King
piper, I deny not, may teach his bears to dance, but they have
the worst ear of all creatures. Now how he should make them keep
time in fifty several tribes, and that two years together, for
else it will be to no purpose, may be a small matter with my lord
to promise; but it seems to me of impossible performance. First,
through the nature of the bean; and, secondly, through that of
the ballot; or how what he has hitherto thought so hard, is now
come to be easy; but he may think that for expedition they will
eat up these balls like apples.
"However, there is so much more in their way by the
constitution of this, than is to be found in that of any other
commonwealth, that I am reconciled, it now appearing plainly that
the points of my lord's arrows are directed at no other white
than to show the excellency of our government above others;
which, as he proceeds further, is yet plainer; while he makes it
appear that there can be no other elected by the people but
smiths:
"'Brontesque Steropesque et nudus membra Pyracmon:'
Othoniel, Aod, Gideon, Jephtha, Samson, as in Israel; Miltiades,
Aristides, Themistocles, Cimon, Pericles, as in Athens; Papyrius,
Cincinnatus, Camillus, Fabius Scipio, as in Rome: smiths of the
fortune of the commonwealth; not such as forged hob-nails, but
thunderbolts.
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