the commonwealth of oceana-第54章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the inevitable consequence of disorder in the power of debate exercised by the popular part； or common council； the right of debate being henceforth established in the court of aldermen； and that of
result in the common council； killed the branches of division in the root。 Which for the present may suffice to have been said of the city of Emporium。 〃That of Hiera consists as to the national government of two tribes； the first called agoroea； the second propola； but as to the peculiar policy of twelve manipuls； or wards divided into three cohorts； each cohort containing four wards； whereof the wards of the first cohort elect for the first year four burgesses； one in each ward； the wards of the second cohort for the second year four burgesses； one in each ward； and the wards of the third cohort for the third year four burgesses； one in each ward； all triennial magistrates； by which the twelve burgesses； making one court for the government of this city according to their instructions by act of Parliament； fall likewise into an annual； triennial； and perpetual revolution。 〃This court being thus constituted； makes election of divers magistrates； as first； of a high steward； who is commonly some person of quality； and this magistracy is elected in the Senate by the scrutiny of this court； with him they choose some able lawyer to be his deputy； and to hold the court； and last of all they elect out of their own number six censors。 〃The high steward is commander…in…chief of the two tribes； whereof he in person brings up the one at the national muster to the ballot； and his deputy the other at a distinct pavilion； the six censors chosen by the court officiating by three in each tribe at the urns； and these tribes have no other phylarch but this court。 〃As for the manner of elections and suffrage； both in Emporium and Hiera； it may be said； once for all； that they are performed by ballot； and according to the respective rules already given。 〃There be other cities and corporations throughout the territory； whose policy being much of this kind； would be tedious and not worth the labor to insert； nor dare I stay。 Juvenum manus emicat ardens。〃 I return； according to the method of the commonwealth； to the remaining parts of her orbs； which are military and provincial； the military； except the strategus； and the polemarchs or field…officers； consIsting of the youth only； and the provincial consisting of a mixture both of elders and of the youth。 To begin with the youth； or the military orbs； they are circles to which the commonwealth must have a care to keep close。 A man is a spirit raised by the magic of nature； if she does not stand safe； and so that she may set him to some good and useful work； he spits fire； and blows up castles； for where there is life； there must be motion or work； and the work of idleness is mischief； but the work of industry is health。 To set men to this； the commonwealth must begin betimes with them； or it will be too late； and the means whereby she sets them to it is education； the plastic art of government。 But it is as frequent as sad in experience （whether through negligence； or； which in the consequence is all one or worse； over…fondness in the domestic performance of this duty） that innumerable children come to owe their utter perdition to their own parents； in each of which the commonwealth loses a citizen。 Wherefore the laws of a government； how wholesome soever in themselves； are such as； if men by a congruity in their education be not bred to find a relish in them； they will be sure to loathe and detest。 The education therefore of a man's own children is not wholly to be committed or trusted to himself。 You find in Livy the children of Brutus； having been bred under monarchy； and used to a court life； making faces at the Commonwealth of Rome： 〃A king （say they） is a man with whom you may prevail when you have need there should be law； or when you have need there should be no law； he has favors in the right； and he frowns not in the wrong place； he knows his friends from his enemies。 But laws are deaf； inexorable things； such as make no difference between a gentleman and an ordinary fellow； a man can never be merry for them； for to trust altogether to his own innocence is a sad life。〃 Unhappy wantons！ Scipio； on the other side； when he was but a boy （about two or three and twenty）； being informed that certain patricians of Roman gentlemen； through a qualm upon the defeat which Hannibal had given them at Cannae； were laying their heads together and contriving their flight with the transportation of their goods out of Rome； drew his sword； and setting himself at the door of the chamber where they were at council； protested 〃that who did not immediately swear not to desert the commonwealth； he would make his soul to desert his body。〃 Let men argue as they please for monarchy； or against a commonwealth； the world shall never see any man so sottish or wicked as in cool blood to prefer the education of the sons of Brutus before that of Scipio； and of this mould； except a Melius or a Manlius； was the whole youth of that commonwealth； though not ordinarily so well cast。 Now the health of a government and the education of the youth being of the same pulse； no wonder if it has been the constant practice of well…ordered commonwealths to commit the care and feeling of it to public magistrates。 A duty that was performed in such a manner by the Areopagites； as is elegantly praised by Isocrates。 〃the Athenians （says he） write not their laws upon dead walls； nor content themselves with having ordained punishments for crimes； but provide in such a way； by the education of their youth； that there be no crimes for punishment。〃 He speaks of those laws which regarded manners； not of those orders which concerned the administration of the commonwealth； lest you should think he contradicts Xenophon and Polybius。 The children of Lacedaemon； at the seventh year of their age； were delivered to the poedonomi； or schoolmasters； not mercenary； but magistrates of the commonwealth； to which they were accountable for their charge； and by these at the age of fourteen they were presented to other magistrates called the beidioei； having the inspection of the games and exercises； among which that of the platanista was famous； a kind of fight in squadrons； but somewhat too fierce。 When they came to be of military age they were listed of the mora； and so continued in readiness for public service under the discipline of the polemarchs。 But the Roman education and discipline by the centuries and classes is that to which the Commonwealth of Oceana has had a more particular regard in her three essays； being certain degrees by which the youth commence as it were in arms for magistracy； as appears by The twenty…sixth order； instituting； 〃That if a parent has but one son； the education of that one son shall be wholly at the disposition of that parent。 But whereas there be free schools erected and endowed； or to be erected and endowed in every tribe of this nation； to a sufficient proportion for the education of the children of the same （which schools； to the end there be no detriment or hindrance to the scholars upon case of removing from one to another； are every of them to be governed by the strict inspection of the censors of the tribes； both upon the schoolmaster's manner of life and teaching； and the proficiency of the children； after the rules and method of that in Hiera） if a parent has more sons than one； the censors of the tribes shall animadvert upon and punish him that sends not his sons within the ninth year of their age to some one of the schools of a tribe； there to be kept and taught； if he be able； at his own charges； and if he be not able； gratis； till they arrive at the age of fifteen years。 And a parent may expect of his sons at the fifteenth year of their age； according to his choice or ability； whether it be to service in the way of apprentices to some trade or otherwise； or to further study； as by sending them to the inns of court； of chancery； or to one of the universities of this nation。 But he that takes not upon him one of the professions proper to some of those places； shall not continue long
