友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
读书室 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

more2-5-第1部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!








   BOOK II: OF THEIR TRAFFIC







      BUT it is now time to explain to you the mutual intercourse of 


      this people; their commerce; and the rules by which all things are 


      distributed among them。





      As their cities are composed of families; so their families are 


      made up of those that are nearly related to one another。 Their 


      women; when they grow up; are married out; but all the males; both 


      children and grandchildren; live still in the same house; in great 


      obedience to their common parent; unless age has weakened his 


      understanding: and in that case; he that is next to him in age 


      comes in his room。 But lest any city should become either too 


      great; or by any accident be dispeopled; provision is made that 


      none of their cities may contain above 6;000 families; besides 


      those of the country round it。 No family may have less than ten 


      and more than sixteen persons in it; but there can be no 


      determined number for the children under age。 This rule is easily 


      observed; by removing some of the children of a more fruitful 


      couple to any other family that does not abound so much in them。





      By the same rule; they supply cities that do not increase so fast; 


      from others that breed faster; and if there is any increase over 


      the whole island; then they draw out a number of their citizens 


      out of the several towns; and send them over to the neighboring 


      continent; where; if they find that the inhabitants have more soil 


      than they can well cultivate; they fix a colony; taking the 


      inhabitants into their society; if they are willing to live with 


      them; and where they do that of their own accord; they quickly 


      enter into their method of life; and conform to their rules; and 


      this proves a happiness to both nations; for according to their 


      constitution; such care is taken of the soil that it becomes 


      fruitful enough for both; though it might be otherwise too narrow 


      and barren for any one of them。 But if the natives refuse to 


      conform themselves to their laws; they drive them out of those 


      bounds which they mark out for themselves; and use force if they 


      resist。 For they account it a very just cause of war; for a nation 


      to hinder others from possessing a part of that soil of which they 


      make no use; but which is suffered to lie idle and uncultivated; 


      since every man has by the law of nature a right to such a waste 


      portion of the earth as is necessary for his subsistence。 If an 


      accident has so lessened the number of the inhabitants of any of 


      their towns that it cannot be made up from the other towns of the 


      island; without diminishing them too much; which is said to have 


      fallen out but twice since they were first a people; when great 


      numbers were carried off by the plague; the loss is then supplied 


      by recalling as many as are wanted from their colonies; for they 


      will abandon these; rather than suffer the towns in the island to 


      sink too low。





      But to return to their manner of living in society; the oldest man 


      of every family; as has been already said; is its governor。 Wives 


      serve their husbands; and children their parents; and always the 


      younger serves the elder。 Every city is divided into four equal 


      parts; and in the middle of each there is a marketplace: what is 


      brought thither; and manufactured by the several families; is 


      carried from thence to houses appointed for that purpose; in which 


      all things of a sort are laid by themselves; and thither every 


      father goes and takes whatsoever he or his family stand in need 


      of; without either paying for it or leaving anything in exchange。 


      There is no reason for giving a denial to any person; since there 


      is such plenty of everything among them; and there is no danger of 


      a man's asking for more than he needs; they have no inducements to 


      do this; since they are sure that they shall always be supplied。 


      It is the fear of want that makes any of the whole race of animals 


      either greedy or ravenous; but besides fear; there is in man a 


      pride that makes him fancy it a particular glory to excel others 


      in pomp and excess。 But by the laws of the Utopians; there is no 


      room for this。 Near these markets there are others for all sorts 


      of provisions; where there are not only herbs; fruits; and bread; 


      but also fish; fowl; and cattle。





      There are also; without their towns; places appointed near some 


      running water; for killing their beasts; and for washing away 


      their filth; which is done by their slaves: for they suffer none 


      of their citizens to kill their cattle; because they think that 


      pity and good…nature; which are among the best of those affections 


      that are born with us; are much impaired by the butchering of 


      animals: nor do they suffer anything that is foul or unclean to be 


      brought within their towns; lest the air should be infected by 


      ill…smells which might prejudice their health。 In every street 


      there are great halls that lie at an equal distance from each 


      other; distinguished by particular names。 The syphogrants dwell in 


      those that are set over thirty families; fifteen lying on one side 


      of it; and as many on the other。 In these halls they all meet and 


      have their repasts。 The stewards of every one of them come to the 


      market…place at an appointed hour; and according to the number of 


      those that belong to the hall; they carry home provisions。 But 


      they take more care of their sick than of any others: these are 


      lodged and provided for in public hospitals they have belonging to 


      every town four hospitals; that are built without their walls; and 


      are so large that they may pass for little towns: by this means; 


      if they had ever such a number of sick persons; they could lodge 


      them conveniently; and at such a distance; that such of them as 


      are sick of infectious diseases may be kept so far from the rest 


      that there can be no danger of contagion。 The hospitals are 


      furnished and stored with all things that are convenient for the 


      ease and recovery of the sick; and those that are put in them are 


      looked after with such tender and watchful care; and are so 


      constantly attended by their skilful physicians; that as none is 


      sent to them against their will; so there is scarce one in a whole 


      town that; if he should fall ill; would not choose rather to go 


      thither than lie sick at home。





      After the steward of the hospitals has taken for the sick 


      whatsoever the physician prescribes; then the best things that are 


      left in the market are distributed equally among the halls; in 


      proportion to their numbers; only; in the first place; they serve 


      the Prince; the chief priest; the tranibors; the ambassadors; and 


      strangers; if there are any; which indeed falls out but seldom; 


      and for whom there are houses well furnished; particularly 


      appointed for their reception when they come among them。 At the 


      hours of dinner and supper; the whole syphogranty being called 


      together by sound of trumpet; they meet and eat together; except 


      only such as are in the hospitals or lie sick at home。 Yet after 


      the halls are served; no man is hindered to carry provisions home 


      from the market…place; for they know that none does that but for 


      some good reason; for though any that will may eat at home; yet 


      none does it willingly; since it is both ridiculous and foolish 


      for any to give themselves the trouble to make ready an ill dinner 


      at home; when there is a much more plentiful one made ready for 


      him so near at hand。 All the uneasy and sordid services about 


      these halls are performed by their slaves; but the dressing and 


      cooking their meat; and the ordering their tables; belong only to 


      the women; all those of every family taking it by turns。 They sit 


      at three or more tables; according to their number; the men sit 


      toward the wall; and the women sit on the other side; that if any 


      of them should be taken suddenly ill; which is no uncommon case 


      among women with child; she may; without disturbing the rest; rise 


      and go to the nurses' room; who are there with the sucking 


      children; where there is always clean water at hand; and cradles 


      in which they may lay the young children; if there is occasion for 


      it; and a fire that they may shift and dress them before it。





      Every child i
返回目录 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!