第1章

BOOKI

HENRYVIII,theunconqueredKingofEngland,aprinceadornedwithallthevirtuesthatbecomeagreatmonarch,havingsomedifferencesofnosmallconsequencewithCharles,themostserenePrinceofCastile,sentmeintoFlanders,ashisambassador,fortreatingandcomposingmattersbetweenthem。IwascolleagueandcompaniontothatincomparablemanCuthbertTonstal,whomtheKingwithsuchuniversalapplauselatelymadeMasteroftheRolls,butofwhomIwillsaynothing;notbecauseIfearthatthetestimonyofafriendwillbesuspected,butratherbecausehislearningandvirtuesaretoogreatformetodothemjustice,andsowellknownthattheyneednotmycommendationsunlessIwould,accordingtotheproverb,\"Showthesunwithalanthorn。\"ThosethatwereappointedbythePrincetotreatwithus,metusatBruges,accordingtoagreement;theywereallworthymen。TheMargraveofBrugeswastheirhead,andthechiefmanamongthem;buthethatwasesteemedthewisest,andthatspokefortherest,wasGeorgeTemse,theProvostofCasselsee;bothartandnaturehadconcurredtomakehimeloquent:hewasverylearnedinthelaw;andashehadagreatcapacity,sobyalongpracticeinaffairshewasverydexterousatunravellingthem。

Afterwehadseveraltimesmetwithoutcomingtoanagreement,theywenttoBrusselsforsomedaystoknowthePrince’spleasure。

Andsinceourbusinesswouldadmitit,IwenttoAntwerp。WhileI

wasthere,amongmanythatvisitedme,therewasonethatwasmoreacceptabletomethananyother,PeterGiles,bornatAntwerp,whoisamanofgreathonor,andofagoodrankinhistown,thoughlessthanhedeserves;forIdonotknowiftherebeanywheretobefoundamorelearnedandabetterbredyoungman:forasheisbothaveryworthyandaveryknowingperson,soheissociviltoallmen,soparticularlykindtohisfriends,andsofullofcandorandaffection,thatthereisnotperhapsaboveoneortwoanywheretobefoundthatareinallrespectssoperfectafriend。

Heisextraordinarilymodest,thereisnoartificeinhim;andyetnomanhasmoreofaprudentsimplicity:hisconversationwassopleasantandsoinnocentlycheerful,thathiscompanyinagreatmeasurelessenedanylongingstogobacktomycountry,andtomywifeandchildren,whichanabsenceoffourmonthshadquickenedverymuch。OnedayasIwasreturninghomefrommassatSt。

Mary’s,whichisthechiefchurch,andthemostfrequentedofanyinAntwerp,Isawhimbyaccidenttalkingwithastranger,whoseemedpasttheflowerofhisage;hisfacewastanned,hehadalongbeard,andhiscloakwashangingcarelesslyabouthim,sothatbyhislooksandhabitIconcludedhewasaseaman。

AssoonasPetersawme,hecameandsalutedme;andasIwasreturninghiscivility,hetookmeaside,andpointingtohimwithwhomhehadbeendiscoursing,hesaid:\"Doyouseethatman?Iwasjustthinkingtobringhimtoyou。\"

Ianswered,\"Heshouldhavebeenverywelcomeonyouraccount。\"

\"Andonhisowntoo,\"repliedhe,\"ifyouknewtheman,forthereisnonealivethatcangivesocopiousanaccountofunknownnationsandcountriesashecando;whichIknowyouverymuchdesire。\"

ThensaidI,\"Ididnotguessamiss,foratfirstsightItookhimforaseaman。\"

\"Butyouaremuchmistaken,\"saidhe,\"forhehasnotsailedasaseaman,butasatraveller,orratheraphilosopher。ThisRaphael,whofromhisfamilycarriesthenameofHythloday,isnotignorantoftheLatintongue,butiseminentlylearnedintheGreek,havingappliedhimselfmoreparticularlytothatthantotheformer,becausehehadgivenhimselfmuchtophilosophy,inwhichheknewthattheRomanshaveleftusnothingthatisvaluable,exceptwhatistobefoundinSenecaandCicero。HeisaPortuguesebybirth,andwassodesirousofseeingtheworldthathedividedhisestateamonghisbrothers,ranthesamehazardasAmericusVespucius,andboreashareinthreeofhisfourvoyages,thatarenowpublished;

onlyhedidnotreturnwithhiminhislast,butobtainedleaveofhimalmostbyforce,thathemightbeoneofthosetwenty-fourwhowereleftatthefarthestplaceatwhichtheytouched,intheirlastvoyagetoNewCastile。Theleavinghimthusdidnotalittlegratifyonethatwasmorefondoftravellingthanofreturninghometobeburiedinhisowncountry;forheusedoftentosaythatthewaytoheavenwasthesamefromallplaces;andhethathadnogravehadtheheavenstilloverhim。Yetthisdispositionofmindhadcosthimdear,ifGodhadnotbeenverygracioustohim;forafterhe,withfiveCastilians,hadtravelledovermanycountries,atlast,bystrangegood-fortune,hegottoCeylon,andfromthencetoCalicut,whereheveryhappilyfoundsomePortugueseships,and,beyondallmen’sexpectations,returnedtohisnativecountry。\"

WhenPeterhadsaidthistome,Ithankedhimforhiskindness,inintendingtogivemetheacquaintanceofamanwhoseconversationheknewwouldbesoacceptable;anduponthatRaphaelandI

embracedeachother。Afterthosecivilitieswerepassedwhichareusualwithstrangersupontheirfirstmeeting,weallwenttomyhouse,andenteringintothegarden,satdownonagreenbank,andentertainedoneanotherindiscourse。HetoldusthatwhenVespuciushadsailedaway,heandhiscompanionsthatstayedbehindinNewCastile,bydegreesinsinuatedthemselvesintotheaffectionsofthepeopleofthecountry,meetingoftenwiththem,andtreatingthemgently:andatlasttheynotonlylivedamongthemwithoutdanger,butconversedfamiliarlywiththem;andgotsofarintotheheartofaprince,whosenameandcountryIhaveforgot,thathebothfurnishedthemplentifullywithallthingsnecessary,andalsowiththeconveniencesoftravelling;bothboatswhentheywentbywater,andwagonswhentheytravelledoverland:hesentwiththemaveryfaithfulguide,whowastointroduceandrecommendthemtosuchotherprincesastheyhadamindtosee:andaftermanydays’journey,theycametotownsandcities,andtocommonwealths,thatwerebothhappilygovernedandwell-peopled。Undertheequator,andasfaronbothsidesofitasthesunmoves,therelayvastdesertsthatwereparchedwiththeperpetualheatofthesun;thesoilwaswithered,allthingslookeddismally,andallplaceswereeitherquiteuninhabited,oraboundedwithwildbeastsandserpents,andsomefewmenthatwereneitherlesswildnorlesscruelthanthebeaststhemselves。

Butastheywentfarther,anewsceneopened,allthingsgrewmilder,theairlessburning,thesoilmoreverdant,andeventhebeastswerelesswild:andatlasttherewerenations,towns,andcities,thathadnotonlymutualcommerceamongthemselves,andwiththeirneighbors,buttradedbothbyseaandland,toveryremotecountries。Theretheyfoundtheconveniencesofseeingmanycountriesonallhands,fornoshipwentanyvoyageintowhichheandhiscompanionswerenotverywelcome。Thefirstvesselsthattheysawwereflat-bottomed,theirsailsweremadeofreedsandwickerwovenclosetogether,onlysomewereofleather;butafterwardtheyfoundshipsmadewithroundkeelsandcanvassails,andinallrespectslikeourships;andtheseamenunderstoodbothastronomyandnavigation。Hegotwonderfullyintotheirfavor,byshowingthemtheuseoftheneedle,ofwhichtillthentheywereutterlyignorant。Theysailedbeforewithgreatcaution,andonlyinsummer-time,butnowtheycountallseasonsalike,trustingwhollytotheloadstone,inwhichtheyareperhapsmoresecurethansafe;sothatthereisreasontofearthatthisdiscovery,whichwasthoughtwouldprovesomuchtotheiradvantage,maybytheirimprudencebecomeanoccasionofmuchmischieftothem。Butitweretoolongtodwellonallthathetoldushehadobservedineveryplace,itwouldbetoogreatadigressionfromourpresentpurpose:whateverisnecessarytobetold,concerningthosewiseandprudentinstitutionswhichheobservedamongcivilizednations,mayperhapsberelatedbyusonamoreproperoccasion。Weaskedhimmanyquestionsconcerningallthesethings,towhichheansweredverywillingly;onlywemadenoinquiriesaftermonsters,thanwhichnothingismorecommon;foreverywhereonemayhearofravenousdogsandwolves,andcruelman-eaters;

butitisnotsoeasytofindStatesthatarewellandwiselygoverned。

Ashetoldusofmanythingsthatwereamissinthosenew-

discoveredcountries,sohereckonedupnotafewthingsfromwhichpatternsmightbetakenforcorrectingtheerrorsofthesenationsamongwhomwelive;ofwhichanaccountmaybegiven,asI

havealreadypromised,atsomeothertime;foratpresentIintendonlytorelatethoseparticularsthathetoldusofthemannersandlawsoftheUtopians:butIwillbeginwiththeoccasionthatledustospeakofthatcommonwealth。AfterRaphaelhaddiscoursedwithgreatjudgmentonthemanyerrorsthatwerebothamongusandthesenations;hadtreatedofthewiseinstitutionsbothhereandthere,andhadspokenasdistinctlyofthecustomsandgovernmentofeverynationthroughwhichhehadpassed,asifhehadspenthiswholelifeinit,Peter,beingstruckwithadmiration,said:

\"Iwonder,Raphael,howitcomesthatyouenterintonoking’sservice,forIamsuretherearenonetowhomyouwouldnotbeveryacceptable:foryourlearningandknowledgebothofmenandthings,aresuchthatyouwouldnotonlyentertainthemverypleasantly,butbeofgreatusetothem,bytheexamplesyoucouldsetbeforethemandtheadvicesyoucouldgivethem;andbythismeansyouwouldbothserveyourowninterestandbeofgreatusetoallyourfriends。\"

\"Asformyfriends,\"answeredhe,\"Ineednotbemuchconcerned,havingalreadydoneforthemallthatwasincumbentonme;forwhenIwasnotonlyingoodhealth,butfreshandyoung,I

distributedthatamongmykindredandfriendswhichotherpeopledonotpartwithtilltheyareoldandsick,whentheythenunwillinglygivethatwhichtheycanenjoynolongerthemselves。I

thinkmyfriendsoughttorestcontentedwiththis,andnottoexpectthatfortheirsakeIshouldenslavemyselftoanykingwhatsoever。\"

\"Softandfair,\"saidPeter,\"Idonotmeanthatyoushouldbeaslavetoanyking,butonlythatyoushouldassistthem,andbeusefultothem。\"

\"Thechangeoftheword,\"saidhe,\"doesnotalterthematter。\"

\"Buttermitasyouwill,\"repliedPeter,\"Idonotseeanyotherwayinwhichyoucanbesouseful,bothinprivatetoyourfriends,andtothepublic,andbywhichyoucanmakeyourownconditionhappier。\"

\"Happier!\"answeredRaphael;\"isthattobecompassedinawaysoabhorrenttomygenius?NowIliveasIwill,towhichIbelievefewcourtierscanpretend。Andtherearesomanythatcourtthefavorofgreatmen,thattherewillbenogreatlossiftheyarenottroubledeitherwithmeorwithothersofmytemper。\"

Uponthis,saidI:\"Iperceive,Raphael,thatyouneitherdesirewealthnorgreatness;andindeedIvalueandadmiresuchamanmuchmorethanIdoanyofthegreatmenintheworld。YetIthinkyouwoulddowhatwouldwellbecomesogenerousandphilosophicalasoulasyoursis,ifyouwouldapplyyourtimeandthoughtstopublicaffairs,eventhoughyoumayhappentofinditalittleuneasytoyourself:andthisyoucanneverdowithsomuchadvantage,asbybeingtakenintothecounselofsomegreatprince,andputtinghimonnobleandworthyactions,whichIknowyouwoulddoifyouwereinsuchapost;forthespringsbothofgoodandevilflowfromtheprince,overawholenation,asfromalastingfountain。Somuchlearningasyouhave,evenwithoutpracticeinaffairs,orsogreatapracticeasyouhavehad,withoutanyotherlearning,wouldrenderyouaveryfitcounsellortoanykingwhatsoever。\"

\"Youaredoublymistaken,\"saidhe,\"Mr。More,bothinyouropinionofme,andinthejudgmentyoumakeofthings:forasI

havenotthatcapacitythatyoufancyIhave,so,ifIhadit,thepublicwouldnotbeonejotthebetter,whenIhadsacrificedmyquiettoit。Formostprincesapplythemselvesmoretoaffairsofwarthantotheusefulartsofpeace;andintheseIneitherhaveanyknowledge,nordoImuchdesireit:theyaregenerallymoresetonacquiringnewkingdoms,rightorwrong,thanongoverningwellthosetheypossess。Andamongtheministersofprinces,therearenonethatarenotsowiseastoneednoassistance,oratleastthatdonotthinkthemselvessowisethattheyimaginetheyneednone;andiftheycourtany,itisonlythoseforwhomtheprincehasmuchpersonalfavor,whombytheirfawningsandflatteriestheyendeavortofixtotheirowninterests:andindeedNaturehassomadeusthatwealllovetobeflattered,andtopleaseourselveswithourownnotions。Theoldcrowloveshisyoung,andtheapehercubs。Nowifinsuchacourt,madeupofpersonswhoenvyallothers,andonlyadmirethemselves,apersonshouldbutproposeanythingthathehadeitherreadinhistoryorobservedinhistravels,therestwouldthinkthatthereputationoftheirwisdomwouldsink,andthattheirinterestwouldbemuchdepressed,iftheycouldnotrunitdown:andifallotherthingsfailed,thentheywouldflytothis,thatsuchorsuchthingspleasedourancestors,anditwerewellforusifwecouldbutmatchthem。Theywouldsetuptheirrestonsuchananswer,asasufficientconfutationofallthatcouldbesaid,asifitwereagreatmisfortune,thatanyshouldbefoundwiserthanhisancestors;butthoughtheywillinglyletgoallthegoodthingsthatwereamongthoseofformerages,yetifbetterthingsareproposedtheycoverthemselvesobstinatelywiththisexcuseofreverencetopasttimes。Ihavemetwiththeseproud,morose,andabsurdjudgmentsofthingsinmanyplaces,particularlyonceinEngland。\"

\"Wereyoueverthere?\"saidI。

\"Yes,Iwas,\"answeredhe,\"andstayedsomemonthstherenotlongaftertherebellioninthewestwassuppressedwithagreatslaughterofthepoorpeoplethatwereengagedinit。Iwasthenmuchobligedtothatreverendprelate,JohnMorton,ArchbishopofCanterbury,Cardinal,andChancellorofEngland:aman,\"saidhe,\"Peter(forMr。Moreknowswellwhathewas),thatwasnotlessvenerableforhiswisdomandvirtuesthanforthehighcharacterhebore。Hewasofamiddlestature,notbrokenwithage;hislooksbegotreverenceratherthanfear;hisconversationwaseasy,butseriousandgrave;hesometimestookpleasuretotrytheforceofthosethatcameassuitorstohimuponbusiness,byspeakingsharplythoughdecentlytothem,andbythathediscoveredtheirspiritandpresenceofmind,withwhichhewasmuchdelighted,whenitdidnotgrowuptoimpudence,asbearingagreatresemblancetohisowntemper;andhelookedonsuchpersonsasthefittestmenforaffairs。Hespokebothgracefullyandweightily;hewaseminentlyskilledinthelaw,hadavastunderstandingandaprodigiousmemory;andthoseexcellenttalentswithwhichnaturehadfurnishedhimwereimprovedbystudyandexperience。WhenIwasinEnglandtheKingdependedmuchonhiscounsels,andthegovernmentseemedtobechieflysupportedbyhim;forfromhisyouthhehadbeenallalongpractisedinaffairs;andhavingpassedthroughmanytraversesoffortune,hehadwithgreatcostacquiredavaststockofwisdom,whichisnotsoonlostwhenitispurchasedsodear。

\"OnedaywhenIwasdiningwithhimtherehappenedtobeattableoneoftheEnglishlawyers,whotookoccasiontorunoutinahighcommendationofthesevereexecutionofjusticeuponthieves,who,ashesaid,werethenhangedsofastthatthereweresometimestwentyononegibbet;anduponthathesaidhecouldnotwonderenoughhowitcametopass,thatsincesofewescaped,therewereyetsomanythievesleftwhowerestillrobbinginallplaces。

Uponthis,Iwhotooktheboldnesstospeakfreelybeforethecardinal,saidtherewasnoreasontowonderatthematter,sincethiswayofpunishingthieveswasneitherjustinitselfnorgoodforthepublic;forastheseveritywastoogreat,sotheremedywasnoteffectual;simpletheftnotbeingsogreatacrimethatitoughttocostamanhislife,nopunishmenthowseveresoeverbeingabletorestrainthosefromrobbingwhocanfindoutnootherwayoflivelihood。’Inthis,’saidI,’notonlyyouinEngland,butagreatpartoftheworldimitatesomeillmastersthatarereadiertochastisetheirscholarsthantoteachthem。

Therearedreadfulpunishmentsenactedagainstthieves,butitweremuchbettertomakesuchgoodprovisionsbywhicheverymanmightbeputinamethodhowtolive,andsobepreservedfromthefatalnecessityofstealingandofdyingforit。’

\"’Therehasbeencareenoughtakenforthat,’saidhe,’therearemanyhandicrafts,andthereishusbandry,bywhichtheymaymakeashifttoliveunlesstheyhaveagreatermindtofollowillcourses。’

\"’Thatwillnotserveyourturn,’saidI,’formanylosetheirlimbsincivilorforeignwars,aslatelyintheCornishrebellion,andsometimeagoinyourwarswithFrance,whobeingthusmutilatedintheserviceoftheirkingandcountry,cannomorefollowtheiroldtrades,andaretoooldtolearnnewones:

butsincewarsareonlyaccidentalthings,andhaveintervals,letusconsiderthosethingsthatfallouteveryday。Thereisagreatnumberofnoblemenamongyou,thatarethemselvesasidleasdrones,thatsubsistonothermen’slabor,onthelaboroftheirtenants,whom,toraisetheirrevenues,theyparetothequick。

Thisindeedistheonlyinstanceoftheirfrugality,forinallotherthingstheyareprodigal,eventothebeggaringofthemselves:butbesidesthis,theycarryaboutwiththemagreatnumberofidlefellows,whoneverlearnedanyartbywhichtheymaygaintheirliving;andthese,assoonaseithertheirlorddiesortheythemselvesfallsick,areturnedoutofdoors;foryourlordsarereadiertofeedidlepeoplethantotakecareofthesick;andoftentheheirisnotabletokeeptogethersogreatafamilyashispredecessordid。Nowwhenthestomachsofthosethatarethusturnedoutofdoorsgrowkeen,theyrobnolesskeenly;andwhatelsecantheydo?forwhen,bywanderingabout,theyhavewornoutboththeirhealthandtheirclothes,andaretattered,andlookghastly,menofqualitywillnotentertainthem,andpoormendarenotdoit,knowingthatonewhohasbeenbredupinidlenessandpleasure,andwhowasusedtowalkaboutwithhisswordandbuckler,despisingalltheneighborhoodwithaninsolentscornasfarbelowhim,isnotfitforthespadeandmattock:norwillheserveapoormanforsosmallahire,andinsolowadietashecanaffordtogivehim。’

\"Tothisheanswered:’Thissortofmenoughttobeparticularlycherished,forinthemconsiststheforceofthearmiesforwhichwehaveoccasion;sincetheirbirthinspiresthemwithanoblersenseofhonorthanistobefoundamongtradesmenorploughmen。’

\"’Youmayaswellsay,’repliedI,’thatyoumustcherishthievesontheaccountofwars,foryouwillneverwanttheoneaslongasyouhavetheother;andasrobbersprovesometimesgallantsoldiers,sosoldiersoftenprovebraverobbers;sonearanalliancethereisbetweenthosetwosortsoflife。Butthisbadcustom,socommonamongyou,ofkeepingmanyservants,isnotpeculiartothisnation。InFrancethereisyetamorepestiferoussortofpeople,forthewholecountryisfullofsoldiers,stillkeptupintimeofpeace,ifsuchastateofanationcanbecalledapeace:andthesearekeptinpayuponthesameaccountthatyoupleadforthoseidleretainersaboutnoblemen;thisbeingamaximofthosepretendedstatesmenthatitisnecessaryforthepublicsafetytohaveagoodbodyofveteransoldierseverinreadiness。Theythinkrawmenarenottobedependedon,andtheysometimesseekoccasionsformakingwar,thattheymaytrainuptheirsoldiersintheartofcuttingthroats;orasSallustobserved,forkeepingtheirhandsinuse,thattheymaynotgrowdullbytoolonganintermission。ButFrancehaslearnedtoitscosthowdangerousitistofeedsuchbeasts。

\"’ThefateoftheRomans,Carthaginians,andSyrians,andmanyothernationsandcities,whichwerebothoverturnedandquiteruinedbythosestandingarmies,shouldmakeotherswiser:andthefollyofthismaximoftheFrenchappearsplainlyevenfromthis,thattheirtrainedsoldiersoftenfindyourrawmenprovetoohardforthem;ofwhichIwillnotsaymuch,lestyoumaythinkI

flattertheEnglish。Everyday’sexperienceshowsthatthemechanicsinthetowns,ortheclownsinthecountry,arenotafraidoffightingwiththoseidlegentlemen,iftheyarenotdisabledbysomemisfortuneintheirbody,ordispiritedbyextremewant,sothatyouneednotfearthatthosewell-shapedandstrongmen(foritisonlysuchthatnoblemenlovetokeepaboutthem,tilltheyspoilthem)whonowgrowfeeblewithease,andaresoftenedwiththeireffeminatemanneroflife,wouldbelessfitforactioniftheywerewellbredandwellemployed。Anditseemsveryunreasonablethatfortheprospectofawar,whichyouneedneverhavebutwhenyouplease,youshouldmaintainsomanyidlemen,aswillalwaysdisturbyouintimeofpeace,whichisevertobemoreconsideredthanwar。ButIdonotthinkthatthisnecessityofstealingarisesonlyfromhence;thereisanothercauseofitmorepeculiartoEngland。’

\"’Whatisthat?’saidthecardinal。

\"’Theincreaseofpasture,’saidI,’bywhichyoursheep,whicharenaturallymild,andeasilykeptinorder,maybesaidnowtodevourmen,andunpeople,notonlyvillages,buttowns;forwhereveritisfoundthatthesheepofanysoilyieldasofterandricherwoolthanordinary,therethenobilityandgentry,andeventhoseholymentheabbots,notcontentedwiththeoldrentswhichtheirfarmsyielded,northinkingitenoughthatthey,livingattheirease,donogoodtothepublic,resolvetodoithurtinsteadofgood。Theystopthecourseofagriculture,destroyinghousesandtowns,reservingonlythechurches,andenclosegroundsthattheymaylodgetheirsheepinthem。Asifforestsandparkshadswalloweduptoolittleoftheland,thoseworthycountrymenturnthebestinhabitedplacesinsolitudes,forwhenaninsatiablewretch,whoisaplaguetohiscountry,resolvestoenclosemanythousandacresofground,theownersaswellastenantsareturnedoutoftheirpossessions,bytricks,orbymainforce,orbeingweariedoutwithill-usage,theyareforcedtosellthem。Bywhichmeansthosemiserablepeople,bothmenandwomen,marriedandunmarried,oldandyoung,withtheirpoorbutnumerousfamilies(sincecountrybusinessrequiresmanyhands),areallforcedtochangetheirseats,notknowingwhithertogo;

andtheymustsellalmostfornothingtheirhouseholdstuff,whichcouldnotbringthemmuchmoney,eventhoughtheymightstayforabuyer。Whenthatlittlemoneyisatanend,foritwillbesoonspent,whatisleftforthemtodo,buteithertostealandsotobehanged(Godknowshowjustly),ortogoaboutandbeg?Andiftheydothis,theyareputinprisonasidlevagabonds;whiletheywouldwillinglywork,butcanfindnonethatwillhirethem;forthereisnomoreoccasionforcountrylabor,towhichtheyhavebeenbred,whenthereisnoarablegroundleft。Oneshepherdcanlookafteraflockwhichwillstockanextentofgroundthatwouldrequiremanyhandsifitweretobeploughedandreaped。Thislikewiseinmanyplacesraisesthepriceofcorn。

\"’Thepriceofwoolisalsosorisenthatthepoorpeoplewhowerewonttomakeclotharenomoreabletobuyit;andthislikewisemakesmanyofthemidle。Forsincetheincreaseofpasture,Godhaspunishedtheavariceoftheownersbyarotamongthesheep,whichhasdestroyedvastnumbersofthem;tousitmighthaveseemedmorejusthaditfellontheownersthemselves。Butsupposethesheepshouldincreaseeversomuch,theirpriceisnotliketofall;sincethoughtheycannotbecalledamonopoly,becausetheyarenotengrossedbyoneperson,yettheyareinsofewhands,andthesearesorich,thatastheyarenotpressedtosellthemsoonerthantheyhaveamindtoit,sotheyneverdoittilltheyhaveraisedthepriceashighaspossible。Andonthesameaccountitis,thattheotherkindsofcattlearesodear,becausemanyvillagesbeingpulleddown,andallcountrylaborbeingmuchneglected,therearenonewhomakeittheirbusinesstobreedthem。Therichdonotbreedcattleastheydosheep,butbuythemlean,andatlowprices;andaftertheyhavefattenedthemontheirgroundssellthemagainathighrates。AndIdonotthinkthatalltheinconveniencesthiswillproduceareyetobserved,forastheysellthecattledear,soiftheyareconsumedfasterthanthebreedingcountriesfromwhichtheyarebroughtcanaffordthem,thenthestockmustdecrease,andthismustneedsendingreatscarcity;andbythesemeansthisyourisland,whichseemedastothisparticularthehappiestintheworld,willsuffermuchbythecursedavariceofafewpersons;besidesthis,therisingofcornmakesallpeoplelessentheirfamiliesasmuchastheycan;andwhatcanthosewhoaredismissedbythemdo,buteitherbegorrob?Andtothislast,amanofagreatmindismuchsoonerdrawnthantotheformer。

\"’Luxurylikewisebreaksinapaceuponyou,tosetforwardyourpovertyandmisery;thereisanexcessivevanityinapparel,andgreatcostindiet;andthatnotonlyinnoblemen’sfamilies,butevenamongtradesmen,amongthefarmersthemselves,andamongallranksofpersons。Youhavealsomanyinfamoushouses,and,besidesthosethatareknown,thetavernsandalehousesarenobetter;addtothese,dice,cards,tables,foot-ball,tennis,andquoits,inwhichmoneyrunsfastaway;andthosethatareinitiatedintothem,mustintheconclusionbetakethemselvestorobbingforasupply。Banishtheseplagues,andgiveordersthatthosewhohavedispeopledsomuchsoil,mayeitherrebuildthevillagestheyhavepulleddown,orletouttheirgroundstosuchaswilldoit:

restrainthoseengrossingsoftherich,thatareasbadalmostasmonopolies;leavefeweroccasionstoidleness;letagriculturebesetupagain,andthemanufactureofthewoolberegulated,thatsotheremaybeworkfoundforthosecompaniesofidlepeoplewhomwantforcestobethieves,orwho,nowbeingidlevagabondsoruselessservants,willcertainlygrowthievesatlast。Ifyoudonotfindaremedytotheseevils,itisavainthingtoboastofyourseverityinpunishingtheft,whichthoughitmayhavetheappearanceofjustice,yetinitselfisneitherjustnorconvenient。Forifyousufferyourpeopletobeill-educated,andtheirmannerstobecorruptedfromtheirinfancy,andthenpunishthemforthosecrimestowhichtheirfirsteducationdisposedthem,whatelseistobeconcludedfromthis,butthatyoufirstmakethievesandthenpunishthem?’

\"WhileIwastalkingthus,thecounsellorwhowaspresenthadpreparedananswer,andhadresolvedtoresumeallIhadsaid,accordingtotheformalityofadebate,inwhichthingsaregenerallyrepeatedmorefaithfullythantheyareanswered;asifthechieftrialtobemadewereofmen’smemories。

\"’Youhavetalkedprettilyforastranger,’saidhe,’havingheardofmanythingsamonguswhichyouhavenotbeenabletoconsiderwell;butIwillmakethewholematterplaintoyou,andwillfirstrepeatinorderallthatyouhavesaid,thenIwillshowhowmuchyourignoranceofouraffairshasmisledyou,andwillinthelastplaceanswerallyourarguments。AndthatImaybeginwhereI

promised,therewerefourthings——’

\"’Holdyourpeace,’saidthecardinal;’thiswilltakeuptoomuchtime;thereforewewillatpresenteaseyouofthetroubleofanswering,andreserveittoournextmeeting,whichshallbeto-

morrow,ifRaphael’saffairsandyourscanadmitofit。But,Raphael,’saidhetome,’Iwouldgladlyknowuponwhatreasonitisthatyouthinktheftoughtnottobepunishedbydeath?Wouldyougivewaytoit?Ordoyouproposeanyotherpunishmentthatwillbemoreusefultothepublic?Forsincedeathdoesnotrestraintheft,ifmenthoughttheirliveswouldbesafe,whatfearorforcecouldrestrainillmen?Onthecontrary,theywouldlookonthemitigationofthepunishmentasaninvitationtocommitmorecrimes。’

\"Ianswered:’Itseemstomeaveryunjustthingtotakeawayaman’slifeforalittlemoney;fornothingintheworldcanbeofequalvaluewithaman’slife:andifitissaidthatitisnotforthemoneythatonesuffers,butforhisbreakingthelaw,I

mustsayextremejusticeisanextremeinjury;forweoughtnottoapproveoftheseterriblelawsthatmakethesmallestoffencescapital,norofthatopinionoftheStoicsthatmakesallcrimesequal,asiftherewerenodifferencetobemadebetweenthekillingamanandthetakinghispurse,betweenwhich,ifweexaminethingsimpartially,thereisnolikenessnorproportion。

Godhascommandedusnottokill,andshallwekillsoeasilyforalittlemoney?Butifoneshallsay,thatbythatlawweareonlyforbidtokillany,exceptwhenthelawsofthelandallowofit;

uponthesamegrounds,lawsmaybemadeinsomecasestoallowofadulteryandperjury:forGodhavingtakenfromustherightofdisposing,eitherofourownorofotherpeople’slives,ifitispretendedthatthemutualconsentofmaninmakinglawscanauthorizemanslaughterincasesinwhichGodhasgivenusnoexample,thatitfreespeoplefromtheobligationofthedivinelaw,andsomakesmurderalawfulaction;whatisthis,buttogiveapreferencetohumanlawsbeforethedivine?

\"’Andifthisisonceadmitted,bythesamerulemenmayinallotherthingsputwhatrestrictionstheypleaseuponthelawsofGod。IfbytheMosaicallaw,thoughitwasroughandsevere,asbeingayokelaidonanobstinateandservilenation,menwereonlyfinedandnotputtodeathfortheft,wecannotimaginethatinthisnewlawofmercy,inwhichGodtreatsuswiththetendernessofafather,hehasgivenusagreaterlicensetocrueltythanhedidtotheJews。UponthesereasonsitisthatI

thinkputtingthievestodeathisnotlawful;anditisplainandobviousthatitisabsurd,andofill-consequencetothecommonwealth,thatathiefandamurderershouldbeequallypunished;forifarobberseesthathisdangeristhesame,ifheisconvictedoftheftasifhewereguiltyofmurder,thiswillnaturallyincitehimtokillthepersonwhomotherwisehewouldonlyhaverobbed,sinceifthepunishmentisthesame,thereismoresecurity,andlessdangerofdiscovery,whenhethatcanbestmakeitisputoutoftheway;sothatterrifyingthievestoomuch,provokesthemtocruelty。

\"Butastothequestion,Whatmoreconvenientwayofpunishmentcanbefound?Ithinkitismuchmoreeasiertofindoutthatthantoinventanythingthatisworse;whyshouldwedoubtbutthewaythatwassolonginuseamongtheoldRomans,whounderstoodsowelltheartsofgovernment,wasveryproperfortheirpunishment?

Theycondemnedsuchastheyfoundguiltyofgreatcrimes,toworktheirwholelivesinquarries,ortodiginmineswithchainsaboutthem。ButthemethodthatIlikedbest,wasthatwhichI

observedinmytravelsinPersia,amongthePolylerits,whoareaconsiderableandwell-governedpeople。TheypayayearlytributetotheKingofPersia;butinallotherrespectstheyareafreenation,andgovernedbytheirownlaws。Theyliefarfromthesea,andareenvironedwithhills;andbeingcontentedwiththeproductionsoftheirowncountry,whichisveryfruitful,theyhavelittlecommercewithanyothernation;andasthey,accordingtothegeniusoftheircountry,havenoinclinationtoenlargetheirborders;sotheirmountains,andthepensiontheypaytothePersians,securethemfromallinvasions。

\"’Thustheyhavenowarsamongthem;theyliveratherconvenientlythanwithsplendor,andmayberathercalledahappynation,thaneithereminentorfamous;forIdonotthinkthattheyareknownsomuchasbynametoanybuttheirnextneighbors。Thosethatarefoundguiltyoftheftamongthemareboundtomakerestitutiontotheowner,andnotasitisinotherplaces,totheprince,fortheyreckonthattheprincehasnomorerighttothestolengoodsthanthethief;butifthatwhichwasstolenisnomoreinbeing,thenthegoodsofthethievesareestimated,andrestitutionbeingmadeoutofthem,theremainderisgiventotheirwivesandchildren:andtheythemselvesarecondemnedtoserveinthepublicworks,butareneitherimprisoned,norchained,unlesstherehappenedtobesomeextraordinarycircumstancesintheircrimes。

Theygoaboutlooseandfree,workingforthepublic。Iftheyareidleorbackwardtowork,theyarewhipped;butiftheyworkhard,theyarewellusedandtreatedwithoutanymarkofreproach,onlythelistsofthemarecalledalwaysatnight,andthentheyareshutup。Theysuffernootheruneasiness,butthisofconstantlabor;forastheyworkforthepublic,sotheyarewellentertainedoutofthepublicstock,whichisdonedifferentlyindifferentplaces。Insomeplaces,whateverisbestowedonthem,israisedbyacharitablecontribution;andthoughthiswaymayseemuncertain,yetsomercifularetheinclinationsofthatpeople,thattheyareplentifullysuppliedbyit;butinotherplaces,publicrevenuesaresetasideforthem;orthereisaconstanttaxofapoll-moneyraisedfortheirmaintenance。Insomeplacestheyaresettonopublicwork,buteveryprivatemanthathasoccasiontohireworkmengoestothemarket-placesandhiresthemofthepublic,alittlelowerthanhewoulddoafreeman:iftheygolazilyabouttheirtask,hemayquickenthemwiththewhip。

\"’Bythismeansthereisalwayssomepieceofworkorothertobedonebythem;andbesidetheirlivelihood,theyearnsomewhatstilltothepublic。Theyallwearapeculiarhabit,ofonecertaincolor,andtheirhairiscroppedalittleabovetheirears,andapieceofoneoftheirearsiscutoff。Theirfriendsareallowedtogivethemeithermeat,drink,orclothessotheyareoftheirpropercolor,butitisdeath,bothtothegiverandtaker,iftheygivethemmoney;norisitlesspenalforanyfreemantotakemoneyfromthem,uponanyaccountwhatsoever:anditisalsodeathforanyoftheseslaves(sotheyarecalled)tohandlearms。Thoseofeverydivisionofthecountryaredistinguishedbyapeculiarmark;whichitiscapitalforthemtolayaside,togooutoftheirbounds,ortotalkwithaslaveofanotherjurisdiction;andtheveryattemptofanescapeisnolesspenalthananescapeitself;itisdeathforanyotherslavetobeaccessorytoit;andifafreemanengagesinitheiscondemnedtoslavery。Thosethatdiscoveritarerewarded——iffreemen,inmoney;andifslaves,withliberty,togetherwithapardonforbeingaccessorytoit;thatsotheymightfindtheiraccount,ratherinrepentingoftheirengaginginsuchadesign,thaninpersistinginit。

\"’Thesearetheirlawsandrulesinrelationtorobbery,anditisobviousthattheyareasadvantageousastheyaremildandgentle;

sinceviceisnotonlydestroyed,andmenpreserved,buttheytreatedinsuchamannerastomakethemseethenecessityofbeinghonest,andofemployingtherestoftheirlivesinrepairingtheinjuriestheyhaveformerlydonetosociety。Noristhereanyhazardoftheirfallingbacktotheiroldcustoms:andsolittledotravellersapprehendmischieffromthem,thattheygenerallymakeuseofthemforguides,fromonejurisdictiontoanother;forthereisnothingleftthembywhichtheycanrob,orbethebetterforit,since,astheyaredisarmed,sotheveryhavingofmoneyisasufficientconviction:andastheyarecertainlypunishedifdiscovered,sotheycannothopetoescape;

fortheirhabitbeinginallthepartsofitdifferentfromwhatiscommonlyworn,theycannotflyaway,unlesstheywouldgonaked,andeventhentheircroppedearwouldbetraythem。Theonlydangertobefearedfromthemistheirconspiringagainstthegovernment:butthoseofonedivisionandneighborhoodcandonothingtoanypurpose,unlessageneralconspiracywerelaidamongalltheslavesoftheseveraljurisdictions,whichcannotbedone,sincetheycannotmeetortalktogether;norwillanyventureonadesignwheretheconcealmentwouldbesodangerousandthediscoverysoprofitable。Nonearequitehopelessofrecoveringtheirfreedom,sincebytheirobedienceandpatience,andbygivinggoodgroundstobelievethattheywillchangetheirmanneroflifeforthefuture,theymayexpectatlasttoobtaintheirliberty:andsomeareeveryyearrestoredtoit,uponthegoodcharacterthatisgivenofthem。’

\"WhenIhadrelatedallthis,IaddedthatIdidnotseewhysuchamethodmightnotbefollowedwithmoreadvantagethancouldeverbeexpectedfromthatseverejusticewhichthecounsellormagnifiedsomuch。TothisheansweredthatitcouldnevertakeplaceinEnglandwithoutendangeringthewholenation。Ashesaidthisheshookhishead,madesomegrimaces,andheldhispeace,whileallthecompanyseemedofhisopinion,exceptthecardinal,whosaidthatitwasnoteasytoformajudgmentofitssuccess,sinceitwasamethodthatneveryethadbeentried。

\"’Butif,’saidhe,’whenthesentenceofdeathwaspasseduponathief,theprincewouldreprievehimforawhile,andmaketheexperimentuponhim,denyinghimtheprivilegeofasanctuary;andthenifithadagoodeffectuponhim,itmighttakeplace;andifitdidnotsucceed,theworstwouldbe,toexecutethesentenceonthecondemnedpersonsatlast。AndIdonotsee,’addedhe,’whyitwouldbeeitherunjust,inconvenient,oratalldangerous,toadmitofsuchadelay:inmyopinion,thevagabondsoughttobetreatedinthesamemanner;againstwhom,thoughwehavemademanylaws,yetwehavenotbeenabletogainourend。’Whenthecardinalhaddone,theyallcommendedthemotion,thoughtheyhaddespiseditwhenitcamefromme;butmoreparticularlycommendedwhatrelatedtothevagabonds,becauseitwashisownobservation。

\"Idonotknowwhetheritbeworthwhiletotellwhatfollowed,foritwasveryridiculous;butIshallventureatit,forasitisnotforeigntothismatter,sosomegoodusemaybemadeofit。

Therewasajesterstandingby,thatcounterfeitedthefoolsonaturallythatheseemedtobereallyone。Thejestswhichheofferedweresocoldanddullthatwelaughedmoreathimthanatthem;yetsometimeshesaid,asitwerebychance,thingsthatwerenotunpleasant;soastojustifytheoldproverb,’Thathewhothrowsthediceoften,willsometimeshavealuckyhit。’WhenoneofthecompanyhadsaidthatIhadtakencareofthethieves,andthecardinalhadtakencareofthevagabonds,sothatthereremainednothingbutthatsomepublicprovisionmightbemadeforthepoor,whomsicknessoroldagehaddisabledfromlabor,’Leavethattome,’saidthefool,’andIshalltakecareofthem;forthereisnosortofpeoplewhosesightIabhormore,havingbeensooftenvexedwiththem,andwiththeirsadcomplaints;butasdolefullysoeverastheyhavetoldtheirtale,theycouldneverprevailsofarastodrawonepennyfromme:foreitherIhadnomindtogivethemanything,orwhenIhadamindtodoitIhadnothingtogivethem:andtheynowknowmesowellthattheywillnotlosetheirlabor,butletmepasswithoutgivingmeanytrouble,becausetheyhopefornothing,nomoreinfaiththanifI

wereapriest:butIwouldhavealawmade,forsendingallthesebeggarstomonasteries,thementotheBenedictinestobemadelay-brothers,andthewomentobenuns。’

\"Thecardinalsmiled,andapprovedofitinjest;buttherestlikeditinearnest。Therewasadivinepresent,whothoughhewasagrave,moroseman,yethewassopleasedwiththisreflectionthatwasmadeonthepriestsandthemonks,thathebegantoplaywiththefool,andsaidtohim,’Thiswillnotdeliveryoufromallbeggars,exceptyoutakecareofusfriars。’

\"’Thatisdonealready,’answeredthefool,’forthecardinalhasprovidedforyou,bywhatheproposedforrestrainingvagabonds,andsettingthemtowork,forIknownovagabondslikeyou。’

\"Thiswaswellentertainedbythewholecompany,who,lookingatthecardinal,perceivedthathewasnotill-pleasedatit;onlythefriarhimselfwasvexed,asmaybeeasilyimagined,andfellintosuchapassionthathecouldnotforbearrailingatthefool,andcallinghimknave,slanderer,backbiter,andsonofperdition,andthencitedsomedreadfulthreateningsoutoftheScripturesagainsthim。Nowthejesterthoughthewasinhiselement,andlaidabouthimfreely。

\"’Goodfriar,’saidhe,’benotangry,foritiswritten,\"Inpatiencepossessyoursoul。\"’

\"Thefriaranswered(forIshallgiveyouhisownwords),’Iamnotangry,youhangman;atleastIdonotsininit,forthePsalmistsays,\"Beyeangry,andsinnot。\"’

\"Uponthisthecardinaladmonishedhimgently,andwishedhimtogovernhispassions。

\"’No,mylord,’saidhe,’Ispeaknotbutfromagoodzeal,whichIoughttohave;forholymenhavehadagoodzeal,asitissaid,\"Thezealofthyhousehatheatenmeup;\"andwesinginourchurch,thatthose,whomockedElishaashewentuptothehouseofGod,felttheeffectsofhiszeal;whichthatmocker,thatrogue,thatscoundrel,willperhapsfeel。’

\"’Youdothisperhapswithagoodintention,’saidthecardinal;

’butinmyopinionitwerewiserinyou,andperhapsbetterforyou,nottoengageinsoridiculousacontestwithafool。’

\"’No,mylord,’answeredhe,’thatwerenotwiselydone;forSolomon,thewisestofmen,said,\"Answerafoolaccordingtohisfolly;\"whichInowdo,andshowhimtheditchintowhichhewillfall,ifheisnotawareofit;forifthemanymockersofElisha,whowasbutonebaldman,felttheeffectofhiszeal,whatwillbecomeofonemockerofsomanyfriars,amongwhomtherearesomanybaldmen?Wehavelikewiseabull,bywhichallthatjeerusareexcommunicated。’

\"Whenthecardinalsawthattherewasnoendofthismatter,hemadeasigntothefooltowithdraw,turnedthediscourseanotherway,andsoonafterrosefromthetable,and,dismissingus,wenttohearcauses。

\"Thus,Mr。More,Ihaverunoutintoatediousstory,ofthelengthofwhichIhadbeenashamed,if,asyouearnestlybeggeditofme,Ihadnotobservedyoutohearkentoit,asifyouhadnomindtoloseanypartofit。Imighthavecontractedit,butI

resolvedtogiveittoyouatlarge,thatyoumightobservehowthosethatdespisedwhatIhadproposed,nosoonerperceivedthatthecardinaldidnotdislikeit,butpresentlyapprovedofit,fawnedsoonhim,andflatteredhimtosuchadegree,thattheyingoodearnestapplaudedthosethingsthatheonlylikedinjest。

Andfromhenceyoumaygather,howlittlecourtierswouldvalueeithermeormycounsels。\"

TothisIanswered:\"Youhavedonemeagreatkindnessinthisrelation;foraseverythinghasbeenrelatedbyyou,bothwiselyandpleasantly,soyouhavemademeimaginethatIwasinmyowncountry,andgrownyoungagain,byrecallingthatgoodcardinaltomythoughts,inwhosefamilyIwasbredfrommychildhood:andthoughyouareuponotheraccountsverydeartome,yetyouarethedearer,becauseyouhonorhismemorysomuch;butafterallthisIcannotchangemyopinion,forIstillthinkthatifyoucouldovercomethataversionwhichyouhavetothecourtsofprinces,youmight,bytheadvicewhichitisinyourpowertogive,doagreatdealofgoodtomankind;andthisisthechiefdesignthateverygoodmanoughttoproposetohimselfinliving;

foryourfriendPlatothinksthatnationswillbehappy,wheneitherphilosophersbecomekingsorkingsbecomephilosophers,itisnowonderifwearesofarfromthathappiness,whilephilosopherswillnotthinkittheirdutytoassistkingswiththeircouncils。

\"’Theyarenotsobase-minded,’saidhe,’butthattheywouldwillinglydoit:manyofthemhavealreadydoneitbytheirbooks,ifthosethatareinpowerwouldbuthearkentotheirgoodadvice。’ButPlatojudgedright,thatexceptkingsthemselvesbecamephilosophers,theywhofromtheirchildhoodarecorruptedwithfalsenotionswouldneverfallinentirelywiththecouncilsofphilosophers,andthishehimselffoundtobetrueinthepersonofDionysius。

\"DonotyouthinkthatifIwereaboutanyking,proposinggoodlawstohim,andendeavoringtorootoutallthecursedseedsofevilthatIfoundinhim,Ishouldeitherbeturnedoutofhiscourtoratleastbelaughedatformypains?Forinstance,whatcoulditsignifyifIwereabouttheKingofFrance,andwerecalledintohisCabinetCouncil,whereseveralwisemen,inhishearing,wereproposingmanyexpedients,asbywhatartsandpracticesMilanmaybekept,andNaples,thathadsooftslippedoutoftheirhands,recovered;howtheVenetians,andafterthemtherestofItaly,maybesubdued;andthenhowFlanders,Brabant,andallBurgundy,andsomeotherkingdomswhichhehasswallowedalreadyinhisdesigns,maybeaddedtohisempire。OneproposesaleaguewiththeVenetians,tobekeptaslongashefindshisaccountinit,andthatheoughttocommunicatecouncilswiththem,andgivethemsomeshareofthespoil,tillhissuccessmakeshimneedorfearthemless,andthenitwillbeeasilytakenoutoftheirhands。AnotherproposesthehiringtheGermans,andthesecuringtheSwitzersbypensions。AnotherproposesthegainingtheEmperorbymoney,whichisomnipotentwithhim。

AnotherproposesapeacewiththeKingofArragon,and,inordertocementit,theyieldinguptheKingofNavarre’spretensions。

AnotherthinksthePrinceofCastileistobewroughton,bythehopeofanalliance;andthatsomeofhiscourtiersaretobegainedtotheFrenchfactionbypensions。ThehardestpointofalliswhattodowithEngland:atreatyofpeaceistobesetonfoot,andiftheirallianceisnottobedependedon,yetitistobemadeasfirmaspossible;andtheyaretobecalledfriends,butsuspectedasenemies:thereforetheScotsaretobekeptinreadiness,tobeletlooseuponEnglandoneveryoccasion:andsomebanishednoblemanistobesupportedunderhand(forbytheleagueitcannotbedoneavowedly)whohasapretensiontothecrown,bywhichmeansthatsuspectedprincemaybekeptinawe。

\"Nowwhenthingsareinsogreatafermentation,andsomanygallantmenarejoiningcouncils,howtocarryonthewar,ifsomeanamanasIshouldstandup,andwishthemtochangealltheircouncils,toletItalyalone,andstayathome,sincetheKingdomofFrancewasindeedgreaterthancouldbewellgovernedbyoneman;thatthereforeheoughtnottothinkofaddingotherstoit:

andifafterthis,IshouldproposetothemtheresolutionsoftheAchorians,apeoplethatlieonthesoutheastofUtopia,wholongagoengagedinwar,inordertoaddtothedominionsoftheirprinceanotherkingdom,towhichhehadsomepretensionsbyanancientalliance。Thistheyconquered,butfoundthatthetroubleofkeepingitwasequaltothatbywhichitwasgained;thattheconqueredpeoplewerealwayseitherinrebellionorexposedtoforeigninvasions,whiletheywereobligedtobeincessantlyatwar,eitherfororagainstthem,andconsequentlycouldneverdisbandtheirarmy;thatinthemeantimetheywereoppressedwithtaxes,theirmoneywentoutofthekingdom,theirbloodwasspiltforthegloryoftheirKing,withoutprocuringtheleastadvantagetothepeople,whoreceivednotthesmallestbenefitfromitevenintimeofpeace;andthattheirmannersbeingcorruptedbyalongwar,robberyandmurderseverywhereabounded,andtheirlawsfellintocontempt;whiletheirKing,distractedwiththecareoftwokingdoms,wasthelessabletoapplyhismindtotheinterestsofeither。

\"Whentheysawthis,andthattherewouldbenoendtotheseevils,theybyjointcouncilsmadeanhumbleaddresstotheirKing,desiringhimtochoosewhichofthetwokingdomshehadthegreatestmindtokeep,sincehecouldnotholdboth;fortheyweretoogreatapeopletobegovernedbyadividedking,sincenomanwouldwillinglyhaveagroomthatshouldbeincommonbetweenhimandanother。Uponwhichthegoodprincewasforcedtoquithisnewkingdomtooneofhisfriends(whowasnotlongafterdethroned),andtobecontentedwithhisoldone。TothisIwouldaddthatafterallthosewarlikeattempts,thevastconfusions,andtheconsumptionbothoftreasureandofpeoplethatmustfollowthem;

perhapsuponsomemisfortune,theymightbeforcedtothrowupallatlast;thereforeitseemedmuchmoreeligiblethattheKingshouldimprovehisancientkingdomallhecould,andmakeitflourishasmuchaspossible;thatheshouldlovehispeople,andbebelovedofthem;thatheshouldliveamongthem,governthemgently,andletotherkingdomsalone,sincethatwhichhadfallentohissharewasbigenough,ifnottoobigforhim。Prayhowdoyouthinkwouldsuchaspeechasthisbeheard?\"

\"Iconfess,\"saidI,\"Ithinknotverywell。\"

\"Butwhat,\"saidhe,\"ifIshouldsortwithanotherkindofministers,whosechiefcontrivancesandconsultationswere,bywhatarttheprince’streasuresmightbeincreased。WhereoneproposesraisingthevalueofspeciewhentheKing’sdebtsarelarge,andloweringitwhenhisrevenuesweretocomein,thatsohemightbothpaymuchwithalittle,andinalittlereceiveagreatdeal:anotherproposesapretenceofawar,thatmoneymightberaisedinordertocarryiton,andthatapeacebeconcludedassoonasthatwasdone;andthiswithsuchappearancesofreligionasmightworkonthepeople,andmakethemimputeittothepietyoftheirprince,andtohistendernessforthelivesofhissubjects。Athirdofferssomeoldmustylaws,thathavebeenantiquatedbyalongdisuse;andwhich,astheyhadbeenforgottenbyallthesubjects,sotheyhadbeenalsobrokenbythem;andproposesthelevyingthepenaltiesoftheselaws,thatasitwouldbringinavasttreasure,sotheremightbeaverygoodpretenceforit,sinceitwouldlookliketheexecutingalaw,andthedoingofjustice。Afourthproposestheprohibitingofmanythingsunderseverepenalties,especiallysuchaswereagainsttheinterestofthepeople,andthenthedispensingwiththeseprohibitionsupongreatcompositions,tothosewhomightfindtheiradvantageinbreakingthem。Thiswouldservetwoends,bothofthemacceptabletomany;forasthosewhoseavariceledthemtotransgresswouldbeseverelyfined,sothesellinglicensesdearwouldlookasifaprinceweretenderofhispeople,andwouldnoteasily,oratlowrates,dispensewithanythingthatmightbeagainstthepublicgood。

\"Anotherproposesthatthejudgesmustbemadesure,thattheymaydeclarealwaysinfavoroftheprerogative,thattheymustbeoftensentfortocourt,thattheKingmayhearthemarguethosepointsinwhichheisconcerned;sincehowunjustsoeveranyofhispretensionsmaybe,yetstillsomeoneorotherofthem,eitheroutofcontradictiontoothersortheprideofsingularityortomaketheircourt,wouldfindoutsomepretenceorothertogivetheKingafaircolortocarrythepoint:forifthejudgesbutdifferinopinion,theclearestthingintheworldismadebythatmeansdisputable,andtruthbeingoncebroughtinquestion,theKingmaythentakeadvantagetoexpoundthelawforhisownprofit;whilethejudgesthatstandoutwillbebroughtover,eitheroutoffearormodesty;andtheybeingthusgained,allofthemmaybesenttothebenchtogivesentenceboldly,astheKingwouldhaveit;forfairpretenceswillneverbewantingwhensentenceistobegivenintheprince’sfavor。Itwilleitherbesaidthatequityliesonhisside,orsomewordsinthelawwillbefoundsoundingthatway,orsomeforcedsensewillbeputonthem;andwhenallotherthingsfail,theKing’sundoubtedprerogativewillbepretended,asthatwhichisabovealllaw;andtowhichareligiousjudgeoughttohaveaspecialregard。

\"ThusallconsenttothatmaximofCrassus,thataprincecannothavetreasureenough,sincehemustmaintainhisarmiesoutofit:

thataking,eventhoughhewould,candonothingunjustly;thatallpropertyisinhim,notexceptingtheverypersonsofhissubjects:andthatnomanhasanyotherproperty,butthatwhichtheKingoutofhisgoodnessthinksfittoleavehim。Andtheythinkitistheprince’sinterest,thattherebeaslittleofthisleftasmaybe,asifitwerehisadvantagethathispeopleshouldhaveneitherrichesnorliberty;sincethesethingsmakethemlesseasyandlesswillingtosubmittoacruelandunjustgovernment;

whereasnecessityandpovertybluntthem,makethempatient,beatthemdown,andbreakthatheightofspirit,thatmightotherwisedisposethemtorebel。Nowwhatifafterallthesepropositionsweremade,Ishouldriseupandassert,thatsuchcouncilswerebothunbecomingaking,andmischievoustohim:andthatnotonlyhishonorbuthissafetyconsistedmoreinhispeople’swealth,thaninhisown;ifIshouldshowthattheychooseakingfortheirownsake,andnotforhis;thatbyhiscareandendeavorstheymaybebotheasyandsafe;andthatthereforeaprinceoughttotakemorecareofhispeople’shappinessthanofhisown,asashepherdistotakemorecareofhisflockthanofhimself。

\"Itisalsocertainthattheyaremuchmistakenthatthinkthepovertyofanationisameansofthepublicsafety。Whoquarrelmorethanbeggars?Whodoesmoreearnestlylongforachange,thanhethatisuneasyinhispresentcircumstances?Andwhoruntocreateconfusionswithsodesperateaboldness,asthosewhohavenothingtolosehopetogainbythem?Ifakingshouldfallundersuchcontemptorenvy,thathecouldnotkeephissubjectsintheirduty,butbyoppressionandill-usage,andbyrenderingthempoorandmiserable,itwerecertainlybetterforhimtoquithiskingdom,thantoretainitbysuchmethods,asmakeshimwhilehekeepsthenameofauthority,losethemajestyduetoit。Norisitsobecomingthedignityofakingtoreignoverbeggars,asoverrichandhappysubjects。AndthereforeFabricius,amanofanobleandexaltedtemper,said,hewouldrathergovernrichmenthanberichhimself;sinceforonemantoaboundinwealthandpleasure,whenallabouthimaremourningandgroaning,istoagaolerandnotaking。Heisanunskilfulphysician,thatcannotcureonediseasewithoutcastinghispatientintoanother:sohethatcanfindnootherwayforcorrectingtheerrorsofhispeople,butbytakingfromthemtheconveniencesoflife,showsthatheknowsnotwhatitistogovernafreenation。Hehimselfoughtrathertoshakeoffhissloth,ortolaydownhispride;forthecontemptorhatredthathispeoplehaveforhim,takesitsrisefromthevicesinhimself。Lethimliveuponwhatbelongstohim,withoutwrongingothers,andaccommodatehisexpensetohisrevenue。Lethimpunishcrimes,andbyhiswiseconductlethimendeavortopreventthem,ratherthanbeseverewhenhehassufferedthemtobetoocommon:lethimnotrashlyrevivelawsthatareabrogatedbydisuse,especiallyiftheyhavebeenlongforgotten,andneverwanted;andlethimnevertakeanypenaltyforthebreachofthem,towhichajudgewouldnotgivewayinaprivateman,butwouldlookonhimasacraftyandunjustpersonforpretendingtoit。

\"TothesethingsIwouldaddthatlawamongtheMacarians,apeoplethatlivenotfarfromUtopia,bywhichtheirKing,onthedayonwhichhebeginstoreign,istiedbyanoathconfirmedbysolemnsacrifices,nevertohaveatonceabove1,000poundsofgoldinhistreasures,orsomuchsilverasisequaltothatinvalue。Thislaw,theytellus,wasmadebyanexcellentking,whohadmoreregardtotherichesofhiscountrythantohisownwealth,andthereforeprovidedagainsttheheapingupofsomuchtreasureasmightimpoverishthepeople。Hethoughtthatamoderatesummightbesufficientforanyaccident,ifeithertheKinghadoccasionforitagainstrebels,orthekingdomagainsttheinvasionofanenemy;butthatitwasnotenoughtoencourageaprincetoinvadeothermen’srights,acircumstancethatwasthechiefcauseofhismakingthatlaw。Healsothoughtthatitwasagoodprovisionforthatfreecirculationofmoney,sonecessaryforthecourseofcommerceandexchange:andwhenakingmustdistributeallthoseextraordinaryaccessionsthatincreasetreasurebeyondtheduepitch,itmakeshimlessdisposedtooppresshissubjects。Suchakingasthiswillbetheterrorofillmen,andwillbebelovedbyallthegood。

\"If,Isay,Ishouldtalkoftheseorsuchlikethings,tomenthathadtakentheirbiasanotherway,howdeafwouldtheybetoallIcouldsay?\"

\"Nodoubt,verydeaf,\"answeredI;\"andnowonder,foroneisnevertoofferatpropositionsoradvicethatwearecertainwillnotbeentertained。Discoursessomuchoutoftheroadcouldnotavailanything,norhaveanyeffectonmenwhosemindswereprepossessedwithdifferentsentiments。Thisphilosophicalwayofspeculationisnotunpleasantamongfriendsinafreeconversation,butthereisnoroomforitinthecourtsofprinceswheregreataffairsarecarriedonbyauthority。\"

\"ThatiswhatIwassaying,\"repliedhe,\"thatthereisnoroomforphilosophyinthecourtsofprinces。\"

\"Yes,thereis,\"saidI,\"butnotforthisspeculativephilosophythatmakeseverythingtobealikefittingatalltimes:butthereisanotherphilosophythatismorepliable,thatknowsitsproperscene,accommodatesitselftoit,andteachesamanwithproprietyanddecencytoactthatpartwhichhasfallentohisshare。IfwhenoneofPlautus’scomediesisuponthestageandacompanyofservantsareactingtheirparts,youshouldcomeoutinthegarbofaphilosopher,andrepeatoutof’Octavia,’adiscourseofSeneca’stoNero,woulditnotbebetterforyoutosaynothingthanbymixingthingsofsuchdifferentnaturestomakeanimpertinenttragi-comedy?Foryouspoilandcorrupttheplaythatisinhandwhenyoumixwithitthingsofanoppositenature,eventhoughtheyaremuchbetter。Thereforegothroughwiththeplaythatisacting,thebestyoucan,anddonotconfounditbecauseanotherthatispleasantercomesintoyourthoughts。Itisevensoinacommonwealthandinthecouncilsofprinces;ifillopinionscannotbequiterootedout,andyoucannotcuresomereceivedviceaccordingtoyourwishes,youmustnotthereforeabandonthecommonwealth;forthesamereasonsyoushouldnotforsaketheshipinastormbecauseyoucannotcommandthewinds。Youarenotobligedtoassaultpeoplewithdiscoursesthatareoutoftheirroad,whenyouseethattheirreceivednotionsmustpreventyourmakinganimpressionuponthem。Yououghtrathertocastaboutandtomanagethingswithallthedexterityinyourpower,sothatifyouarenotabletomakethemgowelltheymaybeaslittleillaspossible;forexceptallmenweregoodeverythingcannotberight,andthatisablessingthatIdonotatpresenthopetosee。\"

\"Accordingtoyourarguments,\"answeredhe,\"allthatIcouldbeabletodowouldbetopreservemyselffrombeingmadwhileI

endeavoredtocurethemadnessofothers;forifIspeaktruth,I

mustrepeatwhatIhavesaidtoyou;andasforlying,whetheraphilosophercandoitornot,Icannottell;IamsureIcannotdoit。Butthoughthesediscoursesmaybeuneasyandungratefultothem,Idonotseewhytheyshouldseemfoolishorextravagant:

indeedifIshouldeitherproposesuchthingsasPlatohascontrivedinhiscommonwealth,orastheUtopianspractiseintheirs,thoughtheymightseembetter,ascertainlytheyare,yettheyaresodifferentfromourestablishment,whichisfoundedonproperty,therebeingnosuchthingamongthem,thatIcouldnotexpectthatitwouldhaveanyeffectonthem;butsuchdiscoursesasmine,whichonlycallpastevilstomindandgivewarningofwhatmayfollow,havenothinginthemthatissoabsurdthattheymaynotbeusedatanytime,fortheycanonlybeunpleasanttothosewhoareresolvedtorunheadlongthecontraryway;andifwemustletaloneeverythingasabsurdorextravagantwhichbyreasonofthewickedlivesofmanymayseemuncouth,wemust,evenamongChristians,giveoverpressingthegreatestpartofthosethingsthatChristhathtaughtus,thoughHehascommandedusnottoconcealthem,buttoproclaimonthehouse-topsthatwhichhetaughtinsecret。

\"Thegreatestpartsofhispreceptsaremoreoppositetothelivesofthemenofthisagethananypartofmydiscoursehasbeen;butthepreachersseemedtohavelearnedthatcrafttowhichyouadviseme,fortheyobservingthattheworldwouldnotwillinglysuittheirlivestotherulesthatChristhasgiven,havefittedhisdoctrineasifithadbeenaleadenrule,totheirlives,thatsosomewayorothertheymightagreewithoneanother。ButIseenoothereffectofthiscomplianceexceptitbethatmenbecomemoresecureintheirwickednessbyit。AndthisisallthesuccessthatIcanhaveinacourt,forImustalwaysdifferfromtherest,andthenIshallsignifynothing;orifIagreewiththem,I

shallthenonlyhelpforwardtheirmadness。Idonotcomprehendwhatyoumeanbyyourcastingabout,orbythebendingandhandlingthingssodexterously,thatiftheygonotwelltheymaygoaslittleillasmaybe;forincourtstheywillnotbearwithaman’sholdinghispeaceorconnivingatwhatothersdo。Amanmustbarefacedlyapproveoftheworstcounsels,andconsenttotheblackestdesigns:sothathewouldpassforaspy,orpossiblyforatraitor,thatdidbutcoldlyapproveofsuchwickedpractices:

andthereforewhenamanisengagedinsuchasociety,hewillbesofarfrombeingabletomendmattersbyhiscastingabout,asyoucallit,thathewillfindnooccasionsofdoinganygood:theillcompanywillsoonercorrupthimthanbethebetterforhim:orifnotwithstandingalltheirillcompany,hestillremainssteadyandinnocent,yettheirfolliesandknaverywillbeimputedtohim;andbymixingcounselswiththem,hemustbearhisshareofalltheblamethatbelongswhollytoothers。

\"ItwasnoillsimilebywhichPlatosetforththeunreasonablenessofaphilosopher’smeddlingwithgovernment。Ifaman,sayshe,wastoseeagreatcompanyrunouteverydayintotherain,andtakedelightinbeingwet;ifheknewthatitwouldbetonopurposeforhimtogoandpersuadethemtoreturntotheirhouses,inordertoavoidthestorm,andthatallthatcouldbeexpectedbyhisgoingtospeaktothemwouldbethathehimselfshouldbeaswetasthey,itwouldbebestforhimtokeepwithindoors;andsincehehadnotinfluenceenoughtocorrectotherpeople’sfolly,totakecaretopreservehimself。

\"Thoughtospeakplainlymyrealsentiments,Imustfreelyownthataslongasthereisanyproperty,andwhilemoneyisthestandardofallotherthings,Icannotthinkthatanationcanbegovernedeitherjustlyorhappily:notjustly,becausethebestthingswillfalltotheshareoftheworstmen;norhappily,becauseallthingswillbedividedamongafew(andeventhesearenotinallrespectshappy),therestbeinglefttobeabsolutelymiserable。ThereforewhenIreflectonthewiseandgoodconstitutionoftheUtopians——amongwhomallthingsaresowellgoverned,andwithsofewlaws;wherevirtuehathitsduereward,andyetthereissuchanequality,thateverymanlivesinplenty——

whenIcomparewiththemsomanyothernationsthatarestillmakingnewlaws,andyetcanneverbringtheirconstitutiontoarightregulation,wherenotwithstandingeveryonehashisproperty;

yetallthelawsthattheycaninventhavenotthepowereithertoobtainorpreserveit,oreventoenablemencertainlytodistinguishwhatistheirownfromwhatisanother’s;ofwhichthemanylawsuitsthateverydaybreakout,andareeternallydepending,givetooplainademonstration;when,Isay,Ibalanceallthesethingsinmythoughts,IgrowmorefavorabletoPlato,anddonotwonderthatheresolvednottomakeanylawsforsuchaswouldnotsubmittoacommunityofallthings:forsowiseamancouldnotbutforeseethatthesettingalluponalevelwastheonlywaytomakeanationhappy,whichcannotbeobtainedsolongasthereisproperty:forwheneverymandrawstohimselfallthathecancompass,byonetitleoranother,itmustneedsfollow,thathowplentifulsoeveranationmaybe,yetafewdividingthewealthofitamongthemselves,therestmustfallintoindigence。

\"Sothattherewillbetwosortsofpeopleamongthem,whodeservethattheirfortunesshouldbeinterchanged;theformeruseless,butwickedandravenous;andthelatter,whobytheirconstantindustryservethepublicmorethanthemselves,sincereandmodestmen。FromwhenceIampersuaded,thattillpropertyistakenawaytherecanbenoequitableorjustdistributionofthings,norcantheworldbehappilygoverned:foraslongasthatismaintained,thegreatestandthefarbestpartofmankindwillbestilloppressedwithaloadofcaresandanxieties。Iconfesswithouttakingitquiteaway,thosepressuresthatlieonagreatpartofmankindmaybemadelighter;buttheycanneverbequiteremoved。

Foriflawsweremadetodetermineathowgreatanextentinsoil,andathowmuchmoneyeverymanmuststop,tolimittheprincethathemightnotgrowtoogreat,andtorestrainthepeoplethattheymightnotbecometooinsolent,andthatnonemightfactiouslyaspiretopublicemployments;whichoughtneithertobesold,normadeburdensomebyagreatexpense;sinceotherwisethosethatserveinthemwouldbetemptedtoreimbursethemselvesbycheatsandviolence,anditwouldbecomenecessarytofindoutrichmenforundergoingthoseemploymentswhichoughtrathertobetrustedtothewise——theselaws,Isay,mighthavesucheffects,asgooddietandcaremighthaveonasickman,whoserecoveryisdesperate:theymightallayandmitigatethedisease,butitcouldneverbequitehealed,northebodypoliticbebroughtagaintoagoodhabit,aslongaspropertyremains;anditwillfalloutasinacomplicationofdiseases,thatbyapplyingaremedytoonesore,youwillprovokeanother;andthatwhichremovestheoneillsymptomproducesothers,whilethestrengtheningonepartofthebodyweakenstherest。\"

\"Onthecontrary,\"answeredI,\"itseemstomethatmencannotliveconvenientlywhereallthingsarecommon:howcantherebeanyplenty,whereeverymanwillexcusehimselffromlabor?Forasthehopeofgaindothnotexcitehim,sotheconfidencethathehasinothermen’sindustrymaymakehimslothful:ifpeoplecometobepinchedwithwant,andyetcannotdisposeofanythingastheirown;whatcanfollowuponthisbutperpetualseditionandbloodshed,especiallywhenthereverenceandauthorityduetomagistratesfalltotheground?ForIcannotimaginehowthatcanbekeptupamongthosethatareinallthingsequaltooneanother。\"

\"Idonotwonder,\"saidhe,\"thatitappearssotoyou,sinceyouhavenonotion,oratleastnorightone,ofsuchaconstitution:

butifyouhadbeeninUtopiawithme,andhadseentheirlawsandrules,asIdid,forthespaceoffiveyears,inwhichIlivedamongthem;andduringwhichtimeIwassodelightedwiththem,thatindeedIshouldneverhaveleftthem,ifithadnotbeentomakethediscoveryofthatnewworldtotheEuropeans;youwouldthenconfessthatyouhadneverseenapeoplesowellconstitutedasthey。\"

\"Youwillnoteasilypersuademe,\"saidPeter,\"thatanynationinthatnewworldisbettergovernedthanthoseamongus。Forasourunderstandingsarenotworsethantheirs,soourgovernment,ifI

mistakenot,beingmoreancient,alongpracticehashelpedustofindoutmanyconveniencesoflife:andsomehappychanceshavediscoveredotherthingstous,whichnoman’sunderstandingcouldeverhaveinvented。\"

\"Asfortheantiquity,eitheroftheirgovernmentorofours,\"

saidhe,\"youcannotpassatruejudgmentofitunlessyouhadreadtheirhistories;foriftheyaretobebelieved,theyhadtownsamongthembeforethesepartsweresomuchasinhabited。Andasforthosediscoveries,thathavebeeneitherhitonbychance,ormadebyingeniousmen,thesemighthavehappenedthereaswellashere。Idonotdenybutwearemoreingeniousthantheyare,buttheyexceedusmuchinindustryandapplication。Theyknewlittleconcerningusbeforeourarrivalamongthem;theycallusallbyageneralnameofthenationsthatliebeyondtheequinoctialline;fortheirchroniclementionsashipwreckthatwasmadeontheircoast1,200yearsago;andthatsomeRomansandEgyptiansthatwereintheship,gettingsafeashore,spenttherestoftheirdaysamongthem;andsuchwastheiringenuity,thatfromthissingleopportunitytheydrewtheadvantageoflearningfromthoseunlooked-forguests,andacquiredalltheusefulartsthatwerethenamongtheRomans,andwhichwereknowntotheseshipwreckedmen:andbythehintsthattheygavethem,theythemselvesfoundoutevensomeofthoseartswhichtheycouldnotfullyexplain;sohappilydidtheyimprovethataccident,ofhavingsomeofourpeoplecastupontheirshore。

\"ButifsuchanaccidenthasatanytimebroughtanyfromthenceintoEurope,wehavebeensofarfromimprovingit,thatwedonotsomuchasrememberit;asinafter-timesperhapsitwillbeforgotbyourpeoplethatIwaseverthere。Forthoughtheyfromonesuchaccidentmadethemselvesmastersofallthegoodinventionsthatwereamongus;yetIbelieveitwouldbelongbeforeweshouldlearnorputinpracticeanyofthegoodinstitutionsthatareamongthem。Andthisisthetruecauseoftheirbeingbettergoverned,andlivinghappierthanwe,thoughwecomenotshortoftheminpointofunderstandingoroutwardadvantages。\"

UponthisIsaidtohim:\"Iearnestlybegyouwoulddescribethatislandveryparticularlytous。Benottooshort,butsetoutinorderallthingsrelatingtotheirsoil,theirrivers,theirtowns,theirpeople,theirmanners,constitution,laws,and,inaword,allthatyouimaginewedesiretoknow。Andyoumaywellimaginethatwedesiretoknoweverythingconcerningthem,ofwhichwearehithertoignorant。\"

\"Iwilldoitverywillingly,\"saidhe,\"forIhavedigestedthewholemattercarefully;butitwilltakeupsometime。\"

\"Letusgothen,\"saidI,\"firstanddine,andthenweshallhaveleisureenough。\"

Heconsented。Wewentinanddined,andafterdinnercamebackandsatdowninthesameplace。Iorderedmyservantstotakecarethatnonemightcomeandinterruptus。AndbothPeterandI

desiredRaphaeltobeasgoodashisword。Whenhesawthatwewereveryintentuponit,hepausedalittletorecollecthimself,andbeganinthismanner:

1901。NewYork:IdealCommonwealths。P。F。Collier&Son。TheColonialPress。BOOKII

THEislandofUtopiaisinthemiddle200milesbroad,andholds

almostatthesamebreadthoveragreatpartofit;butitgrows

narrowertowardbothends。Itsfigureisnotunlikeacrescent:

betweenitshorns,theseacomesinelevenmilesbroad,and

spreadsitselfintoagreatbay,whichisenvironedwithlandto

thecompassofabout500miles,andiswellsecuredfromwinds。In

thisbaythereisnogreatcurrent;thewholecoastis,asit

were,onecontinuedharbor,whichgivesallthatliveinthe

islandgreatconvenienceformutualcommerce;buttheentryinto

thebay,occasionedbyrocksontheonehand,andshallowsonthe

other,isverydangerous。Inthemiddleofitthereisonesingle

rockwhichappearsabovewater,andmaythereforebeeasily

avoided,andonthetopofitthereisatowerinwhichagarrison

iskept;theotherrockslieunderwater,andareverydangerous。

Thechannelisknownonlytothenatives,sothatifanystranger

shouldenterintothebay,withoutoneoftheirpilots,hewould

rungreatdangerofshipwreck;foreventheythemselvescouldnot

passitsafe,ifsomemarksthatareonthecoastdidnotdirect

theirway;andiftheseshouldbebutalittleshifted,anyfleet

thatmightcomeagainstthem,howgreatsoeveritwere,wouldbe

certainlylost。

Ontheothersideoftheislandtherearelikewisemanyharbors;

andthecoastissofortified,bothbynatureandart,thata

smallnumberofmencanhinderthedescentofagreatarmy。But

theyreport(andthereremaingoodmarksofittomakeit

credible)thatthiswasnoislandatfirst,butapartofthe

continent。Utopusthatconqueredit(whosenameitstillcarries,

forAbraxawasitsfirstname)broughttherudeanduncivilized

inhabitantsintosuchagoodgovernment,andtothatmeasureof

politeness,thattheynowfarexcelalltherestofmankind;

havingsoonsubduedthem,hedesignedtoseparatethemfromthe

continent,andtobringtheseaquiteroundthem。Toaccomplish

this,heorderedadeepchanneltobedugfifteenmileslong;and

thatthenativesmightnotthinkhetreatedthemlikeslaves,he

notonlyforcedtheinhabitants,butalsohisownsoldiers,to

laborincarryingiton。Ashesetavastnumberofmentowork,

hebeyondallmen’sexpectationsbroughtittoaspeedy

conclusion。Andhisneighborswhoatfirstlaughedatthefollyof

theundertaking,nosoonersawitbroughttoperfectionthanthey

werestruckwithadmirationandterror。

Therearefifty-fourcitiesintheisland,alllargeandwell

built:themanners,customs,andlawsofwhicharethesame,and

theyareallcontrivedasnearinthesamemannerasthegroundon

whichtheystandwillallow。Thenearestlieatleasttwenty-four

milesdistancefromoneanother,andthemostremotearenotso

fardistantbutthatamancangoonfootinonedayfromitto

thatwhichliesnextit。Everycitysendsthreeofitswisest

SenatorsonceayeartoAmaurot,toconsultabouttheircommon

concerns;forthatisthechieftownoftheisland,beingsituated

nearthecentreofit,sothatitisthemostconvenientplacefor

theirassemblies。Thejurisdictionofeverycityextendsatleast

twentymiles:andwherethetownsliewider,theyhavemuchmore

ground:notowndesirestoenlargeitsbounds,forthepeople

considerthemselvesratherastenantsthanlandlords。Theyhave

builtoverallthecountry,farmhousesforhusbandmen,whichare

wellcontrived,andarefurnishedwithallthingsnecessaryfor

countrylabor。Inhabitantsaresentbyturnsfromthecitiesto

dwellinthem;nocountryfamilyhasfewerthanfortymenand

womeninit,besidestwoslaves。Thereisamasterandamistress

setovereveryfamily;andoverthirtyfamiliesthereisa

magistrate。

Everyyeartwentyofthisfamilycomebacktothetown,afterthey

havestayedtwoyearsinthecountry;andintheirroomthereare

othertwentysentfromthetown,thattheymaylearncountrywork

fromthosethathavebeenalreadyoneyearinthecountry,asthey

mustteachthosethatcometothemthenextfromthetown。Bythis

meanssuchasdwellinthosecountryfarmsareneverignorantof

agriculture,andsocommitnoerrors,whichmightotherwisebe

fatal,andbringthemunderascarcityofcorn。Butthoughthere

iseveryyearsuchashiftingofthehusbandmen,topreventany

manbeingforcedagainsthiswilltofollowthathardcourseof

lifetoolong,yetmanyamongthemtakesuchpleasureinitthat

theydesireleavetocontinueinitmanyyears。Thesehusbandmen

tilltheground,breedcattle,hewwood,andconveyittothe

towns,eitherbylandorwater,asismostconvenient。Theybreed

aninfinitemultitudeofchickensinaverycuriousmanner;for

thehensdonotsitandhatchthem,butvastnumbersofeggsare

laidinagentleandequalheat,inordertobehatched,andthey

arenosooneroutoftheshell,andabletostirabout,butthey

seemtoconsiderthosethatfeedthemastheirmothers,andfollow

themasotherchickensdothehenthathatchedthem。

Theybreedveryfewhorses,butthosetheyhavearefullof

mettle,andarekeptonlyforexercisingtheiryouthintheartof

sittingandridingthem;fortheydonotputthemtoanywork,

eitherofploughingorcarriage,inwhichtheyemployoxen;for

thoughtheirhorsesarestronger,yettheyfindoxencanholdout

longer;andastheyarenotsubjecttosomanydiseases,sothey

arekeptuponalesscharge,andwithlesstrouble;andevenwhen

theyaresowornout,thattheyarenomorefitforlabor,they

aregoodmeatatlast。Theysownocorn,butthatwhichistobe

theirbread;fortheydrinkeitherwine,cider,orperry,and

oftenwater,sometimesboiledwithhoneyorlicorice,withwhich

theyabound;andthoughtheyknowexactlyhowmuchcornwillserve

everytown,andallthattractofcountrywhichbelongstoit,yet

theysowmuchmore,andbreedmorecattlethanarenecessaryfor

theirconsumption;andtheygivethatoverplusofwhichtheymake

nousetotheirneighbors。Whentheywantanythinginthecountry

whichitdoesnotproduce,theyfetchthatfromthetown,without

carryinganythinginexchangeforit。Andthemagistratesofthe

towntakecaretoseeitgiventhem;fortheymeetgenerallyin

thetownonceamonth,uponafestivalday。Whenthetimeof

harvestcomes,themagistratesinthecountrysendtothoseinthe

towns,andletthemknowhowmanyhandstheywillneedforreaping

theharvest;andthenumbertheycallforbeingsenttothem,they

commonlydespatchitallinoneday。

BOOKII:OFTHEIRTOWNS,PARTICULARLYOFAMAUROT

HEthatknowsoneoftheirtownsknowsthemall,theyaresolike

oneanother,exceptwherethesituationmakessomedifference。I

shallthereforedescribeoneofthem;andnoneissoproperas

Amaurot;forasnoneismoreeminent,alltherestyieldingin

precedencetothis,becauseitistheseatoftheirSupreme

Council,sotherewasnoneofthembetterknowntome,Ihaving

livedfiveyearsaltogetherinit。

Itliesuponthesideofahill,orratherarisingground:its

figureisalmostsquare,forfromtheonesideofit,whichshoots

upalmosttothetopofthehill,itrunsdowninadescentfor

twomilestotheriverAnider;butitisalittlebroaderthe

otherwaythatrunsalongbythebankofthatriver。TheAnider

risesabouteightymilesaboveAmaurot,inasmallspringat

first,butotherbrooksfallingintoit,ofwhichtwoaremore

considerablethantherest。AsitrunsbyAmaurot,itisgrown

halfamilebroad;butitstillgrowslargerandlarger,till

aftersixtymilescoursebelowit,itislostintheocean,

betweenthetownandthesea,andforsomemilesabovethetown,

itebbsandflowseverysixhours,withastrongcurrent。Thetide

comesupforaboutthirtymilessofullthatthereisnothingbut

saltwaterintheriver,thefreshwaterbeingdrivenbackwith

itsforce;andabovethat,forsomemiles,thewaterisbrackish;

butalittlehigher,asitrunsbythetown,itisquitefresh;

andwhenthetideebbs,itcontinuesfreshallalongtothesea。

Thereisabridgecastovertheriver,notoftimber,butoffair

stone,consistingofmanystatelyarches;itliesatthatpartof

thetownwhichisfarthestfromthesea,sothatshipswithoutany

hinderancelieallalongthesideofthetown。

Thereislikewiseanotherriverthatrunsbyit,which,thoughit

isnotgreat,yetitrunspleasantly,foritrisesoutofthesame

hillonwhichthetownstands,andsorunsdownthroughit,and

fallsintotheAnider。Theinhabitantshavefortifiedthe

fountain-headofthisriver,whichspringsalittlewithoutthe

town;sothatiftheyshouldhappentobebesieged,theenemy

mightnotbeabletostopordivertthecourseofthewater,nor

poisonit;fromthenceitiscarriedinearthenpipestothelower

streets;andforthoseplacesofthetowntowhichthewaterof

thatshallrivercannotbeconveyed,theyhavegreatcisternsfor

receivingtherain-water,whichsuppliesthewantoftheother。

Thetowniscompassedwithahighandthickwall,inwhichthere

aremanytowersandforts;thereisalsoabroadanddeepdry

ditch,setthickwiththorns,castroundthreesidesofthetown,

andtheriverisinsteadofaditchonthefourthside。The

streetsareveryconvenientforallcarriage,andarewell

shelteredfromthewinds。Theirbuildingsaregood,andareso

uniformthatawholesideofastreetlookslikeonehouse。The

streetsaretwentyfeetbroad;thereliegardensbehindalltheir

houses;thesearelargebutenclosedwithbuildingsthatonall

handsfacethestreets;sothateveryhousehasbothadoortothe

street,andabackdoortothegarden。Theirdoorshavealltwo

leaves,which,astheyareeasilyopened,sotheyshutoftheir

ownaccord;andtherebeingnopropertyamongthem,everymanmay

freelyenterintoanyhousewhatsoever。Ateverytenyears’end

theyshifttheirhousesbylots。

Theycultivatetheirgardenswithgreatcare,sothattheyhave

vines,fruits,herbs,andflowersinthem;andallissowell

ordered,andsofinelykept,thatIneversawgardensanywhere

thatwerebothsofruitfulandsobeautifulastheirs。Andthis

humoroforderingtheirgardenssowellisnotonlykeptupbythe

pleasuretheyfindinit,butalsobyanemulationbetweenthe

inhabitantsoftheseveralstreets,whoviewitheachother;and

thereisindeednothingbelongingtothewholetownthatisboth

moreusefulandmorepleasant。Sothathewhofoundedthetown

seemstohavetakencareofnothingmorethanoftheirgardens;

fortheysay,thewholeschemeofthetownwasdesignedatfirst

byUtopus,butheleftallthatbelongedtotheornamentand

improvementofittobeaddedbythosethatshouldcomeafterhim,

thatbeingtoomuchforonemantobringtoperfection。Their

records,thatcontainthehistoryoftheirtownandState,are

preservedwithanexactcare,andrunbackward1,760years。From

theseitappearsthattheirhouseswereatfirstlowandmean,

likecottages,madeofanysortoftimber,andwerebuiltwithmud

wallsandthatchedwithstraw。Butnowtheirhousesarethree

storieshigh:thefrontsofthemarefacedwithstone,plastering,

orbrick;andbetweenthefacingsoftheirwallstheythrowin

theirrubbish。Theirroofsareflat,andonthemtheylayasort

ofplaster,whichcostsverylittle,andyetissotemperedthat

itisnotapttotakefire,andyetresiststheweathermorethan

lead。Theyhavegreatquantitiesofglassamongthem,withwhich

theyglazetheirwindows。Theyusealsointheirwindowsathin

linencloth,thatissooiledorgummedthatitbothkeepsoutthe

windandgivesfreeadmissiontothelight。

BOOKII:OFTHEIRMAGISTRATES

THIRTYfamilieschooseeveryyearamagistrate,whowasanciently

calledthesyphogrant,butisnowcalledthephilarch;andover

everytensyphogrants,withthefamiliessubjecttothem,thereis

anothermagistrate,whowasancientlycalledthetranibor,butof

latethearchphilarch。Allthesyphogrants,whoareinnumber200,

choosethePrinceoutofalistoffour,whoarenamedbythe

peopleofthefourdivisionsofthecity;buttheytakeanoath

beforetheyproceedtoanelection,thattheywillchoosehimwhom

theythinkmostfitfortheoffice。Theygivetheirvoices

secretly,sothatitisnotknownforwhomeveryonegiveshis

suffrage。ThePrinceisforlife,unlessheisremovedupon

suspicionofsomedesigntoenslavethepeople。Thetraniborsare

new-choseneveryyear,butyettheyareforthemostpart

continued。Alltheirothermagistratesareonlyannual。The

traniborsmeeteverythirdday,andoftenerifnecessary,and

consultwiththeprince,eitherconcerningtheaffairsofthe

Stateingeneralorsuchprivatedifferencesasmayarise

sometimesamongthepeople;thoughthatfallsoutbutseldom。

Therearealwaystwosyphograntscalledintothecouncil-chamber,

andthesearechangedeveryday。Itisafundamentalruleoftheir

governmentthatnoconclusioncanbemadeinanythingthatrelates

tothepublictillithasbeenfirstdebatedthreeseveraldaysin

theirCouncil。Itisdeathforanytomeetandconsultconcerning

theState,unlessitbeeitherintheirordinaryCouncil,orin

theassemblyofthewholebodyofthepeople。

Thesethingshavebeensoprovidedamongthem,thattheprinceand

thetraniborsmaynotconspiretogethertochangethegovernment

andenslavethepeople;andthereforewhenanythingofgreat

importanceissetonfoot,itissenttothesyphogrants;who

aftertheyhavecommunicatedittothefamiliesthatbelongto

theirdivisions,andhaveconsidereditamongthemselves,make

reporttotheSenate;andupongreatoccasions,thematteris

referredtotheCouncilofthewholeisland。Oneruleobservedin

theirCouncil,is,nevertodebateathingonthesamedayin

whichitisfirstproposed;forthatisalwaysreferredtothe

nextmeeting,thatsomenmaynotrashly,andintheheatof

discourse,engagethemselvestoosoon,whichmightbiasthemso

much,thatinsteadofconsultingthegoodofthepublic,they

mightratherstudytosupporttheirfirstopinions,andbya

perverseandpreposteroussortofshame,hazardtheircountry

ratherthanendangertheirownreputation,orventurethebeing

suspectedtohavewantedforesightintheexpedientsthattheyat

firstproposed。Andthereforetopreventthis,theytakecarethat

theymayratherbedeliberatethansuddenintheirmotions。

BOOKII:OFTHEIRTRADES,ANDMANNEROFLIFE

AGRICULTUREisthatwhichissouniversallyunderstoodamongthem

thatnoperson,eithermanorwoman,isignorantofit;theyare

instructedinitfromtheirchildhood,partlybywhattheylearn

atschoolandpartlybypractice;theybeingledoutofteninto

thefields,aboutthetown,wheretheynotonlyseeothersat

work,butarelikewiseexercisedinitthemselves。Besides

agriculture,whichissocommontothemall,everymanhassome

peculiartradetowhichheapplieshimself,suchasthe

manufactureofwool,orflax,masonry,smith’swork,or

carpenter’swork;forthereisnosortoftradethatisnotin

greatesteemamongthem。Throughouttheislandtheywearthesame

sortofclotheswithoutanyotherdistinction,exceptwhatis

necessarytodistinguishthetwosexes,andthemarriedand

unmarried。Thefashionneveralters;andasitisneither

disagreeablenoruneasy,soitissuitedtotheclimate,and

calculatedbothfortheirsummersandwinters。Everyfamilymakes

theirownclothes;butallamongthem,womenaswellasmen,learn

oneorotherofthetradesformerlymentioned。Women,forthemost

part,dealinwoolandflax,whichsuitbestwiththeirweakness,

leavingtherudertradestothemen。Thesametradegenerally

passesdownfromfathertoson,inclinationsoftenfollowing

descent;butifanyman’sgeniusliesanotherway,heisby

adoptiontranslatedintoafamilythatdealsinthetradetowhich

heisinclined:andwhenthatistobedone,careistakennot

onlybyhisfather,butbythemagistrate,thathemaybeputtoa

discreetandgoodman。Andifafterapersonhaslearnedone

trade,hedesirestoacquireanother,thatisalsoallowed,andis

managedinthesamemannerastheformer。Whenhehaslearned

both,hefollowsthatwhichhelikesbest,unlessthepublichas

moreoccasionfortheother。

Thechief,andalmosttheonlybusinessofthesyphogrants,isto

takecarethatnomanmayliveidle,butthateveryonemayfollow

histradediligently:yettheydonotwearthemselvesoutwith

perpetualtoil,frommorningtonight,asiftheywerebeastsof

burden,which,asitisindeedaheavyslavery,soitis

everywherethecommoncourseoflifeamongallmechanicsexcept

theUtopians;buttheydividingthedayandnightintotwenty-four

hours,appointsixoftheseforwork;threeofwhicharebefore

dinner,andthreeafter。Theythensup,andateighto’clock,

countingfromnoon,gotobedandsleepeighthours。Therestof

theirtimebesidesthattakenupinwork,eatingandsleeping,is

lefttoeveryman’sdiscretion;yettheyarenottoabusethat

intervaltoluxuryandidleness,butmustemployitinsomeproper

exerciseaccordingtotheirvariousinclinations,whichisforthe

mostpartreading。Itisordinarytohavepubliclecturesevery

morningbeforedaybreak;atwhichnoneareobligedtoappearbut

thosewhoaremarkedoutforliterature;yetagreatmany,both

menandwomenofallranks,gotohearlecturesofonesortof

other,accordingtotheirinclinations。Butifothers,thatare

notmadeforcontemplation,chooserathertoemploythemselvesat

thattimeintheirtrades,asmanyofthemdo,theyarenot

hindered,butarerathercommended,asmenthattakecaretoserve

theircountry。Aftersupper,theyspendanhourinsomediversion,

insummerintheirgardens,andinwinterinthehallswherethey

eat;wheretheyentertaineachother,eitherwithmusicor

discourse。Theydonotsomuchasknowdice,oranysuchfoolish

andmischievousgames:theyhave,however,twosortsofgamesnot

unlikeourchess;theoneisbetweenseveralnumbers,inwhichone

number,asitwere,consumesanother:theotherresemblesabattle

betweenthevirtuesandthevices,inwhichtheenmityinthe

vicesamongthemselves,andtheiragreementagainstvirtue,isnot

unpleasantlyrepresented;togetherwiththespecialoppositions

betweentheparticularvirtuesandvices;asalsothemethodsby

whichviceeitheropenlyassaultsorsecretlyunderminesvirtue,

andvirtueontheotherhandresistsit。Butthetimeappointed

forlaboristobenarrowlyexamined,otherwiseyoumayimagine,

thatsincethereareonlysixhoursappointedforwork,theymay

fallunderascarcityofnecessaryprovisions。Butitissofar

frombeingtrue,thatthistimeisnotsufficientforsupplying

themwithplentyofallthings,eithernecessaryorconvenient,

thatitisrathertoomuch;andthisyouwilleasilyapprehend,if

youconsiderhowgreatapartofallothernationsisquiteidle。

First,womengenerallydolittle,whoarethehalfofmankind;and

ifsomefewwomenarediligent,theirhusbandsareidle:then

considerthegreatcompanyofidlepriests,andofthosethatare

calledreligiousmen;addtotheseallrichmen,chieflythose

thathaveestatesinland,whoarecallednoblemenandgentlemen,

togetherwiththeirfamilies,madeupofidlepersons,thatare

keptmoreforshowthanuse;addtothese,allthosestrongand

lustybeggars,thatgoaboutpretendingsomedisease,inexcuse

fortheirbegging;anduponthewholeaccountyouwillfindthat

thenumberofthosebywhoselaborsmankindissupplied,ismuch

lessthanyouperhapsimagined。Thenconsiderhowfewofthose

thatworkareemployedinlaborsthatareofrealservice;forwe

whomeasureallthingsbymoney,giverisetomanytradesthatare

bothvainandsuperfluous,andserveonlytosupportriotand

luxury。Forifthosewhoworkwereemployedonlyinsuchthingsas

theconveniencesofliferequire,therewouldbesuchanabundance

ofthemthatthepricesofthemwouldsosinkthattradesmencould

notbemaintainedbytheirgains;ifallthosewholaborabout

uselessthingsweresettomoreprofitableemployments,andifall

theythatlanguishouttheirlivesinslothandidleness,every

oneofwhomconsumesasmuchasanytwoofthementhatareat

work,wereforcedtolabor,youmayeasilyimaginethatasmall

proportionoftimewouldservefordoingallthatiseither

necessary,profitable,orpleasanttomankind,especiallywhile

pleasureiskeptwithinitsduebounds。

ThisappearsveryplainlyinUtopia,forthere,inagreatcity,

andinalltheterritorythatliesroundit,youcanscarcefind

500,eithermenorwomen,bytheirageandstrength,arecapable

oflabor,thatarenotengagedinit;eventhesyphogrants,though

excusedbythelaw,yetdonotexcusethemselves,butwork,that

bytheirexamplestheymayexcitetheindustryoftherestofthe

people。Thelikeexemptionisallowedtothosewho,being

recommendedtothepeoplebythepriests,arebythesecret

suffragesofthesyphograntsprivilegedfromlabor,thattheymay

applythemselveswhollytostudy;andifanyofthesefallshort

ofthosehopesthattheyseemedatfirsttogive,theyareobliged

toreturntowork。Andsometimesamechanic,thatsoemployshis

leisurehours,astomakeaconsiderableadvancementinlearning,

iseasedfrombeingatradesman,andrankedamongtheirlearned

men。Outofthesetheychoosetheirambassadors,theirpriests,

theirtranibors,andtheprincehimself,ancientlycalledtheir

Barzenes,butiscalledoflatetheirAdemus。

Andthusfromthegreatnumbersamongthemthatareneither

sufferedtobeidle,nortobeemployedinanyfruitlesslabor,

youmayeasilymaketheestimatehowmuchmaybedoneinthosefew

hoursinwhichtheyareobligedtolabor。Butbesidesallthathas

beenalreadysaid,itistobeconsideredthattheneedfularts

amongthemaremanagedwithlesslaborthananywhereelse。The

buildingortherepairingofhousesamongusemploymanyhands,

becauseoftenathriftlessheirsuffersahousethathisfather

builttofallintodecay,sothathissuccessormust,atagreat

cost,repairthatwhichhemighthavekeptupwithasmallcharge:

itfrequentlyhappensthatthesamehousewhichonepersonbuilt

atavastexpenseisneglectedbyanother,whothinkshehasa

moredelicatesenseofthebeautiesofarchitecture;andhe

sufferingittofalltoruin,buildsanotheratnolesscharge。

ButamongtheUtopiansallthingsaresoregulatedthatmenvery

seldombuilduponanewpieceofground;andarenotonlyvery

quickinrepairingtheirhouses,butshowtheirforesightin

preventingtheirdecay:sothattheirbuildingsarepreservedvery

long,withbutlittlelabor,andthusthebuilderstowhomthat

carebelongsareoftenwithoutemployment,exceptthehewingof

timberandthesquaringofstones,thatthematerialsmaybein

readinessforraisingabuildingverysuddenlywhenthereisany

occasionforit。