e ballot of the same with great unanimity and applause； it was introduced into the Senate； where it passed with greater。 Wherefore the decree being forthwith printed and published； copies were returned by the secretaries to the phylarchs （which is the manner of promulgation） and the commissioners of the seal； that is to say； the Right Honorable Phosphorus de Auge in the tribe of Eudia； Dolabella d'Enyo in the tribe of Turmae； and Linceus de Stella in the tribe of Nubia； being elected proposers pro tempore； bespoke of the tribunes a muster of the people to be held that day six weeks； which was the time allowed for promulgation at the halo。 The satisfaction which the people throughout the tribes received upon promulgation of the decree； loaded the carriers with weekly letters between friend and friend； whether magistrates or private persons。 But the day for proposition being come； and the prerogative upon the place appointed in discipline； Sanguine de Ringwood in the tribe of Saltum； captain of the Phoenix； marched by order of the tribunes with his troop to the piazza of the Pantheon； where his trumpets； entering into the great hall； by their blazon gave notice of his arrival； at which the sergeant of the house came down； and returning； in formed the proposers； who descending； were received at the foot of the stairs by the captain； and attended to the coaches of state； with which Calcar de Gilvo in the tribe of Phalera； master of the horse； and the ballotins upon their great horses； stood waiting at the gate。 The proposers being in their coaches； the train for the pomp； the same that is used at the reception of ambassadors； proceeded in this order。 In the front marched the troop with the cornet in the van and the captain in the rear； next the troop came the twenty messengers or trumpets； the ballotins upon the curvet with their usher in the van； and the master of the horse in the rear； next the ballotins； Bronchus de Rauco； in the tribe of Bestia； king of the heralds； with his fraternity in their coats…of…arms； and next to Sir Bronchus； Boristhenes de Holiwater in the tribe of Ave； master of the ceremonies； the mace and the seal of the chancery went immediately before the coaches； and on either side； the doorkeepers or guard of the Senate； with their pole…axes； accompanied with some 300 or 400 footmen belonging to the knights or senators； the trumpeters； ballotins； guards； postilions； coachmen and footmen； being very gallant in the liveries of the commonwealth； but all； except the ballotins； without hats； in lieu whereof they wore black velvet calots； being pointed with a little peak at the forehead。 After the proposers came a long file of coaches full of such gentlemen as use to grace the commonwealth upon the like occasions。 In this posture they moved slowly through the streets （affording； in the gravity of the pomp and the welcomeness of the end； a most reverend and acceptable prospect to the people all the way from the Pantheon； being about half a mile） and arrived at the halo； where they found the prerogative in a close body environed with scaffolds that were covered with spectators。 The tribunes received the proposers； and conducted them into a seat placed in the front of the tribe； like a pulpit； but that it was of some length； and well adorned by the heralds with all manner of birds and beasts； except that they were ill…painted； and never a one of his natural color。 The tribunes were placed at a table that stood below the long seat； those of the horse in the middle； and those of the foot at either end； with each of them a bowl or basin before him； that on the right hand being white； and the other green： in the middle of the table stood a third； which was red。 And the housekeepers of the pavilion； who had already delivered a proportion of linen balls or pellets to every one of the tribe； now presented boxes to the ballotins。 But the proposers as they entered the gallery； or long seat； having put off their hats by way of salutation； were answered by the people with a shout； whereupon the younger commissioners seated themselves at either end； and the first； standing in the middle； spoke after this manner：
〃MY LORDS； THE PEOPLE OF OCEANA： 〃While I find in myself what a felicity it is to salute you by this name； and in every face； anointed as it were with the oil of gladness； a full and sufficient testimony of the like sense； to go about to feast you with words； who are already filled with that food of the mind which； being of pleasing and wholesome digestion； takes in the definition of true joy； were a needless enterprise。 I shall rather put you in mind of that thankfulness which is due； than puff you up with anything that might seem vain。 Is it from the arms of flesh that we derive these blessings？ Behold the Commonwealth of Rome falling upon her own victorious sword。 Or is it from our own wisdom； whose counsels had brought it even to that pass； that we began to repent ourselves of victory？ Far be it from us； my lords； to sacrifice to our own nets； which we ourselves have so narrowly escaped！ Let us rather lay our mouths in the dust； and look up （as was taught the other day when we were better instructed in this lesson） to the hills with our gratitude。 Nevertheless； seeing we read how God upon the neglect of his prophets has been provoked to wrath； it must needs follow that he expects honor should be given to them by whom he has chosen to work as his instruments。 For which cause； nothing doubting of my warrant； I shall proceed to that which more particularly concerns the present occasion； the discovery of my Lord Archon's virtues and merit； to be ever placed by this nation in their true meridian。 〃My lords； I am not upon a subject which persuades me to balk； but necessitates me to seek out the greatest examples。 To begin with Alexander； erecting trophies common to his sword and the pestilence： to what good of mankind did he infect the air with his heap of carcasses？ The sword of war； if it be any otherwise used than as the sword of magistracy； for the fear and punishment of those that do evil； is as guilty in the sight of God as the sword of a murderer； nay more； for if the blood of Abel； of one innocent man； cried in the ears of the Lord for vengeance； what shall the blood of an innocent nation？ Of this kind of empire； the throne of ambition； and the quarry of a mighty hunter； it has been truly said that it is but a great robbery。 But if Alexander had restored the liberty of Greece； and propagated it to mankind； he had done like my Lord Archon； and might have been truly called the Great。 Alexander cared not to steal a victory that would be given； but my Lord Archon has torn away a victory which had been stolen； while we went tamely yielding up obedience to a nation reaping in our fields； whose fields he has subjected to our empire； and nailed them with his victorious sword to their native Caucasus。 〃Machiavel gives a handsome caution： 'Let no man；' says he； 'be circumvented with the glory of Caesar； from the false reflection of their pens； who through the longer continuance of his empire in the name than in the family； changed their freedom for flattery。 But if a man would know truly what the Romans thought of Caesar； let them observe what they said of Catiline。'〃 And yet by how much he who has perpetrated some heinous crime is more execrable than he who did but attempt it； by so much is Caesar more execrable than Catiline。 On the contrary； let him that would know what ancient and heroic times； what the Greeks and Romans would both have thought and said of my Lord Archon； observe what they thought and said of Solon； Lycurgus； Brutus； and Publicola。 And yet by how much his virtue； that is crowned with the perfection of his work； is beyond theirs； who were either inferior in their aim； or in their performance； by so much is my Lord Archon to be preferred before Solon； Lycurgus； Brutus； and Publicola。 〃Nor will we shun the most illustrious example of Scipio： this hero； though never so little less； yet was he not the founder of a commonwealth； and for the rest； allowing his virtue to have been of the most untainted ray in what did it outshine this of my Lord Archon？ But if dazzling the eyes of the magistrates it overawed liberty； Rome might be allowed some excuse that she did not like it； and I； if I admit not of this comparison： for where is my Lord Archon？ Is there a genius； how free soever； which in his presence would not find itself to be under power？ He is shrunk into clouds； he seeks obscurity in a nation that sees by his light。 He is impatient of his own glory； lest it should stand between you and your liberty 〃 Liberty！ What is even that； if we may not be grateful？ And if we may； we have none： for who has anything that he does not owe？ My lords； there be some hard conditions of virtue： if this debt were exacted； it were not due； whereas being cancelled； we are all entered into bonds。 On the other side； if we make such a payment as will not stand with a free people； we do not enrich my Lord Archon； but rob him of his whole estate immense glory。 〃These particulars had in due deliberation and mature debate； according to the order of this commonwealth； it is proposed by authority of the Senate； to you my lords the people of Oceana： 〃I。 That the dignity and office of Archon； or protector of the commonwealth of Oceana； be and are hereby conferred； by the Senate and the people of Oceana； upon the most illustrious Prince and sole legislator of this commonwealth； Olphaus Megaletor； pater patrioe； whom God preserve； for the term of his natural life。 yet remaining of the ancient 〃 II。 That ？50；000 per annum revenue； be estated upon the said illustrious Prince； or Lord Archon； for the said term； and to the proper and peculiar use of his Highness。 III。 That the Lord Archon have the reception of all foreign ambassadors； by and with the Council of State； according to the orders of this commonwealth。 〃IV。 That the Lord Archon have a standing army of 12；000 defrayed upon a monthly tax； during the term of three years； for the protection of this commonwealth against dissenting parties； to be governed； directed； and commanded by and with the advice of the Council of War； according to the orders of this c