按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
or dig turf； gravel； or stones。 Others fell and cleave timber； and
bring wood； corn； and other necessaries on carts into their towns。
Nor do these only serve the public； but they serve even private
men； more than the slaves themselves do； for if there is anywhere
a rough； hard； and sordid piece of work to be done； from which
many are frightened by the labor and loathsomeness of it； if not
the despair of accomplishing it； they cheerfully； and of their own
accord； take that to their share； and by that means； as they ease
others very much； so they afflict themselves； and spend their
whole life in hard labor； and yet they do not value themselves
upon this； nor lessen other people's credit to raise their own；
but by their stooping to such servile employments； they are so far
from being despised； that they are so much the more esteemed by
the whole nation
Of these there are two sorts； some live unmarried and chaste； and
abstain from eating any sort of flesh； and thus weaning themselves
from all the pleasures of the present life； which they account
hurtful； they pursue； even by the hardest and painfullest methods
possible； that blessedness which they hope for hereafter； and the
nearer they approach to it； they are the more cheerful and earnest
in their endeavors after it。 Another sort of them is less willing
to put themselves to much toil； and therefore prefer a married
state to a single one； and as they do not deny themselves the
pleasure of it； so they think the begetting of children is a debt
which they owe to human nature and to their country； nor do they
avoid any pleasure that does not hinder labor； and therefore eat
flesh so much the more willingly； as they find that by this means
they are the more able to work； the Utopians look upon these as
the wiser sect； but they esteem the others as the most holy。 They
would indeed laugh at any man； who from the principles of reason
would prefer an unmarried state to a married； or a life of labor
to an easy life； but they reverence and admire such as do it from
the motives of religion。 There is nothing in which they are more
cautious than in giving their opinion positively concerning any
sort of religion。 The men that lead those severe lives are called
in the language of their country Brutheskas； which answers to
those we call religious orders。
Their priests are men of eminent piety； and therefore they are but
few for there are only thirteen in every town； one for every
temple； but when they go to war； seven of these go out with their
forces； and seven others are chosen to supply their room in their
absence； but these enter again upon their employment when they
return； and those who served in their absence attend upon the
high…priest； till vacancies fall by death； for there is one set
over all the rest。 They are chosen by the people as the other
magistrates are； by suffrages given in secret； for preventing of
factions； and when they are chosen they are consecrated by the
College of Priests。 The care of all sacred things； the worship of
God； and an inspection into the manners of the people； are
committed to them。 It is a reproach to a man to be sent for by any
of them； or for them to speak to him in secret； for that always
gives some suspicion。 All that is incumbent on them is only to
exhort and admonish the people； for the power of correcting and
punishing ill men belongs wholly to the Prince and to the other
magistrates。 The severest thing that the priest does is the
excluding those that are desperately wicked from joining in their
worship。 There is not any sort of punishment more dreaded by them
than this； for as it loads them with infamy； so it fills them with
secret horrors； such is their reverence to their religion； nor
will their bodies be long exempted from their share of trouble；
for if they do not very quickly satisfy the priests of the truth
of their repentance； they are seized on by the Senate； and
punished for their impiety。 The education of youth belongs to the
priests； yet they do not take so much care of instructing them in
letters as in forming their minds and manners aright； they use all
possible methods to infuse very early into the tender and flexible
minds of children such opinions as are both good in themselves and
will be useful to their country。 For when deep impressions of
these things are made at that age； they follow men through the
whole course of their lives； and conduce much to preserve the
peace of the government； which suffers by nothing more than by
vices that rise out of ill…opinions。 The wives of their priests
are the most extraordinary women of the whole country； sometimes
the women themselves are made priests； though that falls out but
seldom； nor are any but ancient widows chosen into that order。
None of the magistrates has greater honor paid him than is paid
the priests； and if they should happen to commit any crime； they
would not be questioned for it。 Their punishment is left to God；
and to their own consciences； for they do not think it lawful to
lay hands on any man； how wicked soever he is； that has been in a
peculiar manner dedicated to God； nor do they find any great
inconvenience in this； both because they have so few priests； and
because these are chosen with much caution； so that it must be a
very unusual thing to find one who merely out of regard to his
virtue； and for his being esteemed a singularly good man； was
raised up to so great a dignity； degenerate into corruption and
vice。 And if such a thing should fall out； for man is a changeable
creature； yet there being few priests； and these having no
authority but what rises out of the respect that is paid them；
nothing of great consequence to the public can proceed from the
indemnity that the priests enjoy。
They have indeed very few of them； lest greater numbers sharing in
the same honor might make the dignity of that order which they
esteem so highly to sink in its reputation。 They also think it
difficult to find out many of such an exalted pitch of goodness；
as to be equal to that dignity which demands the exercise of more
than ord