the city of the sun-第5章
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！
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 washed in each month with lye or soap； as are also
the workshops of the lower trades； the kitchens； the pantries
the barns； the store…houses； the armories； the refectories； and
the baths。
Moreover； the clothes are washed at the pillars of the peri…
styles； and the water is brought down by means of canals which
are continued as sewers。 In every street of the different rings
there are suitable fountains； which send forth their water by
means of canals； the water being drawn up from nearly the bot…
tom of the mountain by the sole movement of a cleverly con…
trived handle。 There is water in fountains and in cisterns；
whither the rain…water collected from the roofs of the houses
is brought through pipes full of sand。 They wash their bodies
often； according as the doctor and master command。 All the
mechanical arts are practised under the peristyles； but the spec…
ulative are carried on above in the walking galleries and ram…
parts where are the more splendid paintings； but the more sacred
ones are taught in the temple。 In the halls and wings of the
rings there are solar time…pieces and bells； and hands by which
the hours and seasons are marked off。
G。M。 Tell me about their children。
Capt。 When their women have brought forth children； they
suckle and rear them in temples set apart for all。 They give
milk for two years or more as the physician orders。 After that
time the weaned child is given into the charge of the mistresses；
if it is a female； and to the masters； if it is a male。 And then
with other young children they are pleasantly instructed in the
alphabet； and in the knowledge of the pictures； and in running；
walking； and wrestling； also in the historical drawings； and in
languages； and they are adorned with a suitable garment of
different colors。 After their sixth year they are taught natural
science； and then the mechanical sciences。 The men who are
weak in intellect are sent to farms； and when they have become
more proficient some of them are received into the State。 And
those of the same age and born under the same constellation
are especially like one another in strength and in appearance；
and hence arises much lasting concord in the State； these men
honoring one another with mutual love and help。 Names are
given to them by Metaphysicus； and that not by chance； but de…
signedly； and according to each one's peculiarity； as was the
custom among the ancient Romans。 Wherefore one is called
Beautiful （Pulcher）； another the Big…nosed （Naso）； another
the Fat…legged （Cranipes）； another Crooked （Torvus）； an…
other Lean （Macer）； and so on。 But when they have become
very skilled in their professions and done any great deed in war
or in time of peace； a cognomen from art is given to them； such
as Beautiful the Great Painter （Pulcher； Pictor Magnus）； the
Golden One （Aureus）； the Excellent One （Excellens）； or the
Strong （Strenuus）； or from their deeds； such as Naso the
Brave （Nason Fortis）； or the Cunning； or the Great； or Very
Great Conqueror； or from the enemy anyone has overcome；
Africanus； Asiaticus； Etruscus； or if anyone has overcome
Manfred or Tortelius； he is called Macer Manfred or Tortelius；
and so on。 All these cognomens are added by the higher mag…
istrates； and very often with a crown suitable to the deed or art；
and with the flourish of music。 For gold and silver are reck…
oned of little value among them except as material for their
vessels and ornaments； which are common to all。
G。M。 Tell me； I pray you； is there no jealousy among them
or disappointment to that one who has not been elected to a
magistracy； or to any other dignity to which he aspires？
Capt。 Certainly not。 For no one wants either necessaries
or luxuries。 Moreover； the race is managed for the good of
the commonwealth； and not of private individuals； and the mag…
istrates must be obeyed。 They deny what we hold viz。； that it
is natural to man to recognize his offspring and to educate them；
and to use his wife and house and children as his own。 For
they say that children are bred for the preservation of the
species and not for individual pleasure； as St。 Thomas also as…
serts。 Therefore the breeding of children has reference to the
commonwealth； and not to individuals； except in so far as they
are constituents of the commonwealth。 And since individuals
for the most part bring forth children wrongly and educate
them wrongly； they consider that they remove destruction from
the State； and therefore for this reason； with most sacred fear；
they commit the education of the children； who； as it were； are
the element of the republic； to the care of magistrates； for the
safety of the community is not that of a few。 And thus they
distribute male and female breeders of the best natures accord…
ing to philosophical rules。 Plato thinks that this distribution
ought to be made by lot； lest some men seeing that they are kept
away from the beautiful women； should rise up with anger and
hatred against the magistrates； and he thinks further that those
who do not deserve cohabitation with the more beautiful
women； should be deceived while the lots are being led out of
the city by the magistrates； so that at all times the women who
are suitable should fall to their lot； not those whom they desire。
This shrewdness； however； is not necessary among the inhab…
itants of the City of the Sun。 For with them deformity is un…
known。 When the women are exercised they get a clear com…
plexion； and become strong of limb； tall and agile； and with
them beauty consists in tallness and strength。 Therefore； if
any woman dyes her face； so that it may become beautiful； or
uses high…heeled boots so that she may appear tall； or garments
with trains to cover her wooden shoes； she is condemned to cap…
ital punishment。 But if the women should even desire them
they have no facility for doing these things。 For who indeed
would give them this facility？ Further； they assert that among
us abuses of this kind arise from the leisure and sloth of women。
By these means they lose their color and have pale complexions；
and become feeble and small。 For this reason they are without
proper complexions； use high sandals； and become beautiful not
from strength； but from slothful tenderness。 And thus they
ruin their own tempers and natures； and consequently those of
their offspring。 Furthermore； if at any time a man is taken
captive with ardent love for a certain woman； the two are al…
lowed to converse and joke together and to give one another
garlands of flowers or leaves； and to make verses。 But if the
race is endangered； by no means is further union between them
permitted。 Moreover； the love born of eager desire is not
known among them； only that born of friendship。
Domestic affairs and partnerships are of little account； be…
cause； excepting the sign of honor； each one receives what he
is in need of。 To the heroes and heroines of the republic； it
is customary to give the pleasing gifts of honor； beautiful
wreaths； sweet food； or splendid clothes； while they are feast…
