the commonwealth of oceana-第76章
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acuse with his town…house and his country retreat； the sweetest places in either； lived with his wife and children a most quiet； happy； and holy life； for he attributed no part of his success to himself； but all to the blessing and providence of the gods。 As he passed his time in this manner； admired and honored by mankind； Laphistius； an envious demagogue； going to summon him upon some pretence or other to answer for himself before the assembly； the people fell into such a mutiny as could not be appeased but by Timoleon； who； understanding the matter； reproved them； by repeating the pains and travel which he had gone through； to no other end than that every man might have the free use of the laws。 Wherefore when Daemenetus； another demagogue； had brought the same design about again； and blamed him impertinently to the people for things which he did when he was general； Timoleon answered nothing； but raising up his hands； gave the gods thanks for their return to his frequent prayers； that he might but live to see the Syracusans so free； that they could question whom they pleased。 Not long after； being old； through some natural imperfection； he fell blind； but the Syracusans by their perpetual visits held him； though he could not see； their greatest object： if there arrived strangers； they brought him to see this sight。 Whatever came in debate at the assembly； if it were of small consequence； they determined it themselves； but if of importance； they always sent for Timoleon； who； being brought by his servants in a chair； and set in the middle of the theatre； there ever followed a great shout； after which some time was allowed for the benedictions of the people； and then the matter proposed； when Timoleon had spoken to it； was put to the suffrage； which given； his servants
bore him back in his chair； accompanied by the people clapping their hands； and making all expressions of joy and applause； till； leaving him at his house； they returned to the despatch of their business。 And this was the life of Timoleon； till he died of age； and dropped like a mature fruit； while the eyes of the people were as the showers of autumn。 The life and death of my Lord Archon （but that he had his senses to the last； and that his character； as not the restorer； but the founder of a commonwealth； was greater） are so exactly the same； that （seeing by men wholly ignorant of antiquity I am accused of writing romance） I shall repeat nothing： but tell you that this year the whole nation of Oceana； even to the women and children； were in mourning； where so great or sad a funeral pomp had never been seen or known。 Some time after the performance of the obsequies a Colossus； mounted on a brazen horse of excellent fabric； was erected in the piazza of the Pantheon； engraved with this inscription on the eastern side of the pedestal：
HIS NAME IS AS PRECIOUS OINTMENT
And on the wester with the following：
GRATA PATRIA Piae et Perpetuae Memorie
D。D。
OLPHAUS MEGALETOR
LORD ARCHON； AND SOLE LEGISLATOR
OF
OCEANA
PATER PATRIAE
Invincible in the Field The Greatest of Captains Inviolable in his Faith The Best of Princes Unfeigned in his Zeal The Happiest of Legislators Immortal in his Fame The Most Sincere of Christians
Who setting the Kingdoms of Earth at Liberty； Took the Kingdom of the Heavens by Violence。
Anno AEtat。 suoe 116 Hujus Reipub。 50
DESCRIPTION OF OCEANA
OCEANA is saluted by the panegyrist after this manner： 〃O the most blessed and fortunate of all countries； Oceana！ how deservedly has nature with the bounties of heaven and earth endued thee！ Thy ever fruitful womb not closed with ice nor dissolved by the raging star； where Ceres and Bacchus are perpetual twins： thy woods are not the harbor of devouring beasts； nor thy continual verdure the ambush of serpents； but the food of innumerable herds and flocks presenting thee； their shepherdess； with distended dugs or golden fleeces。 The wings of thy night involve thee not in the horror of darkness； but have still some white feather； and thy day is （that for which we esteem life） the longest。〃 But this ecstasy of Pliny； as is observed by Bertius； seems to allude as well to Marpesia and Panopea； now provinces of this commonwealth； as to Oceana itself。 To speak of the people in each of these countries。 This of Oceana； for so soft a one； is the most martial in the whole world。 〃Let States that aim at greatness；〃 says Verulamius； 〃take heed how their nobility and gentlemen multiply too fast； for that makes the common subject grow to be a peasant and base swain driven out of heart； and in effect but a gentleman's laborer； just as you may see in coppice woods； if you leave the staddels too thick； you shall never have clean underwood； but shrubs and bushes； so in countries； if the gentlemen be too many； the commons will be base； and you will bring it to that at last； that not the hundreth poll will be fit for a helmet； specially as to the infantry； which is the nerve of an army； and so there will be great population and little strength。 This of which I speak has been nowhere better seen than by comparing of Oceana and France； whereof Oceana； though far less in territory and population； has been nevertheless an overmatch； in regard the middle people of Oceana make good solders； which the peasants in France do not。〃 In which words Verulamius； as Machiavel has done before him； harps much upon a string which he has not perfectly tuned； and that is； the balance of dominion or property； as it follows more plainly； in his praise 〃of the profound and admirable device of Panurgus； King of Oceana； in making farms and houses of husbandry of a standard； that is； maintained with such a proportion of land to them as may breed a subject to live in convenient plenty； and no servile condition； and to keep the plough in the hands of the owners； and not mere hirelings。 And thus； indeed；〃 says he； 〃you shall attain to Virgil's character which he gives of ancient Italy。〃 But the tillage； bringing up a good soldiery； brings up a good commonwealth； which the author in the praise of Panurgus did not mind； nor Panurgus in deserving that praise； for where the owner of the plough comes to have the sword； too； he will use it in defence of his own； whence it has happened that the people of Oceana； in proportion to their property； have been always free。 And the genius of this nation has ever had some resemblance with that of ancient Italy； which was wholly addicted to commonwealths； and where Rome came to make the greatest account of her rustic tribes； and to call her consuls from the plough； for in the way of parliaments； which was the government of this realm； men of country lives have been still intrusted with the greatest affairs； and the people have constantly had an aversion to the ways of the court。 Ambition； loving to be gay and to fawn； has been a gallantry looked upon as having something in it of the livery； and husbandry； or the country way of life； though of a grosser spinning； as the best stuff of a commonwealth； according to Aristotle； such a one being the most obstinate assertress of her liberty and the least subject to innovation or turbulency。 Wherefore till the foundations； as will be hereafter shown； were removed； this people was observed to be the least subject to shakings and turbulency of any； whereas commonwealths； upon which the city life has had the stronger influence； as Athens； have seldom or never been quiet； but at the best are found to have injured their own business by overdoing it。 Whence the urban tribes of Rome； consisting of the Turba forensis； and libertines that had received their freedom by manumission； were of no reputation in comparison of the rustics。 It is true that with Venice it may seem to be otherwise； in regard the gentlemen （for so are all such called as have a right to that government） are wholly addicted to the city life； but then the Turba forensis； the secretaries； Cittadini； with the rest of the populace； are wholly excluded。 Otherwise a commonwealth consisting but of one city would doubtless be stormy； in regard t
