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whole earth； who learn thoroughly the customs； forces； rule and
histories of the nations； bad and good alike。 These they apply
all to their own republic； and with this they are well pleased。
I learned that cannon and typography were invented by the
Chinese before we knew of them。 There are magistrates who
announce the meaning of the pictures； and boys are accustomed
to learn all the sciences； without toil and as if for pleasure； but
in the way of history only until they are ten years old。
Love is foremost in attending to the charge of the race。 He
sees that men and women are so joined together； that they bring
forth the best offspring。 Indeed； they laugh at us who exhibit
a studious care for our breed of horses and dogs； but neglect
the breeding of human beings。 Thus the education of the chil…
dren is under his rule。 So also is the medicine that is sold； the
sowing and collecting of fruits of the earth and of trees； agri…
culture； pasturage； the preparations for the months； the cook…
ing arrangements； and whatever has any reference to food；
clothing； and the intercourse of the sexes。 Love himself is
ruler； but there are many male and female magistrates dedi…
cated to these arts。
Metaphysic； then； with these three rulers； manages all the
above…named matters； and even by himself alone nothing is
done； all business is discharged by the four together； but in
whatever Metaphysic inclines to the rest are sure to agree。
G。M。 Tell me； please； of the magistrates； their services and
duties； of the education and mode of living； whether the gov…
ernment is a monarchy； a republic； or an aristocracy。
Capt。 This race of men came there from India； flying from
the sword of the Magi； a race of plunderers and tyrants who
laid waste their country； and they determined to lead a philo…
sophic life in fellowship with one another。 Although the com…
munity of wives is not instituted among the other inhabitants
of their province； among them it is in use after this manner：
All things are common with them； and their dispensation is by
the authority of the magistrates。 Arts and honors and pleas…
ures are common； and are held in such a manner that no one
can appropriate anything to himself。
They say that all private property is acquired and improved
for the reason that each one of us by himself has his own home
and wife and children。 From this； self…love springs。 For
when we raise a son to riches and dignities； and leave an heir to
much wealth； we become either ready to grasp at the property of
the State； if in any case fear should be removed from the power
which belongs to riches and rank； or avaricious； crafty； and
hypocritical； if anyone is of slender purse； little strength； and
mean ancestry。 But when we have taken away self…love； there
remains only love for the State。
G。M。 Under such circumstances no one will be willing to
labor； while he expects others to work； on the fruit of whose
labors he can live； as Aristotle argues against Plato。
Capt。 I do not know how to deal with that argument； but
I declare to you that they burn with so great a love for their
fatherland； as I could scarcely have believed possible； and in…
deed with much more than the histories tell us belonged to the
Romans； who fell willingly for their country； inasmuch as they
have to a greater extent surrendered their private property。
I think truly that the friars and monks and clergy of our coun…
try； if they were not weakened by love for their kindred and
friends or by the ambition to rise to higher dignities； would be
less fond of property； and more imbued with a spirit of charity
toward all； as it was in the time of the apostles； and is now in a
great many cases。
G。M。 St。 Augustine may say that； but I say that among this
race of men； friendship is worth nothing； since they have not
the chance of conferring mutual benefits on one another。
Capt。 Nay； indeed。 For it is worth the trouble to see that
no one can receive gifts from another。 Whatever is necessary
they have； they receive it from the community； and the magis…
trate takes care that no one receives more than he deserves。 Yet
nothing necessary is denied to anyone。 Friendship is recog…
nized among them in war； in infirmity； in the art contests； by
which means they aid one another mutually by teaching。 Some…
times they improve themselves mutually with praises； with con…
versation； with actions； and out of the things they need。 All
those of the same age call one another brothers。 They call all
over twenty…two years of age； fathers； those that are less than
twenty…two are named sons。 Moreover； the magistrates gov…
ern well； so that no one in the fraternity can do injury to an…
other。
G。M。 And how？
Capt。 As many names of virtues as there are among us； so
many magistrates there are among them。 There is a magis…
trate who is named Magnanimity； another Fortitude； a third
Chastity； a fourth Liberality； a fifth Criminal and Civil Justice；
a sixth Comfort； a seventh Truth； an eighth Kindness； a tenth
Gratitude； an eleventh Cheerfulness； a twelfth Exercise； a thir…
teenth Sobriety； etc。 They are elected to duties of that kind；
each one to that duty for excellence in which he is known from
boyhood to be most suitable。 Wherefore among them neither
robbery nor clever murders； nor lewdness； incest； adultery； or
other crimes of which we accuse one another； can be found。
They accuse themselves of ingratitude and malignity when any…
one denies a lawful satisfaction to another of indolence； of sad…
ness； of anger； of scurrility； of slander； and of lying； which
curseful thing they thoroughly hate。 Accused persons under…
going punishment are deprived of the common table； and other
honors； until the judge thinks that they agree with their cor…
rection。
G。M。 Tell me the manner in which the magistrates are
chosen。
Capt。 You would not rightly understand this； unless you
first learned their manner of living。 That you may know； then；
men and women wear the same kind of garment； suited for war。
The women wear the toga below the knee； but the men above；
and both sexes are instructed in all the arts together。 When
this has been done as a start； and before their third year； the
boys learn the language and the alphabet on the walls by walk…
ing round them。 They have four leaders； and four elders； the
first to direct them； the second to teach them； and these are men
approved beyond all others。 After some time they exercise
themselves with gymnastics； running； quoits； and other games；
by means of which all their muscles are strengthened alike。
Their feet are always bare； and so are their heads as far as the
seventh ring。 Afterward they lead them to the offices of the
trades； such as shoemaking； cooking； metal…working； carpentry；
painting； etc。 In order to find out the bent of the genius of
each one； after their seventh year； when they have already gone
through the mathematics on the walls； they take them to the
readings of all the sciences； there are four lectures at each read…
ing； and in the course of four hours the four in their order ex…
plain everyth