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the commonwealth of oceana-第79章

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h the same or greater rigor than is ordained by laws for the wicked; for none ever administered that power by good which he purchased by ill arts  Phoebus; I say; having considered this; assembled all the senators residing in the learned court at the theatre of Melpomene; where he caused Caesar the Dictator to come upon the stage; and his sister Actia; his nephew Augustus; Julia his daughter; with the children which she had by Marcus Agrippa; Lucius and Caius Caesars; Agrippa Posthumus; Julia; and Agrippina; with the numerous progeny which she bore to her renowned husband Germanicus; to enter。 A miserable scene in any; but most deplorable in the eyes of Caesar; thus beholding what havoc his prodigious ambition; not satisfied with his own bloody ghost; had made upon his more innocent remains; even to the total extinction of his family。 For it is (seeing where there is any humanity; there must be some compassion) not to be spoken without tears; that of the full branches deriving from Octavia the eldest sister; and Julia the daughter of Augustus; there should not be one fruit or blossom that was not cut off or blasted by the sword; famine; or poison。     〃Now might the great soul of Caesar have been full; and yet that which poured in as much or more was to behold that execrable race of the Claudii; having hunted and sucked his blood; with the thirst of tigers; to be rewarded with the Roman Empire; and remain in full possession of that famous patrimony: a spectacle to pollute the light of heaven! Nevertheless; as if Caesar had not yet enough; his Phoeban majesty caused to be introduced on the other side of the theatre; the most illustrious and happy prince Andrea Doria; with his dear posterity; embraced by the soft and constant arms of the city of Genoa; into whose bosom; ever fruitful in her gratitude; he had dropped her fair liberty like the dew of heaven; which; when the Roman tyrant beheld; and how much more fresh that laurel was worn with a firm root in the hearts of the people than that which he had torn off; he fell into such a horrid distortion of limbs and countenance; that the senators; who had thought themselves steel and flint at such an object; having hitherto stood in their reverend snow…like thawing Alps; now covered their faces with their large sleeves。〃     〃My lords;〃 said the Archon; rising; 〃witty Philadelphus has given us grave admonition in dreadful tragedy。 Discite justitiam moniti; et non temnere divos。 Great and glorious Caesar the highest character of flesh; yet could not rule but by that part of man which is the beast; but a commonwealth is a monarchy; to her God is king; inasmuch as reason; his dictate; is her sovereign power。〃 Which said; he adjourned the Council。 And the model was soon after promulgated。 Quod bonum; foelix; faustumque sit huic reipublicoe。 Agite quirites; censuere patres; jubeat populus。 (The sea roared; and the floods clapped their hands。)

                    LIBERTAS

 The Proclamation of his Highness the Lord Archon of Oceana upon Promulgation of the Model

    〃Whereas his Highness and the Council; in the framing of the model promulgated; have not had any private interest or ambition but the fear of God and the good of this people before their eyes; and it remains their desire that this great work may be carried on accordingly。 This present greeting is to inform the good people of this land; that as the Council of Prytans sat during the framing of the model; to receive from time to time such propositions as should be offered by any wise…hearted or public…spirited man; toward the institution of a well…ordered commonwealth; so the said Council is to sit as formerly in the great hall of the Pantheon during promulgation (which is to continue for the space of three months) to receive; weigh; and; as there shall be occasion; transmit to the Council of Legislators; all such objections as shall be made against the said model; whether in the whole or in any part。 Wherefore that nothing be done rashly or without the consent of the people; such; of what party soever; with whom there may remain any doubts or difficulties; are desired with all convenient speed to address themselves to the said prytans; where; if such objections; doubts; or difficulties receive solution to the satisfaction of the auditory; they shall have public thanks; but if the said objections; doubts; or difficulties receive no solution to the satisfaction of the auditory; then the model promulgated shall be reviewed; and the party that was the occasion of the review; shall receive public thanks; together with the best horse in his Highness's stable; and be one of the Council of Legislators。 And so God have you in his keeping。〃

    I should now write the same Council of the Prytans; but for two reasons: the one; that having had but a small time for that which is already done; I am over…labored; the other; that there may be new objections。 Wherefore; if my reader has any such as to the model; I entreat him to address himself by way of oration; as it were; to the prytans; that when this rough draught comes to be a work; his speech being faithfully inserted in this place; may give or receive correction to amendment; for what is written will be weighed。 But conversation; in these days; is a game at which they are best provided that have light gold; it is like the sport of women that make flowers of straws; which must be stuck up but may not be touched。 Nor; which is worse; is this the fault of conversation only: but to the examiner I say if to invent method and teach an art be all one; let him show that this method is not truly invented; or this art is faithfully taught。     I cannot conclude a circle (and such is this commonwealth) without turning the end into the beginning。 The time of promulgation being expired; the surveyors were sent down; who having in due season made report that their work was perfect; the orators followed; under the administration of which officers and magistrates the commonwealth was ratified and established by the whole body of the people; in their parochial; hundred; and county assemblies。 And the orators being; by virtue of their scrolls or lots; members of their respective tribes; were elected each the first knight of the third list; or galaxy; wherefore; having at their return assisted the Archon in putting the Senate and the people or prerogative into motion; they abdicated the magistracy both of orators and legislators。


Part IV

THE COROLLARY


FOR the rest (says Plutarch; closing up the story of Lycurgus) when he saw that his government had taken root; and was in the very plantation strong enough to stand by itself; he conceived such a delight within him; as God is described by Plato to have done when he had finished the creation of the world; and saw his own orbs move below him: for in the art of man (being the imitation of nature; which is the art of God) there is nothing so like the first call of beautiful order out of chaos and confusion; as the architecture of a well…ordered commonwealth。 Wherefore Lycurgus; seeing in effect that his orders were good; fell into deep contemplation how he might render them; so far as could be effected by human providence; unalterable and immo
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