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！
allow no game which is played while sitting； neither the single
die nor dice； nor chess； nor others like these。 But they play
with the ball； with the sack； with the hoop； with wrestling； with
hurling at the stake。 They say； moreover； that grinding poverty
renders men worthless； cunning； sulky； thievish； insidious； vag…
abonds； liars； false witnesses； etc。； and that wealth makes them
insolent； proud； ignorant； traitors； assumers of what they know
not； deceivers； boasters； wanting in affection； slanderers； etc。
But with them all the rich and poor together make up the com…
munity。 They are rich because they want nothing； poor be…
cause they possess nothing； and consequently they are not
slaves to circumstances； but circumstances serve them。 And on
this point they strongly recommend the religion of the Chris…
tians； and especially the life of the apostles。
G。M。 This seems excellent and sacred； but the community
of women is a thing too difficult to attain。 The holy Roman
Clement says that wives ought to be common in accordance with
the apostolic institution； and praises Plato and Socrates； who
thus teach； but the Glossary interprets this community with
regard to obedience。 And Tertullian agrees with the Glossary；
that the first Christians had everything in common except
wives。
Capt。 These things I know little of。 But this I saw among
the inhabitants of the City of the Sun； that they did not make
this exception。 And they defend themselves by the opinion of
Socrates； of Cato； of Plato； and of St。 Clement； but； as you say；
they misunderstand the opinions of these thinkers。 And the
inhabitants of the solar city ascribe this to their want of educa…
tion； since they are by no means learned in philosophy。 Never…
theless； they send abroad to discover the customs of nations；
and the best of these they always adopt。 Practice makes the
women suitable for war and other duties。 Thus they agree with
Plato； in whom I have read these same things。 The reasoning
of our Cajetan does not convince me； and least of all that of
Aristotle。 This thing； however； existing among them is ex…
cellent and worthy of imitation viz。； that no physical defect
renders a man incapable of being serviceable except the decrepi…
tude of old age； since even the deformed are useful for consulta…
tion。 The lame serve as guards； watching with the eyes which
they possess。 The blind card wool with their hands； separating
the down from the hairs； with which latter they stuff the
couches and sofas； those who are without the use of eyes and
hands give the use of their ears or their voice for the conven…
ience of the State； and if one has only one sense he uses it in the
farms。 And these cripples are well treated； and some become
spies； telling the officers of the State what they have heard。
G。M。 Tell me now； I pray you； of their military affairs。
Then you may explain their arts； ways of life and sciences；
and lastly their religion。
Capt。 The triumvir； Power； has under him all the magis…
trates of arms； of artillery； of cavalry； of foot…soldiers； of archi…
tects； and of strategists； and the masters and many of the
most excellent workmen obey the magistrates； the men of each
art paying allegiance to their respective chiefs。 Moreover；
Power is at the head of all the professors of gymnastics； who
teach military exercise； and who are prudent generals； advanced
in age。 By these the boys are trained after their twelfth year。
Before this age； however； they have been accustomed to wres…
tling； running； throwing the weight； and other minor exercises；
under inferior masters。 But at twelve they are taught how to
strike at the enemy； at horses and elephants； to handle the spear；
the sword； the arrow； and the sling； to manage the horse； to
advance and to retreat； to remain in order of battle； to help a
comrade in arms； to anticipate the enemy by cunning； and to
conquer。
The women also are taught these arts under their own magis…
trates and mistresses； so that they may be able if need be to
render assistance to the males in battles near the city。 They
are taught to watch the fortifications lest at some time a hasty
attack should suddenly be made。 In this respect they praise the
Spartans and Amazons。 The women know well also how to
let fly fiery balls； and how to make them from lead； how to
throw stones from pinnacles and to go in the way of an attack。
They are accustomed also to give up wine unmixed altogether；
and that one is punished most severely who shows any fear。
The inhabitants of the City of the Sun do not fear death；
because they all believe that the soul is immortal； and that when
it has left the body it is associated with other spirits； wicked or
good； according to the merits of this present life。 Although
they are partly followers of Brahma and Pythagoras； they do
not believe in the transmigration of souls； except in some cases
by a distinct decree of God。 They do not abstain from injuring
an enemy of the republic and of religion； who is unworthy of
pity。 During the second month the army is reviewed； and every
day there is practice of arms； either in the cavalry plain or
within the walls。 Nor are they ever without lectures on the
science of war。 They take care that the accounts of Moses； of
Joshua； of David； of Judas Maccabaeus； of Caesar； of Alexander；
of Scipio； of Hannibal； and other great soldiers should be read。
And then each one gives his own opinion as to whether these
generals acted well or ill； usefully or honorably； and then the
teacher answers and says who are right。
G。M。 With whom do they wage war； and for what reasons；
since they are so prosperous？
Capt。 Wars might never occur； nevertheless they are exer…
cised in military tactics and in hunting； lest perchance they
should become effeminate and unprepared for any emergency。
Besides； there are four kingdoms in the island； which are very
envious of their prosperity； for this reason that the people de…
sire to live after the manner of the inhabitants of the City of
the Sun； and to be under their rule rather than that of their
own kings。 Wherefore the State often makes war upon these
because； being neighbors； they are usurpers and live impiously；
since they have not an object of worship and do not observe the
religion of other nations or of the Brahmins。 And other
nations of India； to which formerly they were subject； rise up
as it were in rebellion； as also do the Taprobanese； whom they
wanted to join them at first。 The warriors of the City of the
Sun； however； are always the victors。 As soon as they suffered
from insult or disgrace or plunder； or when their allies have
been harassed； or a people have been oppressed by a tyrant of
the State （for they are always the advocates of liberty）； they
go immediately to the Council for deliberation。 After they
have knelt in the presence of God； that he might inspire their
consultation； they proceed to examine the merits of the busi…
ness； and thus war is decided on。 Immediately after； a priest；
whom they call Forensic； is sent away。 He demands from the
enemy the restitution of the plunder； asks tha