the commonwealth of oceana-第52章
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〃But that I do not think your artist which you mentioned； whether astronomer or arithmetician； can tell me how many barley…corns would reach to the sun； I could be content he were called to the account； with which I shall conclude this point： when by the way I have chid my lords the legislators； who； as if they doubted my tackling could not hold； would leave me to flag in a perpetual calm； but for my Lord Epimonus； who breathes now and then into my sails and stirs the waters。 A ship makes not her way so briskly as when she is handsomely brushed by the waves； and tumbles over those that seem to tumble against her； in which case I have perceived in the dark that light has been struck even out of the sea； as in this place； where my Lord Epimonus feigning to give us a demonstration of one thing； has given it of another； and of a better。 For the people of this nation； if they amount in each tribe to 2；000 elders and 2；000 youths upon the annual roll； holding a fifth to the whole tribe； then the whole of a tribe； not accounting women and children； must amount to 20；000； and so the whole of all the tribes； being fifty； to 1；000；000。 〃Now you have 10；000 parishes； and reckoning these one with another； each at ？；000 a year dry…rent； the rent or revenue of the nation； as it is or might be let to farm； amounts to ？0；000；000； and ？0；000；000 in revenue divided equally to 1；000；000 of men； comes but to ？0 a year to each wherewith to maintain himself； his wife and children。 But he that has a cow upon the common； and earns his shilling by the day at his labor； has twice as much already as this would come to for his share； because if the land were thus divided； there would be nobody to set him on work。 So my Lord Epimonus's footman； who costs him thrice as much as one of these could thus get； would certainly lose by his bargain。 What should we speak of those innumerable trades whereupon men live； not only better than others upon good shares of lands； but become also purchasers of greater estates？ Is not this the demonstration which my lord meant； that the revenue of industry in a nation； at least in this； is three or four…fold greater than that of the mere rent？ If the people then obstruct industry； they obstruct their own livelihood； but if they make a war； they obstruct industry。 Take the bread out of the people's mouths； as did the Roman patricians； and you are sure enough of a war； in which case they may be levellers； but our agrarian causes their industry to flow with milk and honey。 it will be owned that this is true； if the people were given to understand their own happiness； but where is it they do that？ Let me reply with the like question； where do they not？ They do not know their happiness it should seem in France； Spain； and Italy； but teach them what it is； and try whose sense is the truer。 〃As to the late wars in Germany； it has been affirmed to me there； that the princes could never make the people to take arms while they had bread； and have therefore suffered countries now and then to be wasted that they might get soldiers。 This you will find to be the certain pulse and temper of the people； and if they have been already proved to be the most wise and constant order of a government； why should we think （when no man can produce one example of the common soldiery in an army mutinying because they had not captains' pay） that the prerogative should jolt the heads of the Senate together because these have the better salaries； when it must be as evident to the people in a nation； as to the soldiery in an army； that it is no more possible their emoluments of this kind should be afforded by any commonwealth in the world to be made equal with those of the Senate； than that the common soldiers should be equal with the captains？ It is enough for the common soldier that his virtue may bring him to be a captain； and more to the prerogative； that each of them is nearer to be a senator。 〃If my lord thinks our salaries too great； and that the commonwealth is not housewife enough； whether is it better housewifery that she should keep her family from the snow； or suffer them to burn her house that they may warm themselves？ for one of these must be。 Do you think that she came off at a cheaper rate when men had their rewards by ？；000 or ？；000 a year in land if inheritance？ if you say that they will be more godly than they have been； it may be ill taken； and if you cannot promise that； it is time we find out some way of stinting at least； if not curing them of that same sacra fames。 On the other side； if a poor man （as such a one may save a city） gives his sweat to the public； with what conscience can you suffer his family in the meantime to starve？ but he that lays his hand to this plough shall not lose by taking it off from his own； and a commonwealth that will mend this shall be penny…wise。 The Sanhedrim of Israel； being the supreme； and a constant court of judicature； could not choose but be exceeding gainful。 The Senate of the Bean in Athens； because it was but annual； was moderately salaried； but that of the Areopagites； being for life； bountifully； and what advantages the senators of Lacedaemon had； where there was little money or use of it； were in honors for life。 The patricians having no profit； took all。 Venice being a situation where a man goes but to the door for his employment； the honor is great and the reward very little； but in Holland a councillor of state has ？；500 Flemish a year； besides other accommodations。 The States…General have more。 And that commonwealth looks nearer her penny than ours needs to do。 〃For the revenue of this nation； besides that of her industry； it amounts； as has been shown； to ？0；000；000； and the salaries in the whole come not to ？00；000 a year。 The beauty they will add to the commonwealth will be exceeding great； and the people will delight in this beauty of their commonwealth； the encouragement they will give to the study of the public being very progitable； the accommodation they will afford to your magistrates very honorable and easy。 And the sum； when it or twice as much was spent in bunting and housekeeping； was never any grievance to the people。 I am ashamed to stand huckling upon this point； it is sordid。 Your magistrates are rather to be provided with further accommodations。 For what if there should be sickness？ whither will you have them to remove？ And this city in the soundest times； for the heat of the year； is no wholesome abode： have a care of their healths to whom you commit your own。 I would have the Senate and the people； except they see cause to the contrary； every first of June to remove into the country air for the space of three months。 You are better fitted with summer…houses for them than if you had built them to that purpose。 〃There is some twelve miles distant the convallium upon the river Halcionia； for the tribunes and the prerogative； a palace capable of 1；000 men； and twenty miles distant you have Mount Celia； reverend as well for the antiquity as state of a castle completely capable of the Senate； the proposers having lodgings in the convallium； and the tribunes in Celia； it holds the correspondency between the Senate and the people exactly And it is a small matter for the proposers； being attended with the coaches and officers of state； besides other conveniences of their own； to go a matter of five or ten miles （those seats are not much farther distant） to meet the people upon any heath or field that shall be appointed： where； having despatched their business； they may hunt their own venison （for I would have the great walled park upon the Halcionia to belong to the signory； and those about the convallium to the tribunes） and so go to supper。 Pray； my lords； see that they do not pull down these houses to sell the lead of them； for when you have considered on it； they cannot be spared。 The founders of the school in Hiera provided that the boys should have a summer seat。 You should have as much care of these magistrates。 But there is such a selling； such a Jewish humor in our republicans； that I cannot tell what to say to it； only this； any man that knows what belongs to a commonwealth； or how diligent every nation in that case has been to preserve her orna
