exceed not the value of L2,000
revenue. And no man, not in present possession of lands above the
value of L2,000 by the year, shall receive, enjoy (except by lawful
inheritance) acquire, or, purchase to himself lands within the said
territories, amounting, with those already in his possession, above the
said revenue. And if a man has a daughter or daughters, except she be an
heiress or they be heiresses, he shall not leave or give to any. One
of them in marriage, or otherwise, for her portion, above the value of
L1,500 in lands, goods, and moneys. Nor shall any friend, kinsman, or
kinswoman add to her or their portion or portions that are so provided
for, to make any one of them greater. Nor shall any man demand or have
more in marriage with any woman. Nevertheless an heiress shall enjoy her
lawful inheritance, and a widow, whatsoever the bounty or affection
of her husband shall bequeath to her, to be divided in the first
generation, wherein it is divisible according as has been shown.

"Secondly, for lands lying and being within the territories of Marpesia,
the agrarian shall hold in all parts as it is established in Oceana,
except only in the standard or proportion of estates in land, which
shall be set for Marpesia, at L500. And,

"Thirdly, for Panopea, the agrarian shall hold in all parts, as in
Oceana. And whosoever possessing above the proportion allowed by
these laws, shall be lawfully convicted of the same, shall forfeit the
overplus to the use of the State."

Agrarian laws of all others have ever been the greatest bugbears, and
so in the institution were these, at which time it was ridiculous to see
how strange a fear appeared in everybody of that which, being good for
all, could hurt nobody. But instead of the proof of this order, I shall
out of those many debates that happened ere it could be passed, insert
two speeches that were made at the Council of legislators, the first by
the Right Honorable Philautus de Garbo, a young man, being heir-apparent
to a very noble family, and one of the councillors, who expressed
himself as follows:

"May it please your Highness, my Lord Archon of Oceana.

"If I did not, to my capacity, know from how profound a councillor I
dissent, it would certainly be no hard task to make it as light as the
day. First, that an agrarian is altogether unnecessary; secondly, that
it is dangerous to a commonwealth; thirdly, that it is insufficient to
keep out monarchy; fourthly, that it