the commonwealth of oceana-第44章
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ion （a legion at the most consisted of 6；000 foot and 300 horse）； three to the second； four to the third； and three to the fourth。 The younger tribunes being thus distributed； two of the elder were assigned to the first legion； three to the second； two to the third； and three to the fourth； and the officers of each legion thus assigned； having drawn the tribes by lot； and being seated according to their divisions at a convenient distance from each other； the tribe of the first lot was called； whereupon they that were of it knowing the business； and being prepared； presently bolted out four of their number； in the choice whereof such care was taken that they offered none that was not a citizen； no citizen that was not of the youth； no youth that was not of some one of the five classes； nor any one of the five classes that was not expert at his exercises。 Moreover； they used such diligence in matching them for age and stature； that the officers of the legion； except they happened to be acquainted with the youth so bolted； were forced to put themselves upon fortune； while they of the first legion chose one； they of the second the next； they of the third another and the fourth youth fell to the last legion； and thus was the election （the legions and the tribes varying according to their lots） carried on till the foot were complete。 〃The like course with little alteration was taken by the horse officers till the horse also were complete。 This was called giving of names； which the children of Israel did also by lot； and if any man refused to give his name； he was sold for a slave； or his estate confiscated to the commonwealth。 'When Marcus Curius the Consul was forced to make a sudden levy； and none of the youth would give in their names； all the tribes being put to the lot； he commanded the first name drawn out of the urn of the Pollian tribe （which happened to come first） to be called； but the youth not answering； he ordered his goods to be sold； which was conformable to the law in Israel； according to which Saul took a yoke of oxen； and hewed them in pieces； and sent them throughout the tribes； saying； 'Whosoever comes not forth to battle after Saul and Samuel； so shall it be done to his oxen。' By which you may observe also that they who had no cattle were not of the militia in Israel。 But the age of the Roman youth by the Tullian law determined at thirty； and by the law （though it should seem by Machiavel and others that this was not well observed） a man could not stand for magistracy till he was miles emeritus； or had fulfilled the full term of his militia； which was complete in his tenth stipend or service； nor was he afterward obliged under any penalty to give his name； except the commonwealth were invaded； in which case the elders were as well obliged as the youth。 The Consul might also levy milites evocatos； or soldiers； commanded men out of such as had served their turn； and this at his discretion。 The legions being thus complete； were divided by two to each consul； and in these no man had right to serve but a Roman citizen； now because two legions made but a small army； the Romans added to every one of their arms an equal number of foot； and a double number of horse levied among their Latin or Italian associates； so a consular army； with the legions and auxiliaries； amounted to about 30；000； and whereas they commonly levied two such armies together； these being joined made about 60；000。 〃The steps whereby our militia follows the greatest captain； are the three essays； the first； elected by a fifth man in the parishes； and amounting in the whole to 100；000； choose their officers at the hundreds； where they fall also to their games or exercises； invited by handsome prizes； such as for themselves and the honor of them will be coveted； such as will render the hundred a place of sports； and exercise of arms all the year long； such as in the space of ten years will equip 30；000 men horse and foot； with such arms for their forge； proof； and beauty； as （notwithstanding the argyraspides； or silver shields of Alexander's guards） were never worn by so many； such as will present marks of virtue and direction to your general or strategus in the distribution of his army； which doubles the value of them to the proprietors； who are bound to wear them； and eases the commonwealth of so much charge； so many being armed already。 〃But here will be the objection now。 How shall such a revenue be compassed？ Fifty pounds a year in every hundred is a great deal； not so easily raised； men will not part with their money； nor would the sum； as it is proposed by the order of Pompey； rise in many years。 These are difficulties that fit our genius exactly； and yet ？；000 in each hundred； once levied； establishes the revenue forever。 Now the hundreds one with another are worth ？0；000 a year dry…rent； over and above personal estates； which bring it to twice the value； so that a twentieth part of one year's revenue of the hundred does it。 if you cannot afford this while you pay taxes； though from henceforth they will be but small ones； do it when you pay none。 if it be then too much for one year； do it in two； if it be too much for two years； do it in four。 What husbands have we hitherto been？ what is become of greater sums？ My lords； if you should thus cast your bread upon the waters； after many days you shall find it； stand not huckling when you are offered corn and your money again in the mouth of the sack。 〃But to proceed： the first essay being officered at the hundreds； and mustered at the tribes （where they are entertained with other sports； which will be very fine ones）； proceeds to the election of the second essay； or standing army of this nation； consisting of 30；000 foot and 10；000 horse； and these； upon a war decreed； being delivered at the rendezvous of Oceana to the strategus； are the third essay； which answers to the Roman legions。 But you may observe； that whereas the consuls elected the military tribunes； and raised commanded men out of the veterans at their own discretion； our polemarchs； or field officers； are elected by the scrutiny of the Council of War； and our veterans not otherwise taken on than as volunteers； and with the consent of the polemarchs； which may serve for the removal of certain scruples which might otherwise be incident in this place； though without encouragement by the Roman way of proceeding； much less by that which is proposed。 But whereas the Roman legions in all amounted not in one army to above 30；000 men； or little more； you have here 40；000； and whereas they added auxiliaries； it is in this regard that Marpesia will be a greater revenue to you than if you had the Indies； for whereas heretofore she has yielded you nothing but her native thistles； in ploughing out the rankness of her aristocracy by your agrarian； you will find her an inexhaustible magazine of men； and to her own advantage； who will make a far better account by the arms than by the pins of Poland。 Wherefore as a consular army consisted of about an equal number of auxiliaries added to their legions by their Latin or Italian associates； you may add to a parliamentary army an equal number of Marpesians or Panopeans； as that colony shall hereafter be able to supply you； by which means the commonwealth will be able to go forth to battle with 80；000 men。 〃To make wars with small forces is no husbandry； but a waste； a disease； a lingering and painful consumption of men and money the Romans making theirs thick； made them short； and had little regard to money； as that which they who have men enough can command where it is fittest that it should be levied。 All the ancient monarchies by this means got on wing； and attained to vast riches。 Whereas your modern princes being dear purchasers of small parcels； have but empty pockets。 But it may be some will accuse the order of rashness； in that it commits the sole conduct of the war to the general； and the custom of Venice by her proveditori； or checks upon her commanders…in…chief； may seem to be of greater prudence； but in this part of our government neither Venice nor any nation that makes use of mercenary forces is for our instruction。 A mercenary army； with a standing general； is like the fatal sister that spins； but proper forces； with an annual magistrate； are like her that cuts the thread。 Their interests are quite contrary； and yet you have a better proveditor than the Venetian； another strategus sitting with an army standing by him； whereupon that which is marching； if there were any probability it should； would find as little possibility that it could recoil； as a foreign enemy to invade you。 These things considered； a war will appear to be of a contrary nature to that of all other reckonings； inasmuch as of this you must never look to have a good account if you be strict in imposing checks。 Let a council of huntsmen； assembled beforehand； tell you which way the stag shall run； where you shall cast about at the fault； and how you shall ride to be in at the chase all the day； but these may as well do that； as a council of war direct a general。 The hours that have painted wings； and of different colors； are his council； he must be like the eye that makes not the scene； but has it so soon as it changes。 That in many counsellors there is strength； is spoken of civil administrations； as to those that are military； there is nothing more certain than that in many counsellors there is weakness。 Joint commissions in military affairs； are like hunting your hounds in their couples。 In the Attic War Cleomenes and Demaratus； Kings of Lacedaemon； being thus coupled； tugged one against another； and while they should have joined against the Persian； were the cause of the common calamity； whereupon that commonwealth took better counsel； and made a law whereby from henceforth there went at once but one of her kings to battle。 〃'The Fidenati being in rebellion； and having slain the colony of the Romans； four tribunes with consular power were created by the people of Rome； whereof one being left for the guard of the city； the other three were sent against the Fidenati； who； through the division that happened among them； brought nothing home but dishonor； whereupon the Romans created the Dictator； and Livy gives his judgment in these words： 〃The three tribunes with consular power were a lesson how useless in war is the joint command of several generals； for each following his own counsels； while they all differed in their opinions； gave by this opportunity an advantage to the enemy。〃 When the consuls Quintus and Agrippa were sent against the AEqui； Agrippa for this reason refused to go with his colleague； saying： 〃That in the administration of great actions it was most safe that the chief command should be lodged in one person。〃 And if the ruin of modern armies were well considered； most of it would be found to have fallen upon this point； it being in this case far safer to trust to any one man of common prudence； than to any two or more together of the greatest parts。' The consuls indeed； being equal in power； while one was present with the Senate； and the other in the field with the army； made a good balance； and this with us is exactly followed by the election of a new strategus upon the march of the old one。 〃The s
