the city of the sun-第3章

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have　mastered　no　pursuit；　but　live　in　ease　and　are　so　many
slaves　given　over　to　their　own　pleasure　and　lasciviousness；　and
thus；　as　it　were；　from　a　school　of　vices　so　many　idle　and　wicked
fellows　go　forth　for　the　ruin　of　the　State。

　　　The　rest　of　the　officials；　however；　are　chosen　by　the　four
chiefs；　Hoh；　Pon；　Sin　and　Mor；　and　by　the　teachers　of　that　art
over　which　they　are　fit　to　preside。　　And　these　teachers　know
well　who　is　most　suited　for　rule。　　Certain　men　are　proposed
by　the　magistrates　in　council；　they　themselves　not　seeking　to
become　candidates；　and　he　opposes　who　knows　anything　against
those　brought　forward　for　election；　or；　if　not；　speaks　in　favor
of　them。　　But　no　one　attains　to　the　dignity　of　Hoh　except　him
who　knows　the　histories　of　the　nations；　and　their　customs　and
sacrifices　and　laws；　and　their　form　of　government；　whether　a
republic　or　a　monarchy。　　He　must　also　know　the　names　of　the
lawgivers　and　the　inventors　in　science；　and　the　laws　and　the
history　of　the　earth　and　the　heavenly　bodies。　　They　think　it
also　necessary　that　he　should　understand　all　the　mechanical
arts；　the　physical　sciences；　astrology　and　mathematics。　　Near…
ly　every　two　days　they　teach　our　mechanical　art。　　They　are　not
allowed　to　overwork　themselves；　but　frequent　practice　and　the
paintings　render　learning　easy　to　them。　　Not　too　much　care
is　given　to　the　cultivation　of　languages；　as　they　have　a　goodly
number　of　interpreters　who　are　grammarians　in　the　State。
But　beyond　everything　else　it　is　necessary　that　Hoh　should
understand　metaphysics　and　theology；　that　he　should　know
thoroughly　the　derivations；　foundations；　and　demonstrations　of
all　the　arts　and　sciences；　the　likeness　and　difference　of　things；
necessity；　fate；　and　the　harmonies　of　the　universe；　power；　wis…
dom；　and　the　love　of　things　and　of　God；　the　stages　of　life　and
its　symbols；　everything　relating　to　the　heavens；　the　earth；　and
the　sea；　and　the　ideas　of　God；　as　much　as　mortal　man　can　know
of　him。　　He　must　also　be　well　read　in　the　prophets　and　in　as…
trology。　　And　thus　they　know　long　beforehand　who　will　be
Hoh。　　He　is　not　chosen　to　so　great　a　dignity　unless　he　has　at…
tained　his　thirty…fifth　year。　　And　this　office　is　perpetual；　be…
cause　it　is　not　known　who　may　be　too　wise　for　it　or　who　too
skilled　in　ruling。


G。M。　　Who　indeed　can　be　so　wise？　　If　even　anyone　has　a
knowledge　of　the　sciences　it　seems　that　he　must　be　unskilled
in　ruling。


Capt。　　This　very　question　I　asked　them　and　they　replied
thus：　〃We；　indeed；　are　more　certain　that　such　a　very　learned
man　has　the　knowledge　of　governing；　than　you　who　place　ig…
norant　persons　in　authority；　and　consider　them　suitable　merely
because　they　have　sprung　from　rulers　or　have　been　chosen　by　a
powerful　faction。　　But　our　Hoh；　a　man　really　the　most　capable
to　rule；　is　for　all　that　never　cruel　nor　wicked；　nor　a　tyrant；　inas…
much　as　he　possesses　so　much　wisdom。　　This；　moreover；　is　not
unknown　to　you；　that　the　same　argument　cannot　apply　among
you；　when　you　consider　that　man　the　most　learned　who　knows
most　of　grammar；　or　logic；　or　of　Aristotle　or　any　other　author。
For　such　knowledge　as　this　of　yours　much　servile　labor　and
memory　work　are　required；　so　that　a　man　is　rendered　unskilful；
since　he　has　contemplated　nothing　but　the　words　of　books　and
has　given　his　mind　with　useless　result　to　the　consideration　of
the　dead　signs　of　things。　　Hence　he　knows　not　in　what　way
God　rules　the　universe；　nor　the　ways　and　customs　of　nature　and
the　nations。　　Wherefore　he　is　not　equal　to　our　Hoh。　　For　that
one　cannot　know　so　many　arts　and　sciences　thoroughly；　who　is
not　esteemed　for　skilled　ingenuity；　very　apt　at　all　things；　and
therefore　at　ruling　especially。　　This　also　is　plain　to　us　that　he
who　knows　only　one　science；　does　not　really　know　either　that
or　the　others；　and　he　who　is　suited　for　only　one　science　and　has
gathered　his　knowledge　from　books；　is　unlearned　and　unskilled。
But　this　is　not　the　case　with　intellects　prompt　and　expert　in
every　branch　of　knowledge　and　suitable　for　the　consideration
of　natural　objects；　as　it　is　necessary　that　our　Hoh　should　be。
Besides　in　our　State　the　sciences　are　taught　with　a　facility　（as
you　have　seen）　by　which　more　scholars　are　turned　out　by　us
in　one　year　than　by　you　in　ten；　or　even　fifteen。　　Make　trial；　I
pray　you；　of　these　boys。〃

　　　In　this　matter　I　was　struck　with　astonishment　at　their　truth…
ful　discourse　and　at　the　trial　of　their　boys；　who　did　not　under…
stand　my　language　well。　　Indeed　it　is　necessary　that　three　of
them　should　be　skilled　in　our　tongue；　three　in　Arabic；　three　in
Polish；　and　three　in　each　of　the　other　languages；　and　no　recrea…
tion　is　allowed　them　unless　they　become　more　learned。　　For
that　they　go　out　to　the　plain　for　the　sake　of　running　about　and
hurling　arrows　and　lances；　and　of　firing　harquebuses；　and　for
the　sake　of　hunting　the　wild　animals　and　getting　a　knowledge
of　plants　and　stones；　and　agriculture　and　pasturage；　sometimes
the　band　of　boys　does　one　thing；　sometimes　another。

　　　They　do　not　consider　it　necessary　that　the　three　rulers　assist…
ing　Hoh　should　know　other　than　the　arts　having　reference　to
their　rule；　and　so　they　have　only　a　historical　knowledge　of　the
arts　which　are　common　to　all。　　But　their　own　they　know　well；
to　which　certainly　one　is　dedicated　more　than　another。　　Thus
Power　is　the　most　learned　in　the　equestrian　art；　in　marshalling
the　army；　in　the　marking　out　of　camps；　in　the　manufacture　of
every　kind　of　weapon　and　of　warlike　machines；　in　planning
stratagems；　and　in　every　affair　of　a　military　nature。　　And　for
these　reasons；　they　consider　it　necessary　that　these　chiefs
should　have　been　philosophers；　historians；　politicians；　and
physicists。　　Concerning　the　other　two　triumvirs；　understand
remarks　similar　to　those　I　have　made　about　Power。


G。M。　　I　really　wish　that　you　would　recount　all　their　public
duties；　and　would　distinguish　between　them；　and　also　that　you
would　tell　clearly　how　they　are　all　taught　in　common。


Capt。　　They　have　dwellings　in　common　and　dormitories；　and
couches　and　other　necessaries。　　But　at　the　end　of　every　six
months　they　are　separated　by　the　masters。　　Some　shall　sleep　in
this　ring；　some　in　another；　some　in　the　first　apartment；　and
some　in　the　second；　and　these　apartments　are　marked　by　means
of　the　alphabet　on　the　lintel。　　There　are　occupations；　mechani…
cal　and　theoretical；　common　to　both　men　and　women；　with　this
difference；　that　the　occupations　which　require　more　hard　work；
and　walking　a　long　distance；　are　practised　by　men；　such　as
ploughing；　sowing；　gathering　the　fruits；　working　at　the　thresh…
ing…floor；　and　perchance　at　the　vintage。　　But　it　is　customary　to
choose　women　for　milking　the　cows　and　for　making　cheese。　　In
like　manner；　they　go　to　the　gardens　near　to　the　outskirts　of　the
city　both　for　collecting　the　plants　and　for　cultivating　them。　　In
fact；　all　sedentary　and　stationary　pursuits　are　practised　by　the
women；　such　as　weaving；　spinning；　sewing；　cutting　the　hair；
shaving；　dispensing　medicines；　and　making　all　kinds　of　gar…
ments。　　They　are；　however；　excluded　from　working　in　wood
and　the　manufacture　of　arms。　　If　a　woman　is　fit　to　paint；　she
is　not　prevented　from　doing　so；　nevertheless；　music　is　given
over　to　the　women　alone；　because　they　please　the　more；　and　of
a　truth　to　boys　also。　　But　the　women　have　not　the　practise　of
the　drum　and　the　horn。

　　　And　they　prepare　their　feasts　and　arrange　the　tables　in　the
following　manner。　　It　is　the　peculiar　work　of　the　boys　and
girls　under　twenty　to　wait　at　the　tables。　　In　every　ring　there
are　suitable　kitchens；　barns；　and　stores　of　utensils　for　eating
and　drinking；　and　over　every　department　an　old　man　and　an　old
woman　preside。　　These　two　have　at　once　the　command　of　those
who　serve；　and　the　power　of　chastising；　or　causing　to　be　chas…
tised；　those　who　are　negligent　or　disobedient；　and　they　also
examine　and　mark　each　one；　both　male　and　female；　who　excels
in　his　or　her　duties。

　　　All　the　young　people　wait　upon　the　older　ones　who　have
passed　the　age　of　forty；　and　in　the　evening　when　they　go　to
sleep　the　master　and　mistress　command　that　those　should　be
sent　to　work　in　the　morning；　upon　whom　in　succession　the　duty
falls；　one　or　two　to　separate　apartments。　　The　young　people；
however；　wait　upon　one　another；　and　that　alas！　with　some　un…
willingness。　　They　have　first　and　second　tables；　and　on　both
sides　there　are　seats。　　On　one　side　sit　the　women；　on　the　other
the　men；　and　as　in　the　refectories　of　the　monks；　there　is　no
noise。　　While　they　are　eating　a　young　man　reads　a　book　from
a　platform；　intoning　distinctly　and　sonorously；　and　often　the
magistrates　question　them　upon　the　more　important　parts　of
the　reading。　　And　truly　it　is　pleasant　to　observe　in　what　man…
ner　these　young　people；　so　beautiful　and　clothed　in　garments
so　suitable；　attend　to　them；　and　to　see　at　the　same　time　so　many
friends；　brothers；　sons；　fathers；　and　mothers　all　in　their　turn
living　together　with　so　much　honesty；　propriety；　and　love。　　So
each　one　is　given　a　napkin；　a　plate；　fish；　and　a　dish　of　food。　　It
is　the　duty　of　the　medical　officers　to　tell　the　cooks　what　repasts
shall　be　prepared　on　each　day；　and　what　food　for　the　old；　what
for　the　young；　and　what　for　the　sick。　　The　magistrates　receive
the　full…grown　and　fatter　portion；　and　they　from　their　share
always　distribute　something　to　the　boys　at　the　table　who　have
shown　themselves　more　studious　in　the　morning　at　the　lectures
and　debates　concerning　wisdom　and　arms。　　And　this　is　held
to　be　one　of　the　most　distinguished　honors。　　For　six　days　they
ordain　to　sing　with　music　at　table。　　Only　a　few；　however；　sing；
or　there　is　one　voice　accompanying　the　lute　and　one　for　each
other　instrument。　　And　when　all　alike　in　service　join　their
hands；　nothing　is　found　to　be　wanting。　　The　old　men　placed
at　the　head　of　the　cooking　business　and　of　the　refectories　of　the
servants　praise　the　cleanliness　of　the　streets；　the　houses；　the　ves…
sels；　the　garments；　the　workshops；　and　the　warehouses。

　　　They　wear　white　under…garments　to　which　adheres　a　cover…
ing；　which　is　at　once　coat　and　legging；　without　wrinkles。　　The
borders　of　the　fastenings　are　furnished　with　globular　buttons；
extended　round　and　caught　up　here　and　there　by　chains。　　The
coverings　of　the　legs　descend　to　the　shoes　and　are　continued
even　to　the　heels。　　Then　they　cover　the　feet　with　large　socks；
or；　as　it　were；　half…buskins　fastened　by　buckles；　over　which　they
wear　a　half…boot；　and　besides；　as　I　have　already　said；　they　are
clothed　with　a　toga。　　And　so　aptly　fitting　are　the　garments；
that　when　the　toga　is　destroyed；　the　different　parts　of　the　whole
body　are　straightway　discerned；　no　part　being　concealed。　　They
change　their　clothes　for　different　ones　four　times　in　the　year；
that　is　when　the　sun　enters　respectively　the　constellations　Aries；
Cancer；　Libra；　and　Capricorn；　and　according　to　the　circum…
stances　and　necessity　as　decided　by　the　officer　of　health。　　The
keepers　of　clothes　for　the　different　rings　are　wont　to　distribute
them；　and　it　is　marvellous　that　they　have　at　the　same　time　as
many　garments　as　there　is　need　for；　some　heavy　and　some
slight；　according　to　the　weather。　　They　all　use　white　clothing；
and　this　is　was