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