the commonwealth of oceana-第66章
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disturbance。 If a people be contented with their government； it is a certain sign that it is good； and much good do them with it。 The sword of your magistracy is for a terror to them that do evil。 Eumenes had the fear of God； or of the Romans； before his eyes； concerning such he has given you no commission。 〃But till we can say； here are the Romans； where is Eumenes？ do not think that the late appearances of God to you have been altogether for yourselves； 'He has surely seen the affliction of your brethren； and heard their cry by reason of their task masters。' For to believe otherwise is not only to be mindless of his ways； but altogether deaf。 If you have ears to hear； this is the way in which you will certainly be called upon； for if； while there is no stock of liberty no sanctuary of the afflicted； it be a common object to behold a people casting themselves out of the pan of one prince into the fire of another； what can you think； but if the world should see the Roman 'eagle again； she would renew her age and her flight？ Nor did ever she spread her wings with better omen than will be read in your ensigns； which if； called in by an oppressed people they interpose between them and their yoke； the people themselves must either do nothing in the meantime or have no more pains to take for their wished fruit than to gather it； if that be not likewise done for them。 Wherefore this must needs be easy； and yet you have a greater facility than is in the arm of flesh； for if the cause of mankind be the cause of God； the Lord of Hosts will be your captain； and you shall be a praise to the whole earth。 〃The facility of holding is in the way of your propagation； if you take that of Athens and Lacedemon； you shall rain snares； but either catch or hold nothing。 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord： if setting up for liberty you impose yokes； he will infallibly destroy you。 On the other side； to go about a work of this nature by a league without a head； is to abdicate that magistracy wherewith he has not only endued you； but whereof he will require an account of you； for； 'cursed is he that does the work of the Lord negligently。' Wherefore you are to take the course of Rome： if you have subdued a nation that is capable of liberty； you shall make them a present of it； as did Flaminius to Greece； and AEmilius to Macedon； reserving to yourselves some part of that revenue which was legally paid to the former government； together with the right of being head of the league； which includes such levies of men and money as shall be necessary for the carrying on of the public work。 〃For if a people have by your means attained to freedom； they owe both to the cause and you such aid as may propagate the like fruit to the rest of the world。 But whereas every nation is not capable of her liberty to this degree； lest you be put to doing and undoing of things； as the Romans were in Macedon； you shall diligently observe what nation is fit for her liberty to this degree； and what not； which is to be done by two marks； the first if she be willing to 'help the Lord against the mighty；' for if she has no care of the liberty of mankind she deserves not her own。 But because in this you may be deceived by pretences； which； continuing for a while specious； may afterward vanish； the other is more certain； and that is if she be capable of an equal agrarian； which that it was not observed by excellent AEmilius in his donation of liberty； and introduction of a popular state among the Macedonians； I am more than moved to believe for two reasons； the first； because at the same time the agrarian was odious to the Roman patricians； the second； that the pseudo…Philip could afterward so easily recover Macedon； which could not have happened but by the nobility； and their impatience； having great estates； to be equalled with the people； for that the people should otherwise； at the mere sound of a name； have thrown away their liberty； is incredible。 Wherefore be assured that the nation where you cannot establish an equal agrarian； is incapable of its liberty as to this kind of donation。 For example； except the aristocracy in Marpesia be dissolved； neither can that people have their liberty there； nor you govern at home； for they continuing still liable to be sold by their lords to foreign princes； there will never （especially in a country of which there is no other profit to be made） be want of such merchants and drovers； while you must be the market where they are to receive their second payment。 〃Nor can the aristocracy there be dissolved but by your means； in relation whereto you are provided with your provincial orb； which； being proportioned to the measure of the nation that you have vindicated or conquered； will easily hold it： for there is not a people in the world more difficult to be held than the Marpesians； which； though by themselves it be ascribed to their own nature； is truly to be attributed to that of their country。 Nevertheless； you having 9；000 men upon the continual guard of it； that； threatened by any sudden insurrection； have places of retreat； and an army of 40；000 men upon a day's warning ready to march to their rescue； it is not to be rationally shown which way they can possibly slip out of your hands。 And if a man should think that upon a province more remote and divided by the sea； you have not the like hold； he has not so well considered your wings as your talons； your shipping being of such a nature as makes the descent of your armies almost of equal facility in any country； so that what you take you hold； both because your militia； being already populous； will be of great growth in itself； and also through your confederates； by whom in taking and holding you are still more enabled to do both。 〃Nor shall you easier hold than the people under your empire or patronage may be held。 My lords； I would not go to the door to see whether it be close shut； this is no underhand dealing； nor a game at which he shall have any advantage against you who sees your cards； but； on the contrary the advantage shall be your own： for with 18；000 men （which number I put； because it circulates your orb by the annual change of 6；000） having established your matters in the order shown； you will； be able to hold the greatest province； and 18；000 men； allowing them greater pay than any prince ever gave； will not stand the province in ？；000；000 revenue； in consideration whereof； they shall have their own estates free to themselves； and be governed by their own laws and magistrates； which； if the revenue of the province be in dry…rent （as there may be some that are four times as big as Oceana） ？0；000；000； will bring it with that of industry； to speak with the least； to twice the value： so that the people there； who at this day are so oppressed that they have nothing at all whereon to live； shall for ？；000；000 paid to you； receive at least ？9；000；000 to their proper use： in which place I appeal to any man； whether the empire described can be other than the patronage of the world。 〃Now if you add to the propagation of civil liberty （so natural to this commonwealth that it cannot be omitted） the propagation of the liberty of conscience； this empire； this patronage of the world； is the kingdom of Christ： for as the kingdom of God the Father was a commonwealth； so shall the kingdom of God the Son； 'the people shall be willing in the day of his power。' 〃Having showed you in this and other places some of those inestimable benefits of this kind of government； together with the natural and facile emanation of them from their fountain； I come （lest God who has appeared to you； for he is the God of nature； in the glorious constellation of these subordinate causes； whereof we have hitherto been taking the true elevation； should shake off the dust of his feet against you） to warn you of the dangers which you； not taking the opportunity； will incur by omission。 〃Machiavel； speaking of the defect of Venice； through her want of proper arms； cries out； 'This cut her wings； and spoiled her mount to heaven。' If you lay your commonwealth upon any other foundation than the people； you frustrate yourself of proper arms； and so lose the empire of the world； nor is this all
