"
The usurped government of the Decemvirs in Rome was of the
same kind. Wherefore in the fear of God let Christian legislators
(setting the pattern given in the Mount on the one side, and
these execrable examples on the other) know the right hand from
the left; and so much the rather, because those things which do
not conduce to the good of the governed are fallacious, if they
appear to be good for the governors. God, in chastising a people,
is accustomed to burn his rod. The empire of these oligarchies
was not so violent as short, nor did they fall upon the people,
but in their own immediate ruin. A council without a balance is
not a commonwealth, but an oligarchy; and every oligarchy, except
it be put to the defence of its wickedness or power against some
outward danger, is factious. Wherefore the errors of the people
being from their governors (which maxim in the politics bearing a
sufficient testimony to itself, is also proved by Machiavel), if
the people of Oceana have been factious, the cause is apparent,
but what remedy?
In answer to this question, I come now to the army, of which
the most victorious captain and incomparable patriot, Olphaus
Megaletor, was now general, who being a much greater master of
that art whereof I have made a rough draught in these
preliminaries, had such sad reflections upon the ways and
proceedings of the Parliament as cast him upon books and all
other means of diversion, among which he happened on this place
of Machiavel: "Thrice happy is that people which chances to have
a man able to give them such a government at once, as without
alteration may secure them of their liberties; seeing it was
certain that Lacedaemon, in observing the laws of Lycurgus,
continued about 800 years without any dangerous tumult or
corruption.
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