the commonwealth of oceana-第77章
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excluded。 Otherwise a commonwealth consisting but of one city would doubtless be stormy; in regard that ambition would be every man's trade; but where it consists of a country; the plough in the hands of the owner finds him a better calling; and produces the most innocent and steady genius of a commonwealth; such as is that of Oceana。 Marpesia; being the northern part of the same island; is the dry…nurse of a populous and hardy nation; but where the staddels have been formerly too thick; whence their courage answered not their hardiness; except in the nobility; who govern much after the manner of Poland; but that the King was not elective till the people received their liberty; the yoke of the nobility being broken by the commonwealth of Oceana; which in grateful return is thereby provided with an inexhaustible magazine of auxiliaries。 Panopea; the soft mother of a slothful and pusillanimous people; is a neighbor island; anciently subjected by the arms of Oceana; since almost depopulated for shaking the yoke; and at length replanted with a new race。 But; through what virtues of the soil or vice of the air soever it be; they come still to degenerate。 Wherefore seeing it is neither likely to yield men fit for arms; nor necessary it should; it had been the interest of Oceana so to have disposed of this province; being both rich in the nature of the soil; and full of commodious ports for trade; that it might have been ordered for the best in relation to her purse; which in my opinion; if it had been thought upon in time; might have been best done by planting it with Jews; allowing them their own rites and laws; for that would have brought them suddenly from all parts of the world; and in sufficient numbers。 And though the Jews be now altogether for merchandise; yet in the land of Canaan (except since their exile from whence they have not been landlords) they were altogether for agriculture; and there is no cause why a man should doubt; but having a fruitful country and excellent ports; too; they would be good at both。 Panopea; well peopled; would be worth a matter of ?;000;000 dry…rents; that is; besides the advantage of the agriculture and trade; which; with a nation of that industry; come at least to as much more。 Wherefore Panopea; being farmed out to the Jews and their heirs forever; for the pay of a provincial army to protect them during the term of seven years; and for ?;000;000 annual revenue from that time forward; besides the customs; which would pay the provincial army; would have been a bargain of such advantage; both to them and this commonwealth; as is not to be found otherwise by either。 To receive the Jews after any other manner into a commonwealth were to maim it; for they of all nations never incorporate; but taking up the room of a limb; are of no use office to the body; while they suck the nourishment which would sustain a natural and useful member。 If Panopea had been so disposed of; that knapsack; with the Marpesian auxiliary; had been an inestimable treasure; the situation of these countries being islands (as appears by Venice how advantageous such a one is to the like government) seems to have been designed by God for a commonwealth。 And yet that; through the straitness of the place and defect of proper arms; can be no more than a commonwealth for preservation; whereas this; reduced to the like government; is a commonwealth for increase; and upon the mightiest foundation that any has been laid from the beginning of the world to this day。
〃Illam arcta capiens Neptunus compede stringit: Hanc autem glaucis captus complectitur ulnis。〃
The sea gives law to the growth of Venice; but the growth of Oceana gives law to the sea。 These countries; having been anciently distinct and hostile kingdoms; came by Morpheus the Marpesian; who succeeded by hereditary right to the crown of Oceana; not only to be joined under one head; but to be cast; as it were by a charm; into that profound sleep; which; broken at length by the trumpet of civil war; has produced those effects that have given occasion to the preceding discourse; divided into four parts。
The End