the city of the sun-第7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！


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　that　the　allies　should
be　freed　from　oppression；　or　that　the　tyrant　should　be　deposed。
If　they　deny　these　things　war　is　declared　by　invoking　the　ven…
geance　of　God　　the　God　of　Sabaoth　　for　destruction　of　those
who　maintain　an　unjust　cause。　　But　if　the　enemy　refuse　to　re…
ply；　the　priest　gives　him　the　space　of　one　hour　for　his　answer；
if　he　is　a　king；　but　three　if　it　is　a　republic；　so　that　they　cannot
escape　giving　a　response。　　And　in　this　manner　is　war　under…
taken　against　the　insolent　enemies　of　natural　rights　and　of　re…
ligion。　　When　war　has　been　declared；　the　deputy　of　Power
performs　everything；　but　Power；　like　the　Roman　dictator；　plans
and　wills　everything；　so　that　hurtful　tardiness　may　be　avoided。
And　when　anything　of　great　moment　arises　he　consults　Hoh
and　Wisdom　and　Love。

　　　Before　this；　however；　the　occasion　of　war　and　the　justice　of
making　an　expedition　are　declared　by　a　herald　in　the　great
Council。　　All　from　twenty　years　and　upward　are　admitted　to
this　Council；　and　thus　the　necessaries　are　agreed　upon。　　All
kinds　of　weapons　stand　in　the　armories；　and　these　they　use　often
in　sham　fights。　　The　exterior　walls　of　each　ring　are　full　of
guns　prepared　by　their　labors；　and　they　have　other　engines　for
hurling　which　are　called　cannons；　and　which　they　take　into
battle　upon　mules　and　asses　and　carriages。　　When　they　have
arrived　in　an　open　plain　they　enclose　in　the　middle　the　provis…
ions；　engines　of　war；　chariots；　ladders；　and　machines；　and　all
fight　courageously。　　Then　each　one　returns　to　the　standards；
and　the　enemy　thinking　that　they　are　giving　and　preparing　to
flee；　are　deceived　and　relax　their　order：　then　the　warriors　of
the　City　of　the　Sun；　wheeling　into　wings　and　columns　on　each
side；　regain　their　breath　and　strength；　and　ordering　the　artillery
to　discharge　their　bullets　they　resume　the　fight　against　a　disor…
ganized　host。　　And　they　observe　many　ruses　of　this　kind。
They　overcome　all　mortals　with　their　stratagems　and　engines。
Their　camp　is　fortified　after　the　manner　of　the　Romans。　　They
pitch　their　tents　and　fortify　with　wall　and　ditch　with　wonderful
quickness。　　The　masters　of　works；　of　engines　and　hurling
machines；　stand　ready；　and　the　soldiers　understand　the　use　of
the　spade　and　the　axe。

　　　Five；　eight；　or　ten　leaders　learned　in　the　order　of　battle　and
in　strategy　consult　together　concerning　the　business　of　war；
and　command　their　bands　after　consultation。　　It　is　their　wont
to　take　out　with　them　a　body　of　boys；　armed　and　on　horses；　so
that　they　may　learn　to　fight；　just　as　the　whelps　of　lions　and
wolves　are　accustomed　to　blood。　　And　these　in　time　of　danger
betake　themselves　to　a　place　of　safety；　along　with　many　armed
women。　　After　the　battle　the　women　and　boys　soothe　and　re…
lieve　the　pain　of　the　warriors；　and　wait　upon　them　and　encour…
age　them　with　embraces　and　pleasant　words。　　How　wonderful
a　help　is　this！　　For　the　soldiers；　in　order　that　they　may　acquit
themselves　as　sturdy　men　in　the　eyes　of　their　wives　and　off…
spring；　endure　hardships；　and　so　love　makes　them　conquerors。
He　who　in　the　fight　first　scales　the　enemy's　walls　receives　after
the　battle　of　a　crown　of　grass；　as　a　token　of　honor；　and　at　the
presentation　the　women　and　boys　applaud　loudly；　that　one　who
affords　aid　to　an　ally　gets　a　civic　crown　of　oak…leaves；　he　who
kills　a　tyrant　dedicates　his　arms　in　the　temple　and　receives　from
Hoh　the　cognomen　of　his　deed；　and　other　warriors　obtain　other
kinds　of　crowns。

　　　Every　horse…soldier　carries　a　spear　and　two　strongly　tem…
pered　pistols；　narrow　at　the　mouth；　hanging　from　his　saddle。
And　to　get　the　barrels　of　their　pistols　narrow　they　pierce　the
metal　which　they　intend　to　convert　into　arms。　　Further；　every
cavalry　soldier　has　a　sword　and　a　dagger。　　But　the　rest；　who
form　the　light…armed　troops；　carry　a　metal　cudgel。　　For　if　the
foe　cannot　pierce　their　metal　for　pistols　and　cannot　make
swords；　they　attack　him　with　clubs；　shatter　and　overthrow　him。
Two　chains　of　six　spans　length　hang　from　the　club；　and　at　the
end　of　these　are　iron　balls；　and　when　these　are　aimed　at　the
enemy　they　surround　his　neck　and　drag　him　to　the　ground；　and
in　order　that　they　may　be　able　to　use　the　club　more　easily；　they
do　not　hold　the　reins　with　their　hands；　but　use　them　by　means
of　the　feet。　　If　perchance　the　reins　are　interchanged　above　the
trappings　of　the　saddle；　the　ends　are　fastened　to　the　stirrups
with　buckles；　and　not　to　the　feet。　　And　the　stirrups　have　an　ar…
rangement　for　swift　movement　of　the　bridle；　so　that　they　draw
in　or　let　out　the　rein　with　marvellous　celerity。　　With　the　right
foot　they　turn　the　horse　to　the　left；　and　with　the　left　to　the　right。
This　secret；　moreover；　is　not　known　to　the　Tartars。　　For；　al…
though　they　govern　the　reins　with　their　feet；　they　are　ignorant
nevertheless　of　turning　them　and　drawing　them　in　and　letting
them　out　by　means　of　the　block　of　the　stirrups。　　The　light…
armed　cavalry　with　them　are　the　first　to　engage　in　battle；　then
the　men　forming　the　phalanx　with　their　spears；　then　the　archers
for　whose　services　a　great　price　is　paid；　and　who　are　accus…
tomed　to　fight　in　lines　crossing　one　another　as　the　threads　of
cloth；　some　rushing　forward　in　their　turn　and　others　receding。
They　have　a　band　of　lancers　strengthening　the　line　of　battle；
but　they　make　trial　of　the　swords　only　at　the　end。

　　　After　the　battle　they　celebrate　the　military　triumphs　after　the
manner　of　the　Romans；　and　even　in　a　more　magnificent　way。
Prayers　by　the　way　of　thank…offerings　are　made　to　God；　and
then　the　general　presents　himself　in　the　temple；　and　the　deeds；
good　and　bad；　are　related　by　the　poet　or　historian；　who　accord…
ing　to　custom　was　with　the　expedition。　　And　the　greatest　chief；
Hoh；　crowns　the　general　with　laurel　and　distributes　little　gifts
and　honors　to　all　the　valorous　soldiers；　who　are　for　some　days
free　from　public　duties。　　But　this　exemption　from　work　is　by
no　means　pleasing　to　them；　since　they　know　not　what　it　is　to　be
at　leisure；　and　so　they　help　their　companions。　　On　the　other
hand；　they　who　have　been　conquered　through　their　own　fault；
or　have　lost　the　victory；　are　blamed；　and　they　who　were　the　first
to　take　to　flight　are　in　no　way　worthy　to　escape　death；　unless
when　the　whole　army　asks　their　lives；　and　each　one　takes　upon
himself　a　part　of　their　punishment。　　But　this　indulgence　is
rarely　granted；　except　when　there　are　good　reasons　favoring　it。
But　he　who　did　not　bear　help　to　an　ally　or　friend　is　beaten　with
rods。　　That　one　who　did　not　obey　orders　is　given　to　the　beasts；
in　an　enclosure；　to　be　devoured；　and　a　staff　is　put　in　his　hand；
and　if　he　should　conquer　the　lions　and　the　bears　that　are　there；
which　is　almost　impossible；　he　is　received　into　favor　again。
The　conquered　States　or　those　willingly　delivered　up　to　them；
forthwith　have　all　things　in　common；　and　receive　a　garrison
and　magistrates　from　the　City　of　the　Sun；　and　by　degrees　they
are　accustomed　to　the　ways　of　the　city；　the　mistress　of　all；　to
which　they　even　send　their　sons　to　be　taught　without　contribut…
ing　anything　for　expense。

　　　It　would　be　too　great