irst essay。 〃Every Wednesday next ensuing the last of January； the stratiots； assembling at the hundred； elect their captain and their ensign； and fall to their games and sports。 〃Every Wednesday next ensuing the last of February the stratiots are received by the lord lieutenant； their commander…in…chief； with the conductors and the censors； and； having been disciplined and entertained with other games； are called to the urns； where they elect the second essay； consisting of 200 horse and 600 foot in a tribe； that is； of 10；000 horse and 30；000 foot in all the tribes； which is the standing army of this nation； to march at any warning。 They also elect at the same time a part of the third essay； by the mixture of balls marked with the letter M and the letter P； for Marpesia and Panopea； they of either mark being ten horse and fifty foot in a tribe； that is； 500 horse and 2；500 foot in all the tribes； which are forthwith to march to their respective provinces。 〃But the third essay of this nation more properly so called； is when the strategus with the polemarchs （the Senate and the people or the Dictator having decreed a war） receive in return of his warrants the second essay from the hands of the conductors at the rendezvous of Oceana； which army； marching with all accommodations provided by the Council of War； the Senate elects a new strategus； and the lords…lieutenant a new second essay。 〃A youth； except he be an only son； refusing any one of his three essays； without sufficient cause shown to the phylarch or the censors； is incapable of magistracy； and is fined a fifth part of his yearly rent； or of his estate； for protection。 In case of invasion the elders are obliged to like duty with the youth； and upon their own charge。 〃The provincial orb consisting in part of the elders； and in part of the youth； is thus created： 〃Four knights out of the first region falling； are elected in the Senate to be the first region of the provincial orb of Marpesia； these； being triennial magistrates； take their places in the provincial council； consisting of twelve knights； four in every region； each region choosing their weekly provosts of the council thus constituted。 One knight more； chosen out of the same region in the Senate； being an annual magistrate； is president； with power to propose； and the opinions proposed by the president； or any two of the provosts； are debated by the council； and； if there be occasion of further power or instruction than they yet have； transmitted to the Council of State； with which the provincial is to hold intelligence。 〃The president of this council is also strategus or general of the provincial army； wherefore the conductors； upon notice of his election； and appointment of his rendezvous； deliver to him the stratiots of his letter； which he takes with him into his province； and the provincial army having received the new strategus with the third class； the council dismisses the old strategus with the first class。 The like is done for Panopea； or any other province。 〃But whereas the term of every other magistracy or election in this commonwealth； whether annual or triennial； requires an equal vacation； the term of a provincial councillor or magistrate requires no vacation at all。 The quorum of a provincial； as also that of every other council and assembly； requires two…thirds in a time of health； and one…third in a time of sickness。
〃I think I have omitted nothing but the props and scaffolds； which are not of use but in building。 And how much is here？ Show me another commonwealth in this compass？ how many things？ Show me another entire government consisting but of thirty orders。 If you now go to law with anybody； there lie to some of our courts 200 original writs： if you stir your hand； there go more nerves and bones to that motion； if you play； you have more cards in the pack； nay； you could not sit with your ease in that chair； if it consisted not of more parts。 Will you not then allow to your legislator； what you can afford your upholsterer。 or to the throne； what is necessary to a chair？ 〃My lords； if you will have fewer orders in a commonwealth； you will have more； for where she is not perfect at first； every day； every hour will produce a new order； the end whereof is to have no order at all； but to grind with the clack of some demagogue。 Is he providing already for his golden thumb？ Lift up your heads； away with ambition； that fulsome complexion of a statesman； tempered； like Sylla's； with blood and muck。 'And the Lord give to his senators wisdom； and make our faces to shine； that we may be a light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death； to guide their feet in the way of peace。' In the name of God； what's the matter？〃
Philadelphus； the secretary of the council； having performed his task in reading the several orders as you have seen； upon the receipt of a packet from his correspondent Boccalini； secretary of Parnassus； in reading one of the letters； burst forth into such a violent passion of weeping and downright howling； that the legislators； being startled with the apprehension of some horrid news； one of them had no sooner snatched the letter out of his hand； than the rest crying； 〃Read； read；〃 he obeyed in this manner： 〃The 3d instant his Phoebean majesty having taken the nature of free states into his royal consideration； and being steadily persuaded that the laws in such governments are incomparably better and more surely directed to the good of mankind than in any other； that the courage of such a people is the aptest tinder to noble fire； that the genius of such a soil is that wherein the roots of good literature are least worm…eaten with pedantism； and where their fruits have ever come to the greatest maturity and highest relish； conceived such a loathing of their ambition and tyranny； who； usurping the liberty of their native countries； become slaves to themselves； inasmuch as （be it never so contrary to their own nature or consciences） they have taken the earnest of sin； and are engaged to persecute all men that are good with 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 themsel