his oration for Flaccus； that the commonwealths of Greece were all shaken or ruined by the intemperance of their Comitia； or assemblies of the people。 The truth is； if good heed in this point be not taken； a commonwealth will have bad legs。 But all the world knows he should have excepted Lacedaemon； where the people； as has been shown by the oracle； had no power at all of debate； nor （till after Lysander； whose avarice opened a gulf that was not long ere it swallowed up his country） came it ever to be exercised by them。 Whence that commonwealth stood longest and firmest of any other but this； in our days； of Venice； which； having underlaid herself with the like institution； owes a great； if not the greater； part of her steadiness to the same principle； the great Council； which is with her the people； by the authority of my Lord Epimonus； never speaking a word。 Nor shall any commonwealth； where the people in their political capacity is talkative； ever see half the days of one of these； but； being carried away by vainglorious men （that； as Overbury says； void more than they drin
