misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第31章
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Mr Cowley was； as I could see； a little nettled。 Yet； as he was a man
of a kind disposition and a most refined courtesy； he put a force upon
himself； and answered with more vehemence and quickness indeed than
was his wont； yet not uncivilly。 〃Surely； Mr Milton； you speak not as you
think。 I am indeed one of those who believe that God hath reserved to
himself the censure of kings； and that their crimes and oppressions are not
to be resisted by the hands of their subjects。 Yet can I easily find excuse
for the violence of such as are stung to madness by grievous tyranny。
But what shall we say for these men？ Which of their just demands was
not granted？ Which even of their cruel and unreasonable requisitions； so
as it were not inconsistent with all law and order； was refused？ Had they
not sent Strafford to the block and Laud to the Tower？ Had they not
destroyed the Courts of the High Commission and the Star Chamber？
Had they not reversed the proceedings confirmed by the voices of the
judges of England； in the matter of ship…money？ Had they not taken
from the king his ancient and most lawful power touching the order of
knighthood？ Had they not provided that； after their dissolution； triennial
parliaments should be holden； and that their own power should continue
till of their great condescension they should be pleased to resign it
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themselves？ What more could they ask？ Was it not enough that they
had taken from their king all his oppressive powers； and many that were
most salutary？ Was it not enough that they had filled his council…board
with his enemies； and his prisons with his adherents？ Was it not enough
that they had raised a furious multitude； to shout and swagger daily under
the very windows of his royal palace？ Was it not enough that they had
taken from him the most blessed prerogative of princely mercy； that；
complaining of intolerance themselves； they had denied all toleration to
others； that they had urged； against forms； scruples childish as those of any
formalist； that they had persecuted the least remnant of the popish rites
with the fiercest bitterness of the popish spirit？ Must they besides all this
have full power to command his armies； and to massacre his friends？
〃For military command； it was never known in any monarchy； nay； in
any well ordered republic； that it was committed to the debates of a large
and unsettled assembly。 For their other requisition； that he should give
up to their vengeance all who had defended the rights of his crown； his
honour must have been ruined if he had complied。 Is it not therefore
plain that they desired these things only in order that； by refusing； his
Majesty might give them a pretence for war？
〃Men have often risen up against fraud； against cruelty； against rapine。
But when before was it known that concessions were met with
importunities； graciousness with insults； the open palm of bounty with the
clenched fist of malice？ Was it like trusty delegates of the Commons of
England； and faithful stewards of their liberty and their wealth； to engage
them for such causes in civil war； which both to liberty and to wealth is of
all things the most hostile。 Evil indeed must be the disease which is not
more tolerable than such a medicine。 Those who； even to save a nation
from tyrants； excite it to civil war do in general but minister to it the same
miserable kind of relief wherewith the wizards of Pharaoh mocked the
Egyptian。 We read that； when Moses had turned their waters into blood；
those impious magicians； intending； not benefit to the thirsting people； but
vain and emulous ostentation of their own art； did themselves also change
into blood the water which the plague had spared。 Such sad comfort do
those who stir up war minister to the oppressed。 But here where was the
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oppression？ What was the favour which had not been granted？ What
was the evil which had not been removed？ What further could they
desire？〃
〃These questions；〃 said Mr Milton； austerely； 〃have indeed often
deceived the ignorant； but that Mr Cowley should have been so beguiled； I
marvel。 You ask what more the Parliament could desire？ I will answer
you in one word； security。 What are votes； and statutes； and resolutions？
They have no eyes to see； no hands to strike and avenge。 They must
have some safeguard from without。 Many things； therefore； which in
themselves were peradventure hurtful； was this Parliament constrained to
ask； lest otherwise good laws and precious rights should be without
defence。 Nor did they want a great and signal example of this danger。 I
need not remind you that； many years before； the two Houses had
presented to the king the Petition of Right； wherein were set down all the
most valuable privileges of the people of this realm。 Did not Charles
accept it？ Did he not declare it to be law？ Was it not as fully enacted as
ever were any of those bills of the Long Parliament concerning which you
spoke？ And were those privileges therefore enjoyed more fully by the
people？ No： the king did from that time redouble his oppressions as if to
avenge himself for the shame of having been compelled to renounce them。
Then were our estates laid under shameful impositions； our houses
ransacked； our bodies imprisoned。 Then was the steel of the hangman
blunted with mangling the ears of harmless men。 Then our very minds
were fettered； and the iron entered into our souls。 Then we were
compelled to hide our hatred； our sorrow； and our scorn； to laugh with
hidden faces at the mummery of Laud； to curse under our breath the
tyranny of Wentworth。 Of old time it was well and nobly said； by one of
our kings； that an Englishman ought to be as free as his thoughts。 Our
prince reversed the maxim； he strove to make our thoughts as much slaves
as ourselves。 To sneer at a Romish pageant； to miscall a lord's crest；
were crimes for which there was no mercy。 These were all the fruits which
we gathered from those excellent laws of the former Parliament； from
these solemn promises of the king。 Were we to be deceived again？
Were we again to give subsidies； and receive nothing but promises？
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Were we again to make wholesome statutes； and then leave them to be
broken daily and hourly； until the oppres
