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f 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； but some other nation will have it。 〃Columbus offered gold to one of your kings； through whose happy incredulity another prince has drunk the poison； even to the consumption of his people； but I do not offer you a nerve of war that is made of purse…strings； such a one as has drawn the face of the earth into convulsions； but such as is natural to her health and beauty。 Look you to it； where there is tumbling and tossing upon the bed of sickness； it must end in death or recovery。 Though the people of the world； in the dregs of the Gothic empire； be yet tumbling and tossing upon the bed of sickness； they cannot die； nor is there any means of recovery for them but by ancient prudence； whence of necessity it must come to pass that this drug be better known。 if France； Italy； and Spain were not all sick； all corrupted together； there would be none of them so； for the sick would not be able to withstand the sound； nor the sound to preserve their health； without curing of the sick。 The first of these nations （which if you stay her leisure； will in my mind be France） that recovers the health of ancient prudence； shall certainly govern the world； for what did Italy when she had it？ and as you were in that； so shall you in the like case be reduced to a province； I do not speak at random。 Italy； in the consulship of Lucius AEmilius Papus and Caius Attilius Regulus； armed； upon the Gallic tumult that then happened of herself； and without the aid of foreign auxiliaries； 70；000 horse and 700；000 foot； but as Italy is the least of those three countries in extent； so is France now the most populous。
〃'I； decus； I； nostrum； melioribus utere fatis。' 〃My dear lords； Oceana is as the rose of Sharon； and the lily of the valley。 As the lily among thorns； such is my love among the daughters。 She is comely as the tents of Kedar； and terrible as an army with banners。 Her neck is as the tower of David； builded for an armory； whereon there hang 1；000 bucklers and shields of mighty men。 Let me hear thy voice in the morning； whom my soul loves。 The south has dropped； and the west is breathing upon thy garden of spices。 Arise； queen of the earth； arise； holy spouse of Jesus； for lo； the winter is past； the rain is over and gone； the flowers appear on the earth； the time for the singing of birds is come； and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land。 Arise； I say； come forth； and do not tarry： ah！ wherefore should my eyes behold thee by the rivers of Babylon； hanging thy harps upon the willows； thou fairest among women？ 〃Excellent patriots； if the people be sovereign； here is that which establishes their prerogative； if we be sincere； here is that which disburdens our souls； and makes good all our engagements； if we be charitable； here is that which embraces all parties； if we would be settled； here is that which will stand； and last forever。 〃If our religion be anything else but a vain boast； scratching and defacing human nature or reason； which； being the image of God； makes it a kind of murder； here is that empire whence 'justice shall run down like a river； and judgment like a mighty stream。' Who is it then that calls us？ or； what is in our way？ A lion！ Is it not the dragon； that old serpent？ For what wretched shifts are these？ Here is a great deal； might we not have some of this at one time； and some at another？
〃My lords； permit me to give you the sum； or brief
EPITOME OF THE WHOLE COMMONWEALTH
〃The centre or fundamental laws are； first； the agrarian； proportioned at ？；000 a year in land； lying and being within the proper territory of Oceana； and stating property in land at such a balance； that the power can never swerve out of the hands of the many。 〃Secondly； the ballot conveying this equal sap from the root； by an equal election or rotation； into the branches of magistracy or sovereign power。 〃The orbs of this commonwealth being civil； military； or provincial； are； as it were； cast upon this mould or centre by the divisions of the people； first； into citizens and servants； secondly； into you