THE CITY OF THE SUN..................................................................................................................................1

TOMMASO CAMPANELLA .................................................................................................................1

Capt. I have already told you how I wandered over the whole earth. In the course of my journeying I came to

Taprobane, and was compelled to go ashore at a place, where through fear of the inhabitants I remained in a

wood. When I stepped out of this I found myself on a large plain immediately under the equator.

Capt. I came upon a large crowd of men and armed women, many of whom did not understand our language,

Capt. The greater part of the city is built upon a high hill, which rises from an extensive plain, but several of

its circles extend for some distance beyond the base of the hill, which is of such a size that the diameter of the

city is upward of two miles, so that its circumference becomes about seven. On ac count of the humped

shape of the mountain, however, the diam eter of the city is really more than if it were built on a plain.

It is divided into seven rings or huge circles named from the seven planets, and the way from one to the other

of these is by four streets and through four gates, that look toward the four points of the compass.

Furthermore, it is so built that if the first circle were stormed, it would of necessity entail a double amount of

energy to storm the second; still more to storm the third; and in each succeeding case the strength and energy

would have to be doubled; so that he who wishes to capture that city must, as it were, storm it seven times.

For my own part, however, I think that not even the first wall could be occupied, so thick are the earthworks

When I had been taken through the northern gate (which is shut with an iron door so wrought that it can be

raised and let down, and locked in easily and strongly, its projections run ning into the grooves of the thick

posts by a marvellous device), I saw a level space seventy paces[1] wide between the first and second walls.

From hence can be seen large palaces, all joined to the wall of the second circuit in such a manner as to

appear all one palace. Arches run on a level with the middle height of the palaces, and are continued round

the whole ring. There are galleries for promenading upon these arches, which are supported from beneath by

thick and wellshaped columns, en closing arcades like peristyles, or cloisters of an abbey.

But the palaces have no entrances from below, except on the inner or concave partition, from which one

enters directly to the lower parts of the building. The higher parts, however, are reached by flights of marble

steps, which lead to galleries for promenading on the inside similar to those on the outside. From these one

enters the higher rooms, which are very beauti ful, and have windows on the concave and convex partitions.

These rooms are divided from one another by richly decorated walls. The convex or outer wall of the ring is

about eight spans thick; the concave, three; the intermediate walls are one, or perhaps one and a half. Leaving

this circle one gets to the second plain, which is nearly three paces narrower than the first. Then the first wall

of the second ring is seen adorned above and below with similar galleries for walking, and there is on the

inside of it another interior wall enclosing palaces. It has also similar peristyles supported by columns in the

lower part, but above are excellent pictures, round the ways into the upper houses. And so on afterward

through similar spaces and double walls, enclosing palaces, and adorned with galleries for walking, extending

along their outer side, and supported by columns, till the last circuit is reached, the way being still over a

But when the two gates, that is to say, those of the outmost and the inmost walls, have been passed, one

mounts by means of steps so formed that an ascent is scarcely discernible, since it proceeds in a slanting

direction, and the steps succeed one another at almost imperceptible heights. On the top of the hill is a rather

spacious plain, and in the midst of this there rises a temple built with wondrous art.

Capt. The temple is built in the form of a circle; it is not girt with walls, but stands upon thick columns,

beautifully grouped. A very large dome, built with great care in the cen tre or pole, contains another small

vault as it were rising out of it, and in this is a spiracle, which is right over the altar. There is but one altar in

the middle of the temple, and this is hedged round by columns. The temple itself is on a space of more than

350 paces. Without it, arches measuring about eight paces extend from the heads of the columns outward,

whence other columns rise about three paces from the thick, strong, and erect wall. Between these and the

former columns there are galleries for walking, with beautiful pavements, and in the re cess of the wall,

which is adorned with numerous large doors, there are immovable seats, placed as it were between the inside

columns, supporting the temple. Portable chairs are not want ing, many and well adorned. Nothing is seen

over the altar but a large globe, upon which the heavenly bodies are painted, and another globe upon which

there is a representation of the earth. Furthermore, in the vault of the dome there can be dis cerned

representations of all the stars of heaven from the first to the sixth magnitude, with their proper names and

power to influence terrestrial things marked in three little verses for each. There are the poles and greater and

lesser circles according to the right latitude of the place, but these are not perfect because there is no wall

below. They seem, too, to be made in their re lation to the globes on the altar. The pavement of the temple is

bright with precious stones. Its seven golden lamps hang always burning, and these bear the names of the

At the top of the building several small and beautiful cells surround the small dome, and behind the level

space above the bands or arches of the exterior and interior columns there are many cells, both small and

large, where the priests and relig ious officers dwell to the number of fortynine.

A revolving flag projects from the smaller dome, and this shows in what quarter the wind is. The flag is

marked with figures up to thirtysix, and the priests know what sort of year the different kinds of winds bring

and what will be the changes of weather on land and sea. Furthermore, under the flag a book is always kept

G.M. I pray you, worthy hero, explain to me their whole system of government; for I am anxious to hear it.

Capt. The great ruler among them is a priest whom they call by the name Hoh, though we should call him

Metaphysic. He is head over all, in temporal and spiritual matters, and all business and lawsuits are settled by

him, as the supreme au thority. Three princes of equal power viz., Pon, Sin, and Mor assist him, and

these in our tongue we should call Power, Wisdom, and Love. To Power belongs the care of all matters

relating to war and peace. He attends to the military arts, and, next to Hoh, he is ruler in every affair of a

warlike nature. He governs the military magistrates and the soldiers, and has the management of the

munitions, the fortifications, the storm ing of places, the implements of war, the armories, the smiths and

But Wisdom is the ruler of the liberal arts, of mechanics, of all sciences with their magistrates and doctors,

and of the discipline of the schools. As many doctors as there are, are under his control. There is one doctor

who is called Astrolo gus; a second, Cosmographus; a third, Arithmeticus; a fourth, Geometra; a fifth,

Historiographus; a sixth, Poeta; a seventh, Logicus; an eighth, Rhetor; a ninth, Grammaticus; a tenth,

Medicus; an eleventh, Physiologus; a twelfth, Politicus; a thir teenth, Moralis. They have but one book,

which they call Wisdom, and in it all the sciences are written with conciseness and marvellous fluency of

expression. This they read to the people after the custom of the Pythagoreans. It is Wisdom who causes the

exterior and interior, the higher and lower walls of the city to be adorned with the finest pictures, and to have

all the sciences painted upon them in an admirable manner. On the walls of the temple and on the dome,

which is let down when the priest gives an address, lest the sounds of his voice, being scattered, should fly

away from his audience, there are pictures of stars in their different magnitudes, with the powers and motions

On the interior wall of the first circuit all the mathematical figures are conspicuously painted figures more

in number than Archimedes or Euclid discovered, marked symmetrically, and with the explanation of them

neatly written and contained each in a little verse. There are definitions and propositions, etc. On the exterior

convex wall is first an immense drawing of the whole earth, given at one view. Following upon this, there are

tablets setting forth for every separate country the customs both public and private, the laws, the origins and

the power of the inhabitants; and the alphabets the different people use can be seen above that of the City of

On the inside of the second circuit, that is to say of the second ring of buildings, paintings of all kinds of

precious and com mon stones, of minerals and metals, are seen; and a little piece of the metal itself is also

there with an apposite explanation in two small verses for each metal or stone. On the outside are marked all

the seas, rivers, lakes, and streams which are on the face of the earth; as are also the wines and the oils and

the different liquids, with the sources from which the last are extracted, their qualities and strength. There are

also vessels built into the wall above the arches, and these are full of liquids from one to 300 years old, which

cure all diseases. Hail and snow, storms and thunder, and whatever else takes place in the air, are represented

with suitable figures and little verses. The inhabitants even have the art of representing in stone all the

On the interior of the third circuit all the different families of trees and herbs are depicted, and there is a live

specimen of each plant in earthenware vessels placed upon the outer parti tion of the arches. With the

specimens there are explanations as to where they were first found, what are their powers and natures, and

resemblances to celestial things and to metals, to parts of the human body and to things in the sea, and also as

to their uses in medicine, etc. On the exterior wall are all the races of fish found in rivers, lakes, and seas, and

their habits and values, and ways of breeding, training, and living, the pur poses for which they exist in the

world, and their uses to man. Further, their resemblances to celestial and terrestrial things, produced both by

nature and art, are so given that I was as tonished when I saw a fish which was like a bishop, one like a

chain, another like a garment, a fourth like a nail, a fifth like a star, and others like images of those things

existing among us, the relation in each case being completely manifest. There are seaurchins to be seen, and

the purple shellfish and mus sels; and whatever the watery world possesses worthy of being known is there

On the fourth interior wall all the different kinds of birds are painted, with their natures, sizes, customs,

colors, manner of living, etc.; and the only real phoenix is possessed by the inhabi tants of this city. On the

exterior are shown all the races of creeping animals, serpents, dragons, and worms; the insects, the flies,

gnats, beetles, etc., in their different states, strength, venoms, and uses, and a great deal more than you or I

On the fifth interior they have all the larger animals of the earth, as many in number as would astonish you.

We indeed know not the thousandth part of them, for on the exterior wall also a great many of immense size

are also portrayed. To be sure, of horses alone, how great a number of breeds there is and how beautiful are

On the sixth interior are painted all the mechanical arts, with the several instruments for each and their

manner of use among different nations. Alongside, the dignity of such is placed, and their several inventors

are named. But on the exterior all the inventors in science, in warfare, and in law are represented. There I saw

Moses, Osiris, Jupiter, Mercury, Lycurgus, Pom pilius, Pythagoras, Zamolxis, Solon, Charondas,

Phoroneus, with very many others. They even have Mahomet, whom nevertheless they hate as a false and

sordid legislator. In the most dignified position I saw a representation of Jesus Christ and of the twelve

Apostles, whom they consider very worthy and hold to be great. Of the representations of men, I per ceived

Caesar, Alexander, Pyrrhus, and Hannibal in the high est place; and other very renowned heroes in peace

and war, especially Roman heroes, were painted in lower positions, under the galleries. And when I asked

with astonishment whence they had obtained our history, they told me that among them there was a

knowledge of all languages, and that by persever ance they continually send explorers and ambassadors

over the whole earth, who learn thoroughly the customs, forces, rule and histories of the nations, bad and

good alike. These they apply all to their own republic, and with this they are well pleased. I learned that

cannon and typography were invented by the Chinese before we knew of them. There are magistrates who

announce the meaning of the pictures, and boys are accustomed to learn all the sciences, without toil and as if

Love is foremost in attending to the charge of the race. He sees that men and women are so joined together,

that they bring forth the best offspring. Indeed, they laugh at us who exhibit a studious care for our breed of

horses and dogs, but neglect the breeding of human beings. Thus the education of the chil dren is under his

rule. So also is the medicine that is sold, the sowing and collecting of fruits of the earth and of trees, agri

culture, pasturage, the preparations for the months, the cook ing arrangements, and whatever has any

reference to food, clothing, and the intercourse of the sexes. Love himself is ruler, but there are many male

Metaphysic, then, with these three rulers, manages all the abovenamed matters, and even by himself alone

nothing is done; all business is discharged by the four together, but in whatever Metaphysic inclines to the

G.M. Tell me, please, of the magistrates, their services and duties, of the education and mode of living,

Capt. This race of men came there from India, flying from the sword of the Magi, a race of plunderers and

tyrants who laid waste their country, and they determined to lead a philo sophic life in fellowship with one

another. Although the com munity of wives is not instituted among the other inhabitants of their province,

among them it is in use after this manner: All things are common with them, and their dispensation is by the

authority of the magistrates. Arts and honors and pleas ures are common, and are held in such a manner that

They say that all private property is acquired and improved for the reason that each one of us by himself has

his own home and wife and children. From this, selflove springs. For when we raise a son to riches and

dignities, and leave an heir to much wealth, we become either ready to grasp at the property of the State, if in

any case fear should be removed from the power which belongs to riches and rank; or avaricious, crafty, and

hypocritical, if anyone is of slender purse, little strength, and mean ancestry. But when we have taken away

G.M. Under such circumstances no one will be willing to labor, while he expects others to work, on the fruit

Capt. I do not know how to deal with that argument, but I declare to you that they burn with so great a love

for their fatherland, as I could scarcely have believed possible; and in deed with much more than the

histories tell us belonged to the Romans, who fell willingly for their country, inasmuch as they have to a

greater extent surrendered their private property. I think truly that the friars and monks and clergy of our

coun try, if they were not weakened by love for their kindred and friends or by the ambition to rise to higher

dignities, would be less fond of property, and more imbued with a spirit of charity toward all, as it was in the

G.M. St. Augustine may say that, but I say that among this race of men, friendship is worth nothing, since

Capt. Nay, indeed. For it is worth the trouble to see that no one can receive gifts from another. Whatever is

necessary they have, they receive it from the community, and the magis trate takes care that no one receives

more than he deserves. Yet nothing necessary is denied to anyone. Friendship is recog nized among them in

war, in infirmity, in the art contests, by which means they aid one another mutually by teaching. Some times

they improve themselves mutually with praises, with con versation, with actions, and out of the things they

need. All those of the same age call one another brothers. They call all over twentytwo years of age, fathers;

those that are less than twentytwo are named sons. Moreover, the magistrates gov ern well, so that no one

Capt. As many names of virtues as there are among us, so many magistrates there are among them. There is a

magis trate who is named Magnanimity, another Fortitude, a third Chastity, a fourth Liberality, a fifth

Criminal and Civil Justice, a sixth Comfort, a seventh Truth, an eighth Kindness, a tenth Gratitude, an

eleventh Cheerfulness, a twelfth Exercise, a thir teenth Sobriety, etc. They are elected to duties of that kind,

each one to that duty for excellence in which he is known from boyhood to be most suitable. Wherefore

among them neither robbery nor clever murders, nor lewdness, incest, adultery, or other crimes of which we

accuse one another, can be found. They accuse themselves of ingratitude and malignity when any one

denies a lawful satisfaction to another of indolence, of sad ness, of anger, of scurrility, of slander, and of

lying, which curseful thing they thoroughly hate. Accused persons under going punishment are deprived of

the common table, and other honors, until the judge thinks that they agree with their cor rection.

Capt. You would not rightly understand this, unless you first learned their manner of living. That you may

know, then, men and women wear the same kind of garment, suited for war. The women wear the toga below

the knee, but the men above; and both sexes are instructed in all the arts together. When this has been done as

a start, and before their third year, the boys learn the language and the alphabet on the walls by walk ing

round them. They have four leaders, and four elders, the first to direct them, the second to teach them, and

these are men approved beyond all others. After some time they exercise themselves with gymnastics,

running, quoits, and other games, by means of which all their muscles are strengthened alike. Their feet are

always bare, and so are their heads as far as the seventh ring. Afterward they lead them to the offices of the

trades, such as shoemaking, cooking, metalworking, carpentry, painting, etc. In order to find out the bent of

the genius of each one, after their seventh year, when they have already gone through the mathematics on the

walls, they take them to the readings of all the sciences; there are four lectures at each read ing, and in the

For some take physical exercise or busy themselves with pub lic services or functions, others apply

themselves to reading. Leaving these studies all are devoted to the more abstruse sub jects, to mathematics,

to medicine, and to other sciences. There are continual debate and studied argument among them, and after a

time they become magistrates of those sciences or me chanical arts in which they are the most proficient; for

every one follows the opinion of his leader and judge, and goes out to the plains to the works of the field,

and for the purpose of becoming acquainted with the pasturage of the dumb animals. And they consider him

the more noble and renowned who has dedicated himself to the study of the most arts and knows how to

practise them wisely. Wherefore they laugh at us in that we consider our workmen ignoble, and hold those to

be noble who have mastered no pursuit, but live in ease and are so many slaves given over to their own

pleasure and lasciviousness; and thus, as it were, from a school of vices so many idle and wicked fellows go

The rest of the officials, however, are chosen by the four chiefs, Hoh, Pon, Sin and Mor, and by the teachers

of that art over which they are fit to preside. And these teachers know well who is most suited for rule.

Certain men are proposed by the magistrates in council, they themselves not seeking to become candidates,

and he opposes who knows anything against those brought forward for election, or, if not, speaks in favor of

them. But no one attains to the dignity of Hoh except him who knows the histories of the nations, and their

customs and sacrifices and laws, and their form of government, whether a republic or a monarchy. He must

also know the names of the lawgivers and the inventors in science, and the laws and the history of the earth

and the heavenly bodies. They think it also necessary that he should understand all the mechanical arts, the

physical sciences, astrology and mathematics. Near ly every two days they teach our mechanical art. They

are not allowed to overwork themselves, but frequent practice and the paintings render learning easy to them.

Not too much care is given to the cultivation of languages, as they have a goodly number of interpreters who

are grammarians in the State. But beyond everything else it is necessary that Hoh should understand

metaphysics and theology; that he should know thoroughly the derivations, foundations, and demonstrations

of all the arts and sciences; the likeness and difference of things; necessity, fate, and the harmonies of the

universe; power, wis dom, and the love of things and of God; the stages of life and its symbols; everything

relating to the heavens, the earth, and the sea; and the ideas of God, as much as mortal man can know of him.

He must also be well read in the prophets and in as trology. And thus they know long beforehand who will

be Hoh. He is not chosen to so great a dignity unless he has at tained his thirtyfifth year. And this office is

perpetual, be cause it is not known who may be too wise for it or who too skilled in ruling.

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

Capt. This very question I asked them and they replied thus: "We, indeed, are more certain that such a very

learned man has the knowledge of governing, than you who place ig norant persons in authority, and

consider them suitable merely because they have sprung from rulers or have been chosen by a powerful

faction. But our Hoh, a man really the most capable to rule, is for all that never cruel nor wicked, nor a tyrant,

inas much as he possesses so much wisdom. This, moreover, is not unknown to you, that the same argument

cannot apply among you, when you consider that man the most learned who knows most of grammar, or

logic, or of Aristotle or any other author. For such knowledge as this of yours much servile labor and memory

work are required, so that a man is rendered unskilful, since he has contemplated nothing but the words of

books and has given his mind with useless result to the consideration of the dead signs of things. Hence he

knows not in what way God rules the universe, nor the ways and customs of nature and the nations.

Wherefore he is not equal to our Hoh. For that one cannot know so many arts and sciences thoroughly, who is

not esteemed for skilled ingenuity, very apt at all things, and therefore at ruling especially. This also is plain

to us that he who knows only one science, does not really know either that or the others, and he who is suited

for only one science and has gathered his knowledge from books, is unlearned and unskilled. But this is not

the case with intellects prompt and expert in every branch of knowledge and suitable for the consideration of

natural objects, as it is necessary that our Hoh should be. Besides in our State the sciences are taught with a

facility (as you have seen) by which more scholars are turned out by us in one year than by you in ten, or

In this matter I was struck with astonishment at their truth ful discourse and at the trial of their boys, who

did not under stand my language well. Indeed it is necessary that three of them should be skilled in our

tongue, three in Arabic, three in Polish, and three in each of the other languages, and no recrea tion is

allowed them unless they become more learned. For that they go out to the plain for the sake of running about

and hurling arrows and lances, and of firing harquebuses, and for the sake of hunting the wild animals and

getting a knowledge of plants and stones, and agriculture and pasturage; sometimes the band of boys does

They do not consider it necessary that the three rulers assist ing Hoh should know other than the arts having

reference to their rule, and so they have only a historical knowledge of the arts which are common to all. But

their own they know well, to which certainly one is dedicated more than another. Thus Power is the most

learned in the equestrian art, in marshalling the army, in the marking out of camps, in the manufacture of

every kind of weapon and of warlike machines, in planning stratagems, and in every affair of a military

nature. And for these reasons, they consider it necessary that these chiefs should have been philosophers,

historians, politicians, and physicists. Concerning the other two triumvirs, understand remarks similar to

G.M. I really wish that you would recount all their public duties, and would distinguish between them, and

Capt. They have dwellings in common and dormitories, and couches and other necessaries. But at the end of

every six months they are separated by the masters. Some shall sleep in this ring, some in another; some in

the first apartment, and some in the second; and these apartments are marked by means of the alphabet on the

lintel. There are occupations, mechani cal and theoretical, common to both men and women, with this

difference, that the occupations which require more hard work, and walking a long distance, are practised by

men, such as ploughing, sowing, gathering the fruits, working at the thresh ingfloor, and perchance at the

vintage. But it is customary to choose women for milking the cows and for making cheese. In like manner,

they go to the gardens near to the outskirts of the city both for collecting the plants and for cultivating them.

In fact, all sedentary and stationary pursuits are practised by the women, such as weaving, spinning, sewing,

cutting the hair, shaving, dispensing medicines, and making all kinds of gar ments. They are, however,

excluded from working in wood and the manufacture of arms. If a woman is fit to paint, she is not prevented

from doing so; nevertheless, music is given over to the women alone, because they please the more, and of a

truth to boys also. But the women have not the practise of the drum and the horn.

And they prepare their feasts and arrange the tables in the following manner. It is the peculiar work of the

boys and girls under twenty to wait at the tables. In every ring there are suitable kitchens, barns, and stores of

utensils for eating and drinking, and over every department an old man and an old woman preside. These two

have at once the command of those who serve, and the power of chastising, or causing to be chas tised,

those who are negligent or disobedient; and they also examine and mark each one, both male and female,

All the young people wait upon the older ones who have passed the age of forty, and in the evening when

they go to sleep the master and mistress command that those should be sent to work in the morning, upon

whom in succession the duty falls, one or two to separate apartments. The young people, however, wait upon

one another, and that alas! with some un willingness. They have first and second tables, and on both sides

there are seats. On one side sit the women, on the other the men; and as in the refectories of the monks, there

is no noise. While they are eating a young man reads a book from a platform, intoning distinctly and

sonorously, and often the magistrates question them upon the more important parts of the reading. And truly

it is pleasant to observe in what man ner these young people, so beautiful and clothed in garments so

suitable, attend to them, and to see at the same time so many friends, brothers, sons, fathers, and mothers all

in their turn living together with so much honesty, propriety, and love. So each one is given a napkin, a plate,

fish, and a dish of food. It is the duty of the medical officers to tell the cooks what repasts shall be prepared

on each day, and what food for the old, what for the young, and what for the sick. The magistrates receive the

fullgrown and fatter portion, and they from their share always distribute something to the boys at the table

who have shown themselves more studious in the morning at the lectures and debates concerning wisdom and

arms. And this is held to be one of the most distinguished honors. For six days they ordain to sing with music

at table. Only a few, however, sing; or there is one voice accompanying the lute and one for each other

instrument. And when all alike in service join their hands, nothing is found to be wanting. The old men

placed at the head of the cooking business and of the refectories of the servants praise the cleanliness of the

streets, the houses, the ves sels, the garments, the workshops, and the warehouses.

They wear white undergarments to which adheres a cover ing, which is at once coat and legging, without

wrinkles. The borders of the fastenings are furnished with globular buttons, extended round and caught up

here and there by chains. The coverings of the legs descend to the shoes and are continued even to the heels.

Then they cover the feet with large socks, or, as it were, halfbuskins fastened by buckles, over which they

wear a halfboot, and besides, as I have already said, they are clothed with a toga. And so aptly fitting are the

garments, that when the toga is destroyed, the different parts of the whole body are straightway discerned, no

part being concealed. They change their clothes for different ones four times in the year, that is when the sun

enters respectively the constellations Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, and according to the circum

stances and necessity as decided by the officer of health. The keepers of clothes for the different rings are

wont to distribute them, and it is marvellous that they have at the same time as many garments as there is

need for, some heavy and some slight, according to the weather. They all use white clothing, and this is

washed in each month with lye or soap, as are also the workshops of the lower trades, the kitchens, the

pantries the barns, the storehouses, the armories, the refectories, and the baths.

Moreover, the clothes are washed at the pillars of the peri styles, and the water is brought down by means of

canals which are continued as sewers. In every street of the different rings there are suitable fountains, which

send forth their water by means of canals, the water being drawn up from nearly the bot tom of the

mountain by the sole movement of a cleverly con trived handle. There is water in fountains and in cisterns,

whither the rainwater collected from the roofs of the houses is brought through pipes full of sand. They

wash their bodies often, according as the doctor and master command. All the mechanical arts are practised

under the peristyles, but the spec ulative are carried on above in the walking galleries and ram parts where

are the more splendid paintings, but the more sacred ones are taught in the temple. In the halls and wings of

the rings there are solar timepieces and bells, and hands by which the hours and seasons are marked off.

Capt. When their women have brought forth children, they suckle and rear them in temples set apart for all.

They give milk for two years or more as the physician orders. After that time the weaned child is given into

the charge of the mistresses, if it is a female, and to the masters, if it is a male. And then with other young

children they are pleasantly instructed in the alphabet, and in the knowledge of the pictures, and in running,

walking, and wrestling; also in the historical drawings, and in languages; and they are adorned with a suitable

garment of different colors. After their sixth year they are taught natural science, and then the mechanical

sciences. The men who are weak in intellect are sent to farms, and when they have become more proficient

some of them are received into the State. And those of the same age and born under the same constellation

are especially like one another in strength and in appearance, and hence arises much lasting concord in the

State, these men honoring one another with mutual love and help. Names are given to them by Metaphysicus,

and that not by chance, but de signedly, and according to each one's peculiarity, as was the custom among

the ancient Romans. Wherefore one is called Beautiful (Pulcher), another the Bignosed (Naso), another the

Fatlegged (Cranipes), another Crooked (Torvus), an other Lean (Macer), and so on. But when they have

become very skilled in their professions and done any great deed in war or in time of peace, a cognomen from

art is given to them, such as Beautiful the Great Painter (Pulcher, Pictor Magnus), the Golden One (Aureus),

the Excellent One (Excellens), or the Strong (Strenuus); or from their deeds, such as Naso the Brave (Nason

Fortis), or the Cunning, or the Great, or Very Great Conqueror; or from the enemy anyone has overcome,

Africanus, Asiaticus, Etruscus; or if anyone has overcome Manfred or Tortelius, he is called Macer Manfred

or Tortelius, and so on. All these cognomens are added by the higher mag istrates, and very often with a

crown suitable to the deed or art, and with the flourish of music. For gold and silver are reck oned of little

value among them except as material for their vessels and ornaments, which are common to all.

G.M. Tell me, I pray you, is there no jealousy among them or disappointment to that one who has not been

Capt. Certainly not. For no one wants either necessaries or luxuries. Moreover, the race is managed for the

good of the commonwealth, and not of private individuals, and the mag istrates must be obeyed. They deny

what we hold viz., that it is natural to man to recognize his offspring and to educate them, and to use his

wife and house and children as his own. For they say that children are bred for the preservation of the species

and not for individual pleasure, as St. Thomas also as serts. Therefore the breeding of children has reference

to the commonwealth, and not to individuals, except in so far as they are constituents of the commonwealth.

And since individuals for the most part bring forth children wrongly and educate them wrongly, they consider

that they remove destruction from the State, and therefore for this reason, with most sacred fear, they commit

the education of the children, who, as it were, are the element of the republic, to the care of magistrates; for

the safety of the community is not that of a few. And thus they distribute male and female breeders of the best

natures accord ing to philosophical rules. Plato thinks that this distribution ought to be made by lot, lest

some men seeing that they are kept away from the beautiful women, should rise up with anger and hatred

against the magistrates; and he thinks further that those who do not deserve cohabitation with the more

beautiful women, should be deceived while the lots are being led out of the city by the magistrates, so that at

all times the women who are suitable should fall to their lot, not those whom they desire. This shrewdness,

however, is not necessary among the inhab itants of the City of the Sun. For with them deformity is un

known. When the women are exercised they get a clear com plexion, and become strong of limb, tall and

agile, and with them beauty consists in tallness and strength. Therefore, if any woman dyes her face, so that it

may become beautiful, or uses highheeled boots so that she may appear tall, or garments with trains to cover

her wooden shoes, she is condemned to cap ital punishment. But if the women should even desire them they

have no facility for doing these things. For who indeed would give them this facility? Further, they assert that

among us abuses of this kind arise from the leisure and sloth of women. By these means they lose their color

and have pale complexions, and become feeble and small. For this reason they are without proper

complexions, use high sandals, and become beautiful not from strength, but from slothful tenderness. And

thus they ruin their own tempers and natures, and consequently those of their offspring. Furthermore, if at any

time a man is taken captive with ardent love for a certain woman, the two are al lowed to converse and joke

together and to give one another garlands of flowers or leaves, and to make verses. But if the race is

endangered, by no means is further union between them permitted. Moreover, the love born of eager desire is

Domestic affairs and partnerships are of little account, be cause, excepting the sign of honor, each one

receives what he is in need of. To the heroes and heroines of the republic, it is customary to give the pleasing

gifts of honor, beautiful wreaths, sweet food, or splendid clothes, while they are feast ing. In the daytime all

use white garments within the city, but at night or outside the city they use red garments either of wool or

silk. They hate black as they do dung, and therefore they dislike the Japanese, who are fond of black. Pride

they con sider the most execrable vice, and one who acts proudly is chastised with the most ruthless

correction. Wherefore no one thinks it lowering to wait at table or to work in the kitchen or fields. All work

they call discipline, and thus they say that it is honorable to go on foot, to do any act of nature, to see with the

eye, and to speak with the tongue; and when there is need, they distinguish philosophically between tears and

Every man who, when he is told off to work, does his duty, is considered very honorable. It is not the custom

to keep slaves. For they are enough, and more than enough, for them selves. But with us, alas! it is not so. In

Naples there exist 70,000 souls, and out of these scarcely 10,000 or 15,000 do any work, and they are always

lean from overwork and are getting weaker every day. The rest become a prey to idleness, avarice, illhealth,

lasciviousness, usury, and other vices, and contam inate and corrupt very many families by holding them in

servi tude for their own use, by keeping them in poverty and slavish ness, and by imparting to them their

own vices. Therefore public slavery ruins them; useful works, in the field, in military service, and in arts,

except those which are debasing, are not cultivated, the few who do practise them doing so with much

But in the City of the Sun, while duty and work are dis tributed among all, it only falls to each one to work

for about four hours every day. The remaining hours are spent in learn ing joyously, in debating, in reading,

in reciting, in writing, in walking, in exercising the mind and body, and with play. They allow no game which

is played while sitting, neither the single die nor dice, nor chess, nor others like these. But they play with the

ball, with the sack, with the hoop, with wrestling, with hurling at the stake. They say, moreover, that grinding

poverty renders men worthless, cunning, sulky, thievish, insidious, vag abonds, liars, false witnesses, etc.;

and that wealth makes them insolent, proud, ignorant, traitors, assumers of what they know not, deceivers,

boasters, wanting in affection, slanderers, etc. But with them all the rich and poor together make up the com

munity. They are rich because they want nothing, poor be cause they possess nothing; and consequently

they are not slaves to circumstances, but circumstances serve them. And on this point they strongly

recommend the religion of the Chris tians, and especially the life of the apostles.

G.M. This seems excellent and sacred, but the community of women is a thing too difficult to attain. The

holy Roman Clement says that wives ought to be common in accordance with the apostolic institution, and

praises Plato and Socrates, who thus teach, but the Glossary interprets this community with regard to

obedience. And Tertullian agrees with the Glossary, that the first Christians had everything in common

Capt. These things I know little of. But this I saw among the inhabitants of the City of the Sun, that they did

not make this exception. And they defend themselves by the opinion of Socrates, of Cato, of Plato, and of St.

Clement; but, as you say, they misunderstand the opinions of these thinkers. And the inhabitants of the solar

city ascribe this to their want of educa tion, since they are by no means learned in philosophy. Never

theless, they send abroad to discover the customs of nations, and the best of these they always adopt. Practice

makes the women suitable for war and other duties. Thus they agree with Plato, in whom I have read these

same things. The reasoning of our Cajetan does not convince me, and least of all that of Aristotle. This thing,

however, existing among them is ex cellent and worthy of imitation viz., that no physical defect renders

a man incapable of being serviceable except the decrepi tude of old age, since even the deformed are useful

for consulta tion. The lame serve as guards, watching with the eyes which they possess. The blind card wool

with their hands, separating the down from the hairs, with which latter they stuff the couches and sofas; those

who are without the use of eyes and hands give the use of their ears or their voice for the conven ience of

the State, and if one has only one sense he uses it in the farms. And these cripples are well treated, and some

G.M. Tell me now, I pray you, of their military affairs. Then you may explain their arts, ways of life and

Capt. The triumvir, Power, has under him all the magis trates of arms, of artillery, of cavalry, of

footsoldiers, of archi tects, and of strategists; and the masters and many of the most excellent workmen

obey the magistrates, the men of each art paying allegiance to their respective chiefs. Moreover, Power is at

the head of all the professors of gymnastics, who teach military exercise, and who are prudent generals,

advanced in age. By these the boys are trained after their twelfth year. Before this age, however, they have

been accustomed to wres tling, running, throwing the weight, and other minor exercises, under inferior

masters. But at twelve they are taught how to strike at the enemy, at horses and elephants, to handle the spear,

the sword, the arrow, and the sling; to manage the horse, to advance and to retreat, to remain in order of

battle, to help a comrade in arms, to anticipate the enemy by cunning, and to conquer.

The women also are taught these arts under their own magis trates and mistresses, so that they may be able

if need be to render assistance to the males in battles near the city. They are taught to watch the fortifications

lest at some time a hasty attack should suddenly be made. In this respect they praise the Spartans and

Amazons. The women know well also how to let fly fiery balls, and how to make them from lead; how to

throw stones from pinnacles and to go in the way of an attack. They are accustomed also to give up wine

The inhabitants of the City of the Sun do not fear death, because they all believe that the soul is immortal,

and that when it has left the body it is associated with other spirits, wicked or good, according to the merits of

this present life. Although they are partly followers of Brahma and Pythagoras, they do not believe in the

transmigration of souls, except in some cases by a distinct decree of God. They do not abstain from injuring

an enemy of the republic and of religion, who is unworthy of pity. During the second month the army is

reviewed, and every day there is practice of arms, either in the cavalry plain or within the walls. Nor are they

ever without lectures on the science of war. They take care that the accounts of Moses, of Joshua, of David,

of Judas Maccabaeus, of Caesar, of Alexander, of Scipio, of Hannibal, and other great soldiers should be

read. And then each one gives his own opinion as to whether these generals acted well or ill, usefully or

G.M. With whom do they wage war, and for what reasons, since they are so prosperous?

Capt. Wars might never occur, nevertheless they are exer cised in military tactics and in hunting, lest

perchance they should become effeminate and unprepared for any emergency. Besides, there are four

kingdoms in the island, which are very envious of their prosperity, for this reason that the people de sire to

live after the manner of the inhabitants of the City of 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

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 oakleaves; he who kills a tyrant

dedicates his arms in the temple and receives from Hoh the cognomen of his deed, and other warriors obtain

Every horsesoldier 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 lightarmed

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 thankofferings 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 trouble to tell you about the spies and their master, and about the guards and laws and

ceremonies, both within and without the State, which you can of yourself imagine. Since from childhood they

are chosen according to their inclination and the star under which they were born, therefore each one working

according to his natural propensity does his duty well and pleasantly, because naturally. The same things I

There are guards in the city by day and by night, and they are placed at the four gates, and outside the walls

of the seventh ring, above the breastworks and towers and inside mounds. These places are guarded in the

day by women, in the night by men. And lest the guard should become weary of watching, and in case of a

surprise, they change them every three hours, as is the custom with our soldiers. At sunset, when the drum

and symphonia sound, the armed guards are distributed. Cav alry and infantry make use of hunting as the

symbol of war and practise games and hold festivities in the plains. Then the music strikes up, and freely they

pardon the offences and faults of the enemy, and after the victories they are kind to them, if it has been

decreed that they should destroy the walls of the enemy's city and take their lives. All these things are done

on the same day as the victory, and afterward they never cease to load the conquered with favors, for they say

that there ought to be no fighting, except when the conquerors give up the conquered, not when they kill

them. If there is a dispute among them concerning injury or any other matter (for they themselves scarcely

ever contend except in matters of honor), the chief and his magistrates chastise the accused one secretly, if he

has done harm in deeds after he has been first angry. If they wait until the time of the battle for the verbal

decision, they must give vent to their anger against the enemy, and he who in battle shows the most daring

deeds is considered to have defended the better and truer cause in the struggle, and the other yields, and they

are punished justly. Nevertheless, they are not allowed to come to single combat, since right is main tained

by the tribunal, and because the unjust cause is often apparent when the more just succumbs, and he who

G.M. This is worth while, so that factions should not be cherished for the harm of the fatherland, and so that

civil wars might not occur, for by means of these a tyrant often arises, as the examples of Rome and Athens

Capt. I believe that you have already heard about their military affairs and about their agricultural and

pastoral life, and in what way these are common to them, and how they honor with the first grade of nobility

whoever is considered to have knowledge of these. They who are skilful in more arts than these they consider

still nobler, and they set that one apart for teaching the art in which he is most skilful. The occupa tions

which require the most labor, such as working in metals and building, are the most praiseworthy among them.

No one declines to go to these occupations, for the reason that from the beginning their propensities are well

known, and among them, on account of the distribution of labor, no one does work harmful to him, but only

that which is necessary for him. The occupations entailing less labor belong to the women. All of them are

expected to know how to swim, and for this reason ponds are dug outside the walls of the city and within

Commerce is of little use to them, but they know the value of money, and they count for the use of their

ambassadors and ex plorers, so that with it they may have the means of living. They receive merchants into

their States from the different countries of the world, and these buy the superfluous goods of the city. The

people of the City of the Sun refuse to take money, but in importing they accept in exchange those things of

which they are in need, and sometimes they buy with money; and the young people in the City of the Sun are

much amused when they see that for a small price they receive so many things in exchange. The old men,

however, do not laugh. They are unwilling that the State should be corrupted by the vicious cus toms of

slaves and foreigners. Therefore they do business at the gates, and sell those whom they have taken in war or

keep them for digging ditches and other hard work without the city, and for this reason they always send four

bands of soldiers to take care of the fields, and with them there are the laborers. They go out of the four gates

from which roads with walls on both sides of them lead to the sea, so that goods might easily be carried over

To strangers they are kind and polite; they keep them for three days at the public expense; after they have

first washed their feet, they show them their city and its customs, and they honor them with a seat at the

Council and public table, and there are men whose duty it is to take care of and guard the guests. But if

strangers should wish to become citizens of their State, they try them first for a month on a farm, and for

another month in the city, then they decide concerning them, and admit them with certain ceremonies and

Agriculture is much followed among them; there is not a span of earth without cultivation, and they observe

the winds and propitious stars. With the exception of a few left in the city all go out armed, and with flags

and drums and trumpets sounding, to the fields, for the purposes of ploughing, sowing, digging, hoeing,

reaping, gathering fruit and grapes; and they set in order everything, and do their work in a very few hours

and with much care. They use wagons fitted with sails which are borne along by the wind even when it is

And when there is no wind a beast draws along a huge cart, which is a grand sight.

The guardians of the land move about in the meantime, armed and always in their proper turn. They do not

use dung and filth for manuring the fields, thinking that the fruit con tracts something of their rottenness,

and when eaten gives a short and poor subsistence, as women who are beautiful with rouge and from want of

exercise bring forth feeble offspring. Wherefore they do not as it were paint the earth, but dig it up well and

use secret remedies, so that fruit is borne quickly and multiplies, and is not destroyed. They have a book for

this work, which they call the Georgics. As much of the land as is necessary is cultivated, and the rest is used

The excellent occupation of breeding and rearing horses, oxen, sheep, dogs, and all kinds of domestic and

tame animals is in the highest esteem among them as it was in the time of Abraham. And the animals are led

Fine pictures of oxen, horses, sheep, and other animals are placed before them. They do not turn out horses

with mares to feed, but at the proper time they bring them together in an enclosure of the stables in their

fields. And this is done when they observe that the constellation Archer is in favorable con junction with

Mars and Jupiter. For the oxen they observe the Bull, for the sheep the Ram, and so on in accordance with art.

Under the Pleiades they keep a drove of hens and ducks and geese, which are driven out by the women to

feed near the city. The women only do this when it is a pleasure to them. There are also places enclosed,

where they make cheese, butter, and milkfood. They also keep capons, fruit, and other things, and for all

these matters there is a book which they call the Bucolics. They have an abundance of all things, since every

one likes to be industrious, their labors being slight and profita ble. They are docile, and that one among

them who is head of the rest in duties of this kind they call king. For they say that this is the proper name of

the leaders, and it does not be long to ignorant persons. It is wonderful to see how men and women march

together collectively, and always in obedience to the voice of the king. Nor do they regard him with loath

ing as we do, for they know that although he is greater than themselves, he is for all that their father and

The science of navigation is considered very dignified by them, and they possess rafts and triremes, which go

over the waters without rowers or the force of the wind, but by a mar vellous contrivance. And other vessels

they have which are moved by the winds. They have a correct knowledge of the stars, and of the ebb and flow

of the tide. They navigate for the sake of becoming acquainted with nations and different countries and

things. They injure nobody, and they do not put up with injury, and they never go to battle unless when

provoked. They assert that the whole earth will in time come to live in accordance with their customs, and

consequently they always find out whether there be a nation whose manner of liv ing is better and more

approved than the rest. They admire the Christian institutions and look for a realization of the apos tolic life

in vogue among themselves and in us. There are treaties between them and the Chinese and many other

nations, both insular and continental, such as Siam and Calicut, which they are only just able to explore.

Furthermore, they have artificial fires, battles on sea and land, and many strategic se crets. Therefore they

G.M. Now it would be very pleasant to learn with what foods and drinks they are nourished, and in what way

Capt. Their food consists of flesh, butter, honey, cheese, garden herbs, and vegetables of various kinds. They

were unwilling at first to slay animals, because it seemed cruel; but thinking afterward that is was also cruel

to destroy herbs which have a share of sensitive feeling, they saw that they would perish from hunger unless

they did an unjustifiable action for the sake of justifiable ones, and so now they all eat meat. Nevertheless,

they do not kill willingly useful animals, such as oxen and horses. They observe the difference between

useful and harmful foods, and for this they employ the science of med icine. They always change their food.

First they eat flesh, then fish, then afterward they go back to flesh, and nature is never incommoded or

weakened. The old people use the more digestible kind of food, and take three meals a day, eating only a

little. But the general community eat twice, and the boys four times, that they may satisfy nature. The length

As regards drinking, they are extremely moderate. Wine is never given to young people until they are ten

years old, un less the state of their health demands it. After their tenth year they take it diluted with water,

and so do the women, but the old men of fifty and upward use little or no water. They eat the most healthy

They think nothing harmful which is brought forth by God, except when there has been abuse by taking too

much. And therefore in the summer they feed on fruits, because they are moist and juicy and cool, and

counteract the heat and dryness. In the winter they feed on dry articles, and in the autumn they eat grapes,

since they are given by God to remove melancholy and sadness; and they also make use of scents to a great

degree. In the morning, when they have all risen they comb their hair and wash their faces and hands with

cold water. Then they chew thyme or rockparsley or fennel, or rub their hands with these plants. The old

men make incense, and with their faces to the east repeat the short prayer which Jesus Christ taught us. After

this they go to wait upon the old men, some go to the dance, and others to the duties of the State. Later on

they meet at the early lectures, then in the temple, then for bodily exercise. Then for a little while they sit

Among them there is never gout in the hands or feet, nor ca tarrh, nor sciatica, nor grievous colics, nor

flatulency, nor hard breathing. For these diseases are caused by indigestion and flatulency, and by frugality

and exercise they remove every humor and spasm. Therefore it is unseemly in the extreme to be seen

vomiting or spitting, since they say that this is a sign either of little exercise, or of ignoble sloth, or of

drunkenness, or gluttony. They suffer rather from swellings or from the dry spasm, which they relieve with

plenty of good and juicy food. They heal fevers with pleasant baths and with milk food, and with a pleasant

habitation in the country and by grad ual exercise. Unclean diseases cannot be prevalent with them because

they often clean their bodies by bathing in wine, and soothe them with aromatic oil, and by the sweat of

exercise they diffuse the poisonous vapor which corrupts the blood and the marrow. They do suffer a little

from consumption, because they cannot perspire at the breast, but they never have asthma, for the humid

nature of which a heavy man is required. They cure hot fevers with cold potations of water, but slight ones

with sweet smells, with cheesebread or sleep, with music or dancing. Tertiary fevers are cured by bleeding,

by rhubarb or by a similar drawing remedy, or by water soaked in the roots of plants, with purgative and

sharptasting qualities. But it is rarely that they take purgative medicines. Fevers occurring every fourth day

are cured easily by suddenly startling the un prepared patients, and by means of herbs producing effects op

posite to the humors of this fever. All these secrets they told me in opposition to their own wishes. They take

more diligent pains to cure the lasting fevers, which they fear more, and they strive to counteract these by the

observation of stars and of plants, and by prayers to God. Fevers recurring every fifth, sixth, eighth or more

They use baths, and moreover they have warm ones accord ing to the Roman custom, and they make use

also of olive oil. They have found out, too, a great many secret cures for the preservation of cleanliness and

health. And in other ways they labor to cure the epilepsy, with which they are often troubled.

G.M. A sign this disease is of wonderful cleverness, for from it Hercules, Scotus, Socrates, Callimachus, and

Capt. They cure by means of prayers to heaven, by strengthening the head, by acids, by planned gymnastics,

and with fat cheesebread sprinkled with the flour of wheaten corn. They are very skilled in making dishes,

and in them they put spice, honey, butter, and many highly strengthening spices, and they temper their

richness with acids, so that they never vomit. They do not drink icecold drinks nor artificial hot drinks, as

the Chinese do; for they are not without aid against the humors of the body, on account of the help they get

from the natural heat of the water; but they strengthen it with crushed garlic, with vinegar, with wild thyme,

with mint, and with basil, in the summer or in time of special heaviness. They know also a secret for

renovating life after about the seventieth year, and for ridding it of affliction, and this they do by a pleas ing

Capt. Undoubtedly I have But since you are so curious I will add more. Both when it is new moon and full

moon they call a council after a sacrifice. To this all from twenty years upward are admitted, and each one is

asked separately to say what is wanting in the State, and which of the magistrates have discharged their duties

rightly and which wrongly. Then after eight days all the magistrates assemble, to wit, Hoh first, and with him

Power, Wisdom, and Love. Each one of the three last has three magistrates under him, making in all thir

teen, and they consider the affairs of the arts pertaining to each one of them: Power, of war; Wisdom, of the

sciences; Love, of food, clothing, education, and breeding. The masters of all the bands, who are captains of

tens, of fifties, of hundreds, also assemble, the women first and then the men. They argue about those things

which are for the welfare of the State, and they choose the magistrates from among those who have already

been named in the great Council. In this manner they assemble daily, Hoh and his three princes, and they

correct, confirm, and execute the matters passing to them, as decisions in the elec tions; other necessary

questions they provide of themselves. They do not use lots unless when they are altogether doubtful how to

decide. The eight magistrates under Hoh, Power, Wisdom, and Love are changed according to the wish of the

people, but the first four are never changed, unless they, tak ing counsel with themselves, give up the

dignity of one to an other, whom among them they know to be wiser, more re nowned, and more nearly

perfect. And then they are obedient and honorable, since they yield willingly to the wiser man and are taught

by him. This, however, rarely happens. The prin cipals of the sciences, except Metaphysic, who is Hoh

himself, and is, as it were, the architect of all science, having rule over all, are attached to Wisdom. Hoh is

ashamed to be ignorant of any possible thing. Under Wisdom therefore are Grammar, Logic, Physics,

Medicine, Astrology, Astronomy, Geometry, Cosmography, Music, Perspective, Arithmetic, Poetry, Rhet

oric, Painting, Sculpture. Under the triumvir Love are Breed ing, Agriculture, Education, Medicine,

Capt. This is the point I was just thinking of explaining. Everyone is judged by the first master of his trade,

and thus all the head artificers are judges. They punish with exile, with flogging, with blame, with

deprivation of the common table, with exclusion from the church and from the company of women. When

there is a case in which great injury has been done, it is punished with death, and they repay an eye with an

eye, a nose for a nose, a tooth for a tooth, and so on, according to the law of retaliation. If the offence is

wilful the Council decides. When there is strife and it takes place undesignedly, the sentence is mitigated;

nevertheless, not by the judge but by the triumvirate, from whom even it may be referred to Hoh, not on

account of justice but of mercy, for Hoh is able to pardon. They have no prisons, except one tower for

shutting up rebel lious enemies, and there is no written statement of a case, which we commonly call a

lawsuit. But the accusation and witnesses are produced in the presence of the judge and Power; the ac cused

person makes his defence, and he is immediately acquit ted or condemned by the judge; and if he appeals to

the trium virate, on the following day he is acquitted or condemned. On the third day he is dismissed

through the mercy and clemency of Hoh, or receives the inviolable rigor of his sentence. An accused person

is reconciled to his accuser and to his witnesses, as it were, with the medicine of his complaint, that is, with

No one is killed or stoned unless by the hands of the people, the accuser and the witnesses beginning first.

For they have no executioners and lictors, lest the State should sink into ruin. The choice of death is given to

the rest of the people, who en close the lifeless remains in little bags and burn them by the application of

fire, while exhorters are present for the purpose of advising concerning a good death. Nevertheless, the whole

nation laments and beseeches God that his anger may be ap peased, being in grief that it should, as it were,

have to cut off a rotten member of the State. Certain officers talk to and con vince the accused man by

means of arguments until he him self acquiesces in the sentence of death passed upon him, or else he does

not die. But if a crime has been committed against the liberty of the republic, or against God, or against the

su preme magistrates, there is immediate censure without pity. These only are punished with death. He who

is about to die is compelled to state in the presence of the people and with religious scrupulousness the

reasons for which he does not de serve death, and also the sins of the others who ought to die instead of him,

and further the mistakes of the magistrates. If, moreover, it should seem right to the person thus asserting, he

must say why the accused ones are deserving of less punish ment than he. And if by his arguments he gains

the victory he is sent into exile, and appeases the State by means of prayers and sacrifices and good life

ensuing. They do not torture those named by the accused person, but they warn them. Sins of frailty and

ignorance are punished only with blaming, and with compulsory continuation as learners under the law and

disci pline of those sciences or arts against which they have sinned. And all these things they have mutually

among themselves, since they seem to be in very truth members of the same body, and one of another.

This further I would have you know, that if a transgressor, without waiting to be accused, goes of his own

accord before a magistrate, accusing himself and seeking to make amends, that one is liberated from the

punishment of a secret crime, and since he has not been accused of such a crime, his punishment is changed

into another. They take special care that no one should invent slander, and if this should happen they meet the

offence with the punishment of retaliation. Since they always walk about and work in crowds, five witnesses

are required for the conviction of a transgressor. If the case is otherwise, after having threatened him, he is

released after he has sworn an oath as the warrant of good conduct. Or if he is accused a second or third time,

his increased punishment rests on the testimony of three or two witnesses. They have but few laws, and these

short and plain, and written upon a flat table and hanging to the doors of the temple, that is between the

columns. And on single columns can be seen the essences of things described in the very terse style of

Metaphysic viz., the essences of God, of the angels, of the world, of the stars, of man, of fate, of virtue, all

done with great wisdom. The definitions of all the virtues are also delineated here, and here is the tribunal,

where the judges of all the virtues have their seat. The definition of a certain virtue is written under that

column where the judges for the aforesaid virtue sit, and when a judge gives judgment he sits and speaks

thus: O son, thou hast sinned against this sacred definition of beneficence, or of magnanimity, or of another

vir tue, as the case may be. And after discussion the judge legally condemns him to the punishment for the

crime of which he is accused viz., for injury, for despondency, for pride, for in gratitude, for sloth, etc.

But the sentences are certain and true correctives, savoring more of clemency than of actual punish ment.

G.M. Now you ought to tell me about their priests, their sacrifices, their religion, and their belief.

Capt. The chief priest is Hoh, and it is the duty of all the superior magistrates to pardon sins. Therefore the

whole State by secret confession, which we also use, tell their sins to the magistrates, who at once purge their

souls and teach those that are inimical to the people. Then the sacred magistrates themselves confess their

own sinfulness to the three supreme chiefs, and together they confess the faults of one another, though no

special one is named, and they confess especially the heavier faults and those harmful to the State. At length

the triumvirs confess their sinfulness to Hoh himself, who forth with recognizes the kinds of sins that are

harmful to the State, and succors with timely remedies. Then he offers sacrifices and prayers to God. And

before this he confesses the sins of the whole people, in the presence of God, and publicly in the temple,

above the altar, as often as it had been necessary that the fault should be corrected. Nevertheless, no

transgressor is spoken of by his name. In this manner he absolves the peo ple by advising them that they

should beware of sins of the aforesaid kind. Afterward he offers sacrifice to God, that he should pardon the

State and absolve it of its sins, and to teach and defend it. Once in every year the chief priests of each

separate subordinate State confess their sins in the presence of Hoh. Thus he is not ignorant of the

wrongdoings of the provinces, and forthwith he removes them with all human and heavenly remedies.

Sacrifice is conducted after the following manner: Hoh asks the people which one among them wishes to give

himself as a sacrifice to God for the sake of his fellows. He is then placed upon the fourth table, with

ceremonies and the offering up of prayers: the table is hung up in a wonderful manner by means of four ropes

passing through four cords attached to firm pulleyblocks in the small dome of the temple. This done they

cry to the God of mercy, that he may accept the offering, not of a beast as among the heathen, but of a human

being. Then Hoh orders the ropes to be drawn and the sacrifice is pulled up above to the centre of the small

dome, and there it dedicates itself with the most fervent supplications. Food is given to it through a window

by the priests, who live around the dome, but it is allowed a very little to eat, until it has atoned for the sins of

the State. There with prayer and fasting he cries to the God of heaven that he might accept its willing offer

ing. And after twenty or thirty days, the anger of God being appeased, the sacrifice becomes a priest, or

sometimes, though rarely, returns below by means of the outer way for the priests. Ever after, this man is

treated with great benevolence and much honor, for the reason that he offered himself unto death for the sake

The priests above twentyfour years of age offer praises from their places in the top of the temple. This they

do in the mid dle of the night, at noon, in the morning and in the evening, to wit, four times a day they sing

their chants in the presence of God. It is also their work to observe the stars and to note with the astrolabe

their motions and influences upon human things, and to find out their powers. Thus they know in what part of

the earth any change has been or will be, and at what time it has taken place, and they send to find whether

the matter be as they have it. They make a note of predictions, true and false, so that they may be able from

experience to predict most correctly. The priests, moreover, determine the hours for breeding and the days for

sowing, reaping, and gathering the vintage, and are, as it were, the ambassadors and intercessors and

connection between God and man. And it is from among them mostly that Hoh is elected. They write very

learned treatises and search into the sciences. Below they never descend, unless for their dinner and supper,

so that the essence of their heads do not descend to the stomachs and liver. Only very seldom, and that as a

cure for the ills of solitude, do they have converse with women. On certain days Hoh goes up to them and

deliberates with them concerning the matters which he has lately investi gated for the benefit of the State

In the temple beneath, one priest always stands near the altar praying for the people, and at the end of every

hour another succeeds him, just as we are accustomed in solemn prayer to change every fourth hour. And this

method of supplication they call perpetual prayer. After a meal they return thanks to God. Then they sing the

deeds of the Christian, Jewish, and Gentile heroes, and of those of all other nations, and this is very delightful

to them. Forsooth, no one is envious of an other. They sing a hymn to Love, one to Wisdom, and one each

to all the other virtues, and this they do under the direc tion of the ruler of each virtue. Each one takes the

woman he loves most, and they dance for exercise with propriety and stateliness under the peristyles. The

women wear their long hair all twisted together and collected into one knot on the crown of the head, but in

rolling it they leave one curl. The men, however, have one curl only and the rest of their hair around the head

is shaven off. Further, they wear a slight covering, and above this a round hat a little larger than the size of

their head. In the fields they use caps, but at home each one wears a biretta, white, red, or another color

according to his trade or occupation. Moreover, the magistrates use grander and more imposinglooking

They hold great festivities when the sun enters the four car dinal points of the heavens, that is, when he

enters Cancer, Li bra, Capricorn, and Aries. On these occasions they have very learned, splendid, and, as it

were, comic performances. They celebrate also every full and every new moon with a festival, as also they do

the anniversaries of the founding of the city, and of the days when they have won victories or done any other

great achievement. The celebrations take place with the music of female voices, with the noise of trumpets

and drums, and the firing of salutations. The poets sing the praises of the most renowned leaders and the

victories. Nevertheless, if any of them should deceive even by disparaging a foreign hero, he is punished. No

one can exercise the function of a poet who in vents that which is not true, and a license like this they think

to be a pest of our world, for the reason that it puts a premium upon virtue and often assigns it to unworthy

For the praise of no one is a statue erected until after his death; but while he is alive, who has found out new

arts and very useful secrets, or who has rendered great service to the State either at home or on the

battlefield, his name is written in the book of heroes. They do not bury dead bodies, but burn them, so that a

plague may not arise from them, and so that they may be converted into fire, a very noble and powerful thing,

which has its coming from the sun and returns to it. And for the above reasons no chance is given for idolatry.

The statues and pict ures of the heroes, however, are there, and the splendid women set apart to become

mothers often look at them. Prayers are made from the State to the four horizontal corners of the world in

the morning to the rising sun, then to the setting sun, then to the south, and lastly to the north; and in the con

trary order in the evening, first to the setting sun, to the rising sun, to the north, and at length to the south.

They repeat but one prayer, which asks for health of body and of mind, and happiness for themselves and all

people, and they conclude it with the petition "As it seems best to God." The public prayer for all is long, and

it is poured forth to heaven. For this rea son the altar is round and is divided crosswise by ways at right

angles to one another. By these ways Hoh enters after he has repeated the four prayers, and he prays looking

up to heaven. And then a great mystery is seen by them. The priestly vest ments are of a beauty and

They divide the seasons according to the revolution of the sun, and not of the stars, and they observe yearly

by how much time the one precedes the other. They hold that the sun ap proaches nearer and nearer, and

therefore by everlessening cir cles reaches the tropics and the equator every year a little sooner. They

measure months by the course of the moon, years by that of the sun. They praise Ptolemy, admire Coper

nicus, but place Aristarchus and Philolaus before him. They take great pains in endeavoring to understand the

construction of the world, and whether or not it will perish, and at what time. They believe that the true oracle

of Jesus Christ is by the signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, which signs do not thus appear to

many of us foolish ones. Therefore they wait for the renewing of the age, and perchance for its end.

They say that it is very doubtful whether the world was made from nothing, or from the ruins of other worlds,

or from chaos, but they certainly think that it was made, and did not exist from eternity. Therefore they

disbelieve in Aristotle, whom they consider a logican and not a philosopher. From analo gies, they can draw

many arguments against the eternity of the world. The sun and the stars they, so to speak, regard as the living

representatives and signs of God, as the temples and holy living altars, and they honor but do not worship

them. Be yond all other things they venerate the sun, but they consider no created thing worthy the

adoration of worship. This they give to God alone, and thus they serve Him, that they may not come into the

power of a tyrant and fall into misery by undergo ing punishment by creatures of revenge. They contemplate

and know God under the image of the Sun, and they call it the sign of God, His face and living image, by

means of which light, heat, life, and the making of all things good and bad proceed. Therefore they have built

an altar like to the sun in shape, and the priests praise God in the sun and in the stars, as it were His altars,

and in the heavens, His temple as it were; and they pray to good angels, who are, so to speak, the intercessors

living in the stars, their strong abodes. For God long since set signs of their beauty in heaven, and of His

glory in the sun. They say there is but one heaven, and that the planets move and rise of themselves when

They assert two principles of the physics of things below, namely, that the sun is the father, and the earth the

mother; the air is an impure part of the heavens; all fire is derived from the sun. The sea is the sweat of earth,

or the fluid of earth combusted, and fused within its bowels, but is the bond of union between air and earth, as

the blood is of the spirit and flesh of animals. The world is a great animal, and we live within it as worms live

within us. Therefore we do not belong to the system of stars, sun, and earth, but to God only; for in respect to

them which seek only to amplify themselves, we are born and live by chance; but in respect to God, whose

instru ments we are, we are formed by prescience and design, and for a high end. Therefore we are bound to

no father but God, and receive all things from Him. They hold as beyond question the immortality of souls,

and that these associate with good angels after death, or with bad angels, according as they have likened

themselves in this life to either. For all things seek their like. They differ little from us as to places of reward

and punish ment. They are in doubt whether there are other worlds be yond ours, and account it madness

to say there is nothing. Nonentity is incompatible with the infinite entity of God. They lay down two

principles of metaphysics, entity which is the highest God, and nothingness which is the defect of entity. Evil

and sin come of the propensity to nothingness; the sin having its cause not efficient, but in deficiency.

Deficiency is, they say, of power, wisdom, or will. Sin they place in the last of these three, because he who

knows and has the power to do good is bound also to have the will, for will arises out of them. They worship

God in trinity, saying God is the Supreme Power, whence proceeds the highest Wisdom, which is the same

with God, and from these comes Love, which is both power and wisdom; but they do not distinguish persons

by name, as in our Christian law, which has not been revealed to them. This religion, when its abuses have

been removed, will be the future mistress of the world, as great theologians teach and hope. Therefore Spain

found the New World (though its first discoverer, Columbus, greatest of heroes, was a Genoese), that all

nations should be gathered under one law. We know not what we do, but God knows, whose instruments we

are. They sought new regions for lust of gold and riches, but God works to a higher end. The sun strives to

burn up the earth, not to produce plants and men, but God guides the battle to great issues. His the praise, to

G.M. Oh, if you knew what our astrologers say of the com ing age, and of our age, that has in it more

history within 100 years than all the world had in 4,000 years before! of the won derful inventions of

printing and guns, and the use of the mag net, and how it all comes of Mercury, Mars, the Moon, and the