Thisistheirnotionofvirtueandofpleasure;theythinkthatno
man’sreasoncancarryhimtoatruerideaofthem，unlesssome
discoveryfromheavenshouldinspirehimwithsublimernotions。I
havenotnowtheleisuretoexaminewhethertheythinkrightor
wronginthismatter：nordoIjudgeitnecessary，forIhaveonly
undertakentogiveyouanaccountoftheirconstitution，butnot
todefendalltheirprinciples。Iamsure，thatwhatsoevermaybe
saidoftheirnotions，thereisnotinthewholeworldeithera
betterpeopleorahappiergovernment：theirbodiesarevigorous
andlively;andthoughtheyarebutofamiddlestature，andhave
neitherthefruitfullestsoilnorthepurestairintheworld，yet
theyfortifythemselvessowellbytheirtemperatecourseoflife，
againsttheunhealthinessoftheirair，andbytheirindustrythey
socultivatetheirsoil，thatthereisnowheretobeseena
greaterincreasebothofcornandcattle，norarethereanywhere
healthiermenandfreerfromdiseases：foronemaytheresee
reducedtopractice，notonlyalltheartsthatthehusbandman
employsinmanuringandimprovinganillsoil，butwholewoods
pluckedupbytheroots，andinotherplacesnewonesplanted，
wheretherewerenonebefore。
Theirprincipalmotiveforthisistheconvenienceofcarriage，
thattheirtimbermaybeeitherneartheirtownsorgrowingonthe
banksoftheseaorofsomerivers，soastobefloatedtothem;
foritisaharderworktocarrywoodatanydistanceoverland，
thancorn。Thepeopleareindustrious，apttolearn，aswellas
cheerfulandpleasant;andnonecanenduremorelabor，whenitis
necessary;butexceptinthatcasetheylovetheirease。Theyare
unweariedpursuersofknowledge;forwhenwehadgiventhemsome
hintsofthelearninganddisciplineoftheGreeks，concerning
whomweonlyinstructedthem（forweknowthattherewasnothing
amongtheRomans，excepttheirhistoriansandtheirpoets，that
theywouldvaluemuch），itwasstrangetoseehoweagerlythey
weresetonlearningthatlanguage。Webegantoreadalittleof
ittothem，ratherincompliancewiththeirimportunity，thanout
ofanyhopesoftheirreapingfromitanygreatadvantage。But
afteraveryshorttrial，wefoundtheymadesuchprogress，that
wesawourlaborwasliketobemoresuccessfulthanwecouldhave
expected。Theylearnedtowritetheircharactersandtopronounce
theirlanguagesoexactly，hadsoquickanapprehension，they
remembereditsofaithfully，andbecamesoreadyandcorrectin
theuseofit，thatitwouldhavelookedlikeamiracleifthe
greaterpartofthosewhomwetaughthadnotbeenmenbothof
extraordinarycapacityandofafitageforinstruction。Theywere
forthegreatestpartchosenfromamongtheirlearnedmen，by
theirchiefCouncil，thoughsomestudieditoftheirownaccord。
Inthreeyears’timetheybecamemastersofthewholelanguage，so
thattheyreadthebestoftheGreekauthorsveryexactly。Iam
indeedapttothinkthattheylearnedthatlanguagethemore
easily，fromitshavingsomerelationtotheirown。Ibelievethat
theywereacolonyoftheGreeks;forthoughtheirlanguagecomes
nearerthePersian，yettheyretainmanynames，bothfortheir
townsandmagistrates，thatareofGreekderivation。
Ihappenedtocarryagreatmanybookswithme，insteadof
merchandise，whenIsailedmyfourthvoyage;forIwassofarfrom
thinkingofsooncomingback，thatIratherthoughtnevertohave
returnedatall，andIgavethemallmybooks，amongwhichwere
manyofPlato’sandsomeofAristotle’sworks。Ihadalso
Theophrastus"OnPlants，"which，tomygreatregret，was
imperfect;forhavinglaiditcarelesslyby，whilewewereatsea，
amonkeyhadseizeduponit，andinmanyplacestornoutthe
leaves。TheyhavenobooksofgrammarbutLascares，forIdidnot
carryTheodoruswithme;norhavetheyanydictionariesbut
HesichiusandDioscorides。TheyesteemPlutarchhighly，andwere
muchtakenwithLucian’switandwithhispleasantwayofwriting。
Asforthepoets，theyhaveAristophanes，Homer，Euripides，and
SophoclesofAldus’sedition;andforhistoriansThucydides，
Herodotus，andHerodian。Oneofmycompanions，ThriciusApinatus，
happenedtocarrywithhimsomeofHippocrates’sworks，and
Galen’s"Microtechne，"whichtheyholdingreatestimation;for
thoughthereisnonationintheworldthatneedsphysicsolittle
astheydo，yetthereisnotanythathonorsitsomuch：they
reckontheknowledgeofitoneofthepleasantestandmost
profitablepartsofphilosophy，bywhich，astheysearchintothe
secretsofnature，sotheynotonlyfindthisstudyhighly
agreeable，butthinkthatsuchinquiriesareveryacceptableto
theAuthorofnature;andimaginethatasHe，liketheinventors
ofcuriousenginesamongmankind，hasexposedthisgreatmachine
oftheuniversetotheviewoftheonlycreaturescapableof
contemplatingit，soanexactandcuriousobserver，whoadmires
Hisworkmanship，ismuchmoreacceptabletoHimthanoneofthe
herd，who，likeabeastincapableofreason，looksonthis
gloriousscenewiththeeyesofadullandunconcernedspectator。
ThemindsoftheUtopians，whenfencedwithaloveforlearning，
areveryingeniousindiscoveringallsuchartsasarenecessary
tocarryittoperfection。Twothingstheyowetous，the
manufactureofpaperandtheartofprinting：yettheyarenotso
entirelyindebtedtousforthesediscoveriesbutthatagreat
partoftheinventionwastheirown。Weshowedthemsomebooks
printedbyAldus，weexplainedtothemthewayofmakingpaper，
andthemysteryofprinting;butaswehadneverpractisedthese
arts，wedescribedtheminacrudeandsuperficialmanner。They
seizedthehintswegavethem，andthoughatfirsttheycouldnot
arriveatperfection，yetbymakingmanyessaystheyatlastfound
outandcorrectedalltheirerrors，andconqueredevery
difficulty。Beforethistheyonlywroteonparchment，onreeds，or
onthebarkoftrees;butnowtheyhaveestablishedthe
manufactureofpaper，andsetupprinting-presses，sothatifthey
hadbutagoodnumberofGreekauthorstheywouldbequickly
suppliedwithmanycopiesofthem：atpresent，thoughtheyhaveno
morethanthoseIhavementioned，yetbyseveralimpressionsthey
havemultipliedthemintomanythousands。
Ifanymanwastogoamongthemthathadsomeextraordinary
talent，orthatbymuchtravellinghadobservedthecustomsof
manynations（whichmadeustobesowellreceived），hewould
receiveaheartywelcome;fortheyareverydesiroustoknowthe
stateofthewholeworld。Veryfewgoamongthemontheaccountof
traffic，forwhatcanamancarrytothembutironorgoldor
silver，whichmerchantsdesirerathertoexportthanimporttoa
strangecountry：andasfortheirexportation，theythinkit
bettertomanagethatthemselvesthantoleaveittoforeigners，
forbythismeans，astheyunderstandthestateoftheneighboring
countriesbetter，sotheykeepuptheartofnavigation，which
cannotbemaintainedbutbymuchpractice。
BOOKII：OFTHEIRSLAVES，ANDOFTHEIRMARRIAGES
THEYdonotmakeslavesofprisonersofwar，exceptthosethatare
takeninbattle;norofthesonsoftheirslaves，norofthoseof
othernations：theslavesamongthemareonlysuchasare
condemnedtothatstateoflifeforthecommissionofsomecrime，
or，whichismorecommon，suchastheirmerchantsfindcondemned
todieinthosepartstowhichtheytrade，whomtheysometimes
redeematlowrates;andinotherplaceshavethemfornothing。
Theyarekeptatperpetuallabor，andarealwayschained，butwith
thisdifference，thattheirownnativesaretreatedmuchworse
thanothers;theyareconsideredasmoreprofligatethantherest，
andsincetheycouldnotberestrainedbytheadvantagesofso
excellentaneducation，arejudgedworthyofharderusage。Another
sortofslavesarethepooroftheneighboringcountries，who
offeroftheirownaccordtocomeandservethem;theytreatthese
better，andusetheminallotherrespectsaswellastheirown
countrymen，excepttheirimposingmorelaboruponthem，whichis
nohardtasktothosethathavebeenaccustomedtoit;andifany
ofthesehaveamindtogobacktotheirowncountry，whichindeed
fallsoutbutseldom，astheydonotforcethemtostay，sothey
donotsendthemawayempty-handed。
Ihavealreadytoldyouwithwhatcaretheylookaftertheirsick，
sothatnothingisleftundonethatcancontributeeithertotheir
easeorhealth：andforthosewhoaretakenwithfixedand
incurablediseases，theyuseallpossiblewaystocherishthem，
andtomaketheirlivesascomfortableaspossible。Theyvisit
themoften，andtakegreatpainstomaketheirtimepassoff
easily：butwhenanyistakenwithatorturingandlingeringpain，
sothatthereisnohope，eitherofrecoveryorease，thepriests
andmagistratescomeandexhortthem，thatsincetheyarenow
unabletogoonwiththebusinessoflife，arebecomeaburdento
themselvesandtoallaboutthem，andtheyhavereallyoutlived
themselves，theyshouldnolongernourishsucharooteddistemper，
butchooserathertodie，sincetheycannotlivebutinmuch
misery：beingassured，thatiftheythusdeliverthemselvesfrom
torture，orarewillingthatothersshoulddoit，theyshallbe
happyafterdeath。Sincebytheiractingthus，theylosenoneof
thepleasuresbutonlythetroublesoflife，theythinkthey
behavenotonlyreasonably，butinamannerconsistentwith
religionandpiety;becausetheyfollowtheadvicegiventhemby
theirpriests，whoaretheexpoundersofthewillofGod。Suchas
arewroughtonbythesepersuasions，eitherstarvethemselvesof
theirownaccord，ortakeopium，andbythatmeansdiewithout
pain。Butnomanisforcedonthiswayofendinghislife;andif
theycannotbepersuadedtoit，thisdoesnotinducethemtofail
intheirattendanceandcareofthem;butastheybelievethata
voluntarydeath，whenitischosenuponsuchanauthority，isvery
honorable，soifanymantakesawayhisownlifewithoutthe
approbationofthepriestsandtheSenate，theygivehimnoneof
thehonorsofadecentfuneral，butthrowhisbodyintoaditch。
Theirwomenarenotmarriedbeforeeighteen，northeirmenbefore
two-and-twenty，andifanyofthemrunintoforbiddenembraces
beforemarriagetheyareseverelypunished，andtheprivilegeof
marriageisdeniedthem，unlesstheycanobtainaspecialwarrant
fromthePrince。Suchdisorderscastagreatreproachuponthe
masterandmistressofthefamilyinwhichtheyhappen，foritis
supposedthattheyhavefailedintheirduty。Thereasonof
punishingthissoseverelyis，becausetheythinkthatifthey
werenotstrictlyrestrainedfromallvagrantappetites，veryfew
wouldengageinastateinwhichtheyventurethequietoftheir
wholelives，bybeingconfinedtooneperson，andareobligedto
endurealltheinconvenienceswithwhichitisaccompanied。
Inchoosingtheirwivestheyuseamethodthatwouldappeartous
veryabsurdandridiculous，butitisconstantlyobservedamong
them，andisaccountedperfectlyconsistentwithwisdom。Before
marriagesomegravematronpresentsthebridenaked，whethershe
isavirginorawidow，tothebridegroom;andafterthatsome
gravemanpresentsthebridegroomnakedtothebride。Weindeed
bothlaughedatthis，andcondemneditasveryindecent。Butthey，
ontheotherhand，wonderedatthefollyofthemenofallother
nations，who，iftheyarebuttobuyahorseofasmallvalue，are
socautiousthattheywillseeeverypartofhim，andtakeoff
bothhissaddleandallhisothertackle，thattheremaybeno
secretulcerhidunderanyofthem;andthatyetinthechoiceof
awife，onwhichdependsthehappinessorunhappinessoftherest
ofhislife，amanshouldventureupontrust，andonlyseeabouta
hand’s-breadthoftheface，alltherestofthebodybeing
covered，underwhichtheremayliehidwhatmaybecontagiousas
wellasloathsome。Allmenarenotsowiseastochooseawoman
onlyforhergoodqualities;andevenwisemenconsiderthebody
asthatwhichaddsnotalittletothemind：anditiscertain
theremaybesomesuchdeformitycoveredwiththeclothesasmay
totallyalienateamanfromhiswifewhenitistoolatetopart
fromher。Ifsuchathingisdiscoveredaftermarriage，amanhas
noremedybutpatience。Theythereforethinkitisreasonablethat
thereshouldbegoodprovisionmadeagainstsuchmischievous
frauds。
Therewassomuchthemorereasonforthemtomakearegulationin
thismatter，becausetheyaretheonlypeopleofthosepartsthat
neitherallowofpolygamynorofdivorces，exceptinthecaseof
adulteryorinsufferableperverseness;forinthesecasesthe
Senatedissolvesthemarriage，andgrantstheinjuredpersonleave
tomarryagain;buttheguiltyaremadeinfamous，andarenever
allowedtheprivilegeofasecondmarriage。Nonearesufferedto
putawaytheirwivesagainsttheirwills，fromanygreatcalamity
thatmayhavefallenontheirpersons;fortheylookonitasthe
heightofcrueltyandtreacherytoabandoneitherofthemarried
personswhentheyneedmostthetendercareoftheircomfort，and
thatchieflyinthecaseofoldage，whichasitcarriesmany
diseasesalongwithit，soitisadiseaseofitself。Butit
frequentlyfallsoutthatwhenamarriedcoupledonotwellagree，
theybymutualconsentseparate，andfindoutotherpersonswith
whomtheyhopetheymaylivemorehappily。Yetthisisnotdone
withoutobtainingleaveoftheSenate，whichneveradmitsofa
divorcebutuponastrictinquirymade，bothbytheSenatorsand
theirwives，intothegroundsuponwhichitisdesired;andeven
whentheyaresatisfiedconcerningthereasonsofit，theygoon
butslowly，fortheyimaginethattoogreateasinessingranting
leavefornewmarriageswouldverymuchshakethekindnessof
marriedpeople。Theypunishseverelythosethatdefilethe
marriage-bed。Ifbothpartiesaremarriedtheyaredivorced，and
theinjuredpersonsmaymarryoneanother，orwhomtheyplease;
buttheadultererandtheadulteressarecondemnedtoslavery。Yet
ifeitheroftheinjuredpersonscannotshakeofftheloveofthe
marriedperson，theymaylivewiththemstillinthatstate，but
theymustfollowthemtothatlabortowhichtheslavesare
condemned;andsometimestherepentanceofthecondemned，together
withtheunshakenkindnessoftheinnocentandinjuredperson，has
prevailedsofarwiththePrincethathehastakenoffthe
sentence;butthosethatrelapseaftertheyareoncepardonedare
punishedwithdeath。
Theirlawdoesnotdeterminethepunishmentforothercrimes;but
thatislefttotheSenate，totemperitaccordingtothe
circumstancesofthefact。Husbandshavepowertocorrecttheir
wives，andparentstochastisetheirchildren，unlessthefaultis
sogreatthatapublicpunishmentisthoughtnecessaryfor
strikingterrorintoothers。Forthemostpart，slaveryisthe
punishmentevenofthegreatestcrimes;forasthatisnoless
terribletothecriminalsthemselvesthandeath，sotheythinkthe
preservingtheminastateofservitudeismorefortheinterest
ofthecommonwealththankillingthem;sinceastheirlaborisa
greaterbenefittothepublicthantheirdeathcouldbe，sothe
sightoftheirmiseryisamorelastingterrortoothermenthan
thatwhichwouldbegivenbytheirdeath。Iftheirslavesrebel，
andwillnotbeartheiryokeandsubmittothelaborthatis
enjoinedthem，theyaretreatedaswildbeaststhatcannotbekept
inorder，neitherbyaprisonnorbytheirchains，andareatlast
puttodeath。Butthosewhobeartheirpunishmentpatiently，and
aresomuchwroughtonbythatpressurethatliessohardonthem
thatitappearstheyarereallymoretroubledforthecrimesthey
havecommittedthanforthemiseriestheysuffer，arenotoutof
hopebutthatatlasteitherthePrincewill，byhisprerogative，
orthepeoplebytheirintercession，restorethemagaintotheir
liberty，oratleastverymuchmitigatetheirslavery。Hethat
temptsamarriedwomantoadulteryisnolessseverelypunished
thanhethatcommitsit;fortheybelievethatadeliberatedesign
tocommitacrimeisequaltothefactitself：sinceitsnot
takingeffectdoesnotmakethepersonthatmiscarriedinhis
attemptatallthelessguilty。
Theytakegreatpleasureinfools，andasitisthoughtabaseand
unbecomingthingtousethemill，sotheydonotthinkitamiss
forpeopletodivertthemselveswiththeirfolly：and，intheir
opinion，thisisagreatadvantagetothefoolsthemselves：forif
menweresosullenandsevereasnotatalltopleasethemselves
withtheirridiculousbehaviorandfoolishsayings，whichisall
thattheycandotorecommendthemselvestoothers，itcouldnot
beexpectedthattheywouldbesowellprovidedfor，norso
tenderlyusedastheymustotherwisebe。Ifanymanshould
reproachanotherforhisbeingmisshapedorimperfectinanypart
ofhisbody，itwouldnotatallbethoughtareflectiononthe
personsotreated，butitwouldbeaccountedscandalousinhim
thathadupbraidedanotherwithwhathecouldnothelp。Itis
thoughtasignofasluggishandsordidmindnottopreserve
carefullyone’snaturalbeauty;butitislikewiseinfamousamong
themtousepaint。Theyallseethatnobeautyrecommendsawife
somuchtoherhusbandastheprobityofherlife，andher
obedience：forassomefewarecaughtandheldonlybybeauty，so
allareattractedbytheotherexcellenceswhichcharmallthe
world。
Astheyfrightmenfromcommittingcrimesbypunishments，sothey
invitethemtotheloveofvirtuebypublichonors：thereforethey
erectstatuestothememoriesofsuchworthymenashavedeserved
welloftheircountry，andsettheseintheirmarket-places，both
toperpetuatetheremembranceoftheiractions，andtobean
incitementtotheirposteritytofollowtheirexample。
Ifanymanaspirestoanyoffice，heissurenevertocompassit：
theyallliveeasilytogether，fornoneofthemagistratesare
eitherinsolentorcrueltothepeople：theyaffectrathertobe
calledfathers，andbybeingreallyso，theywelldeservethe
name;andthepeoplepaythemallthemarksofhonorthemore
freely，becausenoneareexactedfromthem。ThePrincehimselfhas
nodistinction，eitherofgarmentsorofacrown;butisonly
distinguishedbyasheafofcorncarriedbeforehim;asthehigh-
priestisalsoknownbyhisbeingprecededbyapersoncarryinga
waxlight。
Theyhavebutfewlaws，andsuchistheirconstitutionthatthey
neednotmany。Theyverymuchcondemnothernations，whoselaws，
togetherwiththecommentariesonthem，swelluptosomany
volumes;fortheythinkitanunreasonablethingtoobligemento
obeyabodyoflawsthatarebothofsuchabulkandsodarkas
nottobereadandunderstoodbyeveryoneofthesubjects。
Theyhavenolawyersamongthem，fortheyconsiderthemasasort
ofpeoplewhoseprofessionitistodisguisemattersandtowrest
thelaws;andthereforetheythinkitismuchbetterthatevery
manshouldpleadhisowncause，andtrustittothejudge，asin
otherplacestheclienttrustsittoacounsellor。Bythismeans
theybothcutoffmanydelays，andfindouttruthmorecertainly：
forafterthepartieshavelaidopenthemeritsofthecause，
withoutthoseartificeswhichlawyersareapttosuggest，the
judgeexaminesthewholematter，andsupportsthesimplicityof
suchwell-meaningpersons，whomotherwisecraftymenwouldbesure
torundown：andthustheyavoidthoseevilswhichappearvery
remarkablyamongallthosenationsthatlaborunderavastloadof
laws。Everyoneofthemisskilledintheirlaw，forasitisa
veryshortstudy，sotheplainestmeaningofwhichwordsare
capableisalwaysthesenseoftheirlaws。Andtheyarguethus：
alllawsarepromulgatedforthisend，thateverymanmayknowhis
duty;andthereforetheplainestandmostobvioussenseofthe
wordsisthatwhichoughttobeputuponthem;sinceamore
refinedexpositioncannotbeeasilycomprehended，andwouldonly
servetomakethelawsbecomeuselesstothegreaterpartof
mankind，andespeciallytothosewhoneedmostthedirectionof
them：foritisallone，nottomakealawatall，ortocouchit
insuchtermsthatwithoutaquickapprehension，andmuchstudy，a
mancannotfindoutthetruemeaningofit;sincethegenerality
ofmankindarebothsodullandsomuchemployedintheirseveral
tradesthattheyhaveneithertheleisurenorthecapacity
requisiteforsuchaninquiry。
Someoftheirneighbors，whoaremastersoftheirownliberties，
havinglongago，bytheassistanceoftheUtopians，shakenoffthe
yokeoftyranny，andbeingmuchtakenwiththosevirtueswhich
theyobserveamongthem，havecometodesirethattheywouldsend
magistratestogovernthem;somechangingthemeveryyear，and
otherseveryfiveyears。Attheendoftheirgovernmenttheybring
thembacktoUtopia，withgreatexpressionsofhonorandesteem，
andcarryawayotherstogovernintheirstead。Inthistheyseem
tohavefallenuponaverygoodexpedientfortheirownhappiness
andsafety;forsincethegoodorillconditionofanation
dependssomuchupontheirmagistrates，theycouldnothavemadea
betterchoicethanbypitchingonmenwhomnoadvantagescanbias;
forwealthisofnousetothem，sincetheymustsosoongoback
totheirowncountry;andtheybeingstrangersamongthem，arenot
engagedinanyoftheirheatsoranimosities;anditiscertain
thatwhenpublicjudicatoriesareswayed，eitherbyavariceor
partialaffections，theremustfollowadissolutionofjustice，
thechiefsinewofsociety。
TheUtopianscallthosenationsthatcomeandaskmagistratesfrom
them，neighbors;butthosetowhomtheyhavebeenofmore
particularservice，friends。Andasallothernationsare
perpetuallyeithermakingleaguesorbreakingthem，theynever
enterintoanalliancewithanyState。Theythinkleaguesare
uselessthings，andbelievethatifthecommontiesofhumanitydo
notknitmentogether，thefaithofpromiseswillhavenogreat
effect;andtheyarethemoreconfirmedinthisbywhattheysee
amongthenationsroundaboutthem，whoarenostrictobserversof
leaguesandtreaties。Weknowhowreligiouslytheyareobservedin
Europe，moreparticularlywheretheChristiandoctrineis
received，amongwhomtheyaresacredandinviolable;whichis
partlyowingtothejusticeandgoodnessoftheprinces
themselves，andpartlytothereverencetheypaytothepopes;who
astheyaremostreligiousobserversoftheirownpromises，so
theyexhortallotherprincestoperformtheirs;andwhenfainter
methodsdonotprevail，theycompelthemtoitbytheseverityof
thepastoralcensure，andthinkthatitwouldbethemostindecent
thingpossibleifmenwhoareparticularlydistinguishedbythe
titleofthe"faithful"shouldnotreligiouslykeepthefaithof
theirtreaties。Butinthatnewfoundworld，whichisnotmore
distantfromusinsituationthanthepeopleareintheirmanners
andcourseoflife，thereisnotrustingtoleagues，eventhough
theyweremadewithallthepompofthemostsacredceremonies;on
thecontrary，theyareonthisaccountthesoonerbroken，some
slightpretencebeingfoundinthewordsofthetreaties，which
arepurposelycouchedinsuchambiguoustermsthattheycannever
besostrictlyboundbuttheywillalwaysfindsomeloopholeto
escapeat;andthustheybreakboththeirleaguesandtheirfaith。
Andthisisdonewithsuchimpudence，thatthoseverymenwho
valuethemselvesonhavingsuggestedtheseexpedientstotheir
princes，wouldwithahaughtyscorndeclaimagainstsuchcraft，
or，tospeakplainer，suchfraudanddeceit，iftheyfoundprivate
menmakeuseofitintheirbargains，andwouldreadilysaythat
theydeservedtobehanged。
Bythismeansitis，thatallsortsofjusticepassesintheworld
foralow-spiritedandvulgarvirtue，farbelowthedignityof
royalgreatness。Oratleast，therearesetuptwosortsof
justice;theoneismean，andcreepsontheground，andtherefore
becomesnonebutthelowerpartofmankind，andsomustbekeptin
severelybymanyrestraintsthatitmaynotbreakoutbeyondthe
boundsthataresettoit。Theotheristhepeculiarvirtueof
princes，whichasitismoremajesticthanthatwhichbecomesthe
rabble，sotakesafreercompass;andthuslawfulandunlawfulare
onlymeasuredbypleasureandinterest。Thesepracticesofthe
princesthatlieaboutUtopia，whomakesolittleaccountoftheir
faith，seemtobethereasonsthatdeterminethemtoengageinno
confederacies;perhapstheywouldchangetheirmindiftheylived
amongus;butyetthoughtreatiesweremorereligiouslyobserved，
theywouldstilldislikethecustomofmakingthem;sincethe
worldhastakenupafalsemaximuponit，asiftherewerenotie
ofnatureunitingonenationtoanother，onlyseparatedperhapsby
amountainorariver，andthatallwereborninastateof
hostility，andsomightlawfullydoallthatmischieftotheir
neighborsagainstwhichthereisnoprovisionmadebytreaties;
andthatwhentreatiesaremade，theydonotcutofftheenmity，
orrestrainthelicenseofpreyinguponeachother，ifbythe
unskilfulnessofwordingthemtherearenoteffectualprovisos
madeagainstthem。They，ontheotherhand，judgethatnomanis
tobeesteemedourenemythathasneverinjuredus;andthatthe
partnershipofthehumannatureisinsteadofaleague。Andthat
kindnessandgood-natureunitemenmoreeffectuallyandwith
greaterstrengththananyagreementswhatsoever;sincetherebythe
engagementsofmen’sheartsbecomestrongerthanthebondand
obligationofwords。
BOOKII：OFTHEIRMILITARYDISCIPLINE
THEYdetestwarasaverybrutalthing;andwhich，tothereproach
ofhumannature，ismorepractisedbymenthanbyanysortof
beasts。They，inoppositiontothesentimentsofalmostallother
nations，thinkthatthereisnothingmoreingloriousthanthat
glorythatisgainedbywar。Andthereforethoughtheyaccustom
themselvesdailytomilitaryexercisesandthedisciplineofwar——
inwhichnotonlytheirmenbuttheirwomenlikewisearetrained
up，thatincasesofnecessitytheymaynotbequiteuseless——yet
theydonotrashlyengageinwar，unlessitbeeithertodefend
themselves，ortheirfriends，fromanyunjustaggressors;orout
ofgood-natureorincompassionassistanoppressednationin
shakingofftheyokeoftyranny。Theyindeedhelptheirfriends，
notonlyindefensive，butalsoinoffensivewars;buttheynever
dothatunlesstheyhadbeenconsultedbeforethebreachwasmade，
andbeingsatisfiedwiththegroundsonwhichtheywent，theyhad
foundthatalldemandsofreparationwererejected，sothatawar
wasunavoidable。Thistheythinktobenotonlyjust，whenone
neighbormakesaninroadonanother，bypublicorder，andcarry
awaythespoils;butwhenthemerchantsofonecountryare
oppressedinanother，eitherunderpretenceofsomeunjustlaws，
orbytheperversewrestingofgoodones。Thistheycountajuster
causeofwarthantheother，becausethoseinjuriesaredoneunder
somecoloroflaws。
Thiswastheonlygroundofthatwarinwhichtheyengagedwith
theNephelogetesagainsttheAleopolitanes，alittlebeforeour
time;forthemerchantsoftheformerhaving，astheythought，met
withgreatinjusticeamongthelatter，which，whetheritwasin
itselfrightorwrong，drewonaterriblewar，inwhichmanyof
theirneighborswereengaged;andtheirkeennessincarryingiton
beingsupportedbytheirstrengthinmaintainingit，itnotonly
shooksomeveryflourishingStates，andverymuchafflicted
others，butafteraseriesofmuchmischiefendedintheentire
conquestandslaveryoftheAleopolitanes，whothoughbeforethe
wartheywereinallrespectsmuchsuperiortotheNephelogetes，
wereyetsubdued;butthoughtheUtopianshadassistedtheminthe
war，yettheypretendedtonoshareofthespoil。
Butthoughtheysovigorouslyassisttheirfriendsinobtaining
reparationfortheinjuriestheyhavereceivedinaffairsofthis
nature，yetifanysuchfraudswerecommittedagainstthemselves，
providednoviolencewasdonetotheirpersons，theywouldonlyon
theirbeingrefusedsatisfactionforbeartradingwithsucha
people。Thisisnotbecausetheyconsidertheirneighborsmore
thantheirowncitizens;butsincetheirneighborstradeeveryone
uponhisownstock，fraudisamoresensibleinjurytothemthan
itistotheUtopians，amongwhomthepublicinsuchacaseonly
suffers。Astheyexpectnothinginreturnforthemerchandisethey
exportbutthatinwhichtheysomuchabound，andisoflittleuse
tothem，thelossdoesnotmuchaffectthem;theythinktherefore
itwouldbetooseveretorevengealossattendedwithsolittle
inconvenience，eithertotheirlivesortheirsubsistence，with
thedeathofmanypersons;butifanyoftheirpeopleiseither
killedorwoundedwrongfully，whetheritbedonebypublic
authorityoronlybyprivatemen，assoonastheyhearofitthey
sendambassadors，anddemandthattheguiltypersonsmaybe
delivereduptothem;andifthatisdenied，theydeclarewar;but
ifitbecompliedwith，theoffendersarecondemnedeitherto
deathorslavery。
Theywouldbebothtroubledandashamedofabloodyvictoryover
theirenemies，andthinkitwouldbeasfoolishapurchaseasto
buythemostvaluablegoodsattoohigharate。Andinnovictory
dotheyglorysomuchasinthatwhichisgainedbydexterityand
goodconduct，withoutbloodshed。Insuchcasestheyappointpublic
triumphs，anderecttrophiestothehonorofthosewhohave
succeeded;forthendotheyreckonthatamanactssuitablytohis
naturewhenheconquershisenemyinsuchawayasthatnoother
creaturebutamancouldbecapableof，andthatisbythe
strengthofhisunderstanding。Bears，lions，boars，wolves，and
dogs，andallotheranimalsemploytheirbodilyforceoneagainst
another，inwhichasmanyofthemaresuperiortomen，bothin
strengthandfierceness，sotheyareallsubduedbyhisreasonand
understanding。
TheonlydesignoftheUtopiansinwaristoobtainthatbyforce，
whichifithadbeengrantedthemintimewouldhavepreventedthe
war;orifthatcannotbedone，totakesoseverearevengeon
thosethathaveinjuredthemthattheymaybeterrifiedfromdoing
thelikeforthetimetocome。Bytheseendstheymeasureall
theirdesigns，andmanagethemsothatitisvisiblethatthe
appetiteoffameorvainglorydoesnotworksomuchonthemasa
justcareoftheirownsecurity。
Assoonastheydeclarewar，theytakecaretohaveagreatmany
schedules，thataresealedwiththeircommonseal，affixedinthe
mostconspicuousplacesoftheirenemies’country。Thisiscarried
secretly，anddoneinmanyplacesallatonce。Inthesethey
promisegreatrewardstosuchasshallkilltheprince，andlesser
inproportiontosuchasshallkillanyotherpersons，whoare
thoseonwhom，nexttotheprincehimself，theycastthechief
balanceofthewar。Andtheydoublethesumtohimthat，instead
ofkillingthepersonsomarkedout，shalltakehimaliveandput
himintheirhands。Theyoffernotonlyindemnity，butrewards，to
suchofthepersonsthemselvesthataresomarked，iftheywill
actagainsttheircountrymen;bythismeansthosethatarenamed
intheirschedulesbecomenotonlydistrustfuloftheirfellow-
citizensbutarejealousofoneanother，andaremuchdistracted
byfearanddanger;forithasoftenfallenoutthatmanyofthem，
andeventhePrincehimself，havebeenbetrayedbythoseinwhom
theyhavetrustedmost;fortherewardsthattheUtopiansoffer
aresounmeasurablygreat，thatthereisnosortofcrimetowhich
mencannotbedrawnbythem。Theyconsidertheriskthatthoserun
whoundertakesuchservices，andofferarecompenseproportioned
tothedanger;notonlyavastdealofgold，butgreatrevenuesin
lands，thatlieamongothernationsthataretheirfriends，where
theymaygoandenjoythemverysecurely;andtheyobservethe
promisestheymakeofthiskindmostreligiously。
Theyverymuchapproveofthiswayofcorruptingtheirenemies，
thoughitappearstootherstobebaseandcruel;buttheylookon
itasawisecourse，tomakeanendofwhatwouldbeotherwisea
longwar，withoutsomuchashazardingonebattletodecideit。
Theythinkitlikewiseanactofmercyandlovetomankindto
preventthegreatslaughterofthosethatmustotherwisebekilled
intheprogressofthewar，bothontheirownsideandonthatof
theirenemies，bythedeathofafewthataremostguilty;and
thatinsodoingtheyarekindeventotheirenemies，andpity
themnolessthantheirownpeople，asknowingthatthegreater
partofthemdonotengageinthe，waroftheirownaccord，but
aredrivenintoitbythepassionsoftheirprince。
Ifthismethoddoesnotsucceedwiththem，thentheysowseedsof
contentionamongtheirenemies，andanimatetheprince’sbrother，
orsomeofthenobility，toaspiretothecrown。Iftheycannot
disunitethembydomesticbroils，thentheyengagetheirneighbors
againstthem，andmakethemsetonfootsomeoldpretensions，
whichareneverwantingtoprinceswhentheyhaveoccasionfor
them。Thesetheyplentifullysupplywithmoney，thoughbutvery
sparinglywithanyauxiliarytroops：fortheyaresotenderof
theirownpeople，thattheywouldnotwillinglyexchangeoneof
them，evenwiththeprinceoftheirenemies’country。
Butastheykeeptheirgoldandsilveronlyforsuchanoccasion，
sowhenthatoffersitselftheyeasilypartwithit，sinceit
wouldbenoinconveniencetothemthoughtheyshouldreserve
nothingofittothemselves。Forbesidesthewealththattheyhave
amongthemathome，theyhaveavasttreasureabroad，manynations
roundaboutthembeingdeepintheirdebt：sothattheyhire
soldiersfromallplacesforcarryingontheirwars，butchiefly
fromtheZapolets，wholive500mileseastofUtopia。Theyarea
rude，wild，andfiercenation，whodelightinthewoodsandrocks，
amongwhichtheywerebornandbredup。Theyarehardenedboth
againstheat，cold，andlabor，andknownothingofthedelicacies
oflife。Theydonotapplythemselvestoagriculture，nordothey
careeitherfortheirhousesortheirclothes。Cattleisallthat
theylookafter;andforthegreatestparttheyliveeitherby
hunting，oruponrapine;andaremade，asitwere，onlyforwar。
Theywatchallopportunitiesofengaginginit，andveryreadily
embracesuchasareofferedthem。Greatnumbersofthemwill
frequentlygoout，andofferthemselvesforaverylowpay，to
serveanythatwillemploythem：theyknownoneoftheartsof
life，butthosethatleadtothetakingitaway;theyservethose
thathirethem，bothwithmuchcourageandgreatfidelity;but
willnotengagetoserveforanydeterminedtime，andagreeupon
suchterms，thatthenextdaytheymaygoovertotheenemiesof
thosewhomtheyserve，iftheyofferthemagreaterencouragement：
andwillperhapsreturntothemthedayafterthat，uponahigher
advanceoftheirpay。
Therearefewwarsinwhichtheymakenotaconsiderablepartof
thearmiesofbothsides：soitoftenfallsoutthattheywhoare
related，andwerehiredinthesamecountry，andsohavelived
longandfamiliarlytogether，forgettingboththeirrelationsand
formerfriendship，killoneanotheruponnootherconsideration
thanthatofbeinghiredtoitforalittlemoney，byprincesof
differentinterests;andsucharegardhavetheyformoney，that
theyareeasilywroughtonbythedifferenceofonepennyadayto
changesides。Soentirelydoestheiravariceinfluencethem;and
yetthismoney，whichtheyvaluesohighly，isoflittleuseto
them;forwhattheypurchasethuswiththeirblood，theyquickly
wasteonluxury，whichamongthemisbutofapoorandmiserable
form。
ThisnationservestheUtopiansagainstallpeoplewhatsoever，for
theypayhigherthananyother。TheUtopiansholdthisfora
maxim，thatastheyseekoutthebestsortofmenfortheirown
useathome，sotheymakeuseofthisworstsortofmenforthe
consumptionofwar，andthereforetheyhirethemwiththeoffers
ofvastrewards，toexposethemselvestoallsortsofhazards，out
ofwhichthegreaterpartneverreturnstoclaimtheirpromises。
Yettheymakethemgoodmostreligiouslytosuchasescape。This
animatesthemtoadventureagain，wheneverthereisoccasionfor
it;fortheUtopiansarenotatalltroubledhowmanyofthese
happentobekilled，andreckonitaservicedonetomankindif
theycouldbeameanstodelivertheworldfromsuchalewdand
vicioussortofpeople;thatseemtohaveruntogetherastothe
drainofhumannature。Nexttothesetheyareservedintheirwars
withthoseuponwhoseaccounttheyundertakethem，andwiththe
auxiliarytroopsoftheirotherfriends，towhomtheyjoinafew
oftheirownpeople，andsendsomemenofeminentandapproved
virtuetocommandinchief。Therearetwosentwithhim，who
duringhiscommandarebutprivatemen，butthefirstisto
succeedhimifheshouldhappentobeeitherkilledortaken;and
incaseofthelikemisfortunetohim，thethirdcomesinhis
place;andthustheyprovideagainstillevents，thatsuch
accidentsasmaybefalltheirgeneralsmaynotendangertheir
armies。
Whentheydrawouttroopsoftheirownpeople，theytakesuchout
ofeverycityasfreelyofferthemselves，fornoneareforcedto
goagainsttheirwills，sincetheythinkthatifanymanis
pressedthatwantscourage，hewillnotonlyactfaintly，butby
hiscowardicedisheartenothers。Butifaninvasionismadeon
theircountrytheymakeuseofsuchmen，iftheyhavegoodbodies，
thoughtheyarenotbrave;andeitherputthemaboardtheirships
orplacethemonthewallsoftheirtowns，thatbeingsoposted
theymayfindnoopportunityofflyingaway;andthuseither
shame，theheatofaction，ortheimpossibilityofflying，bears
downtheircowardice;theyoftenmakeavirtueofnecessityand
behavethemselveswell，becausenothingelseisleftthem。Butas
theyforcenomantogointoanyforeignwaragainsthiswill，so
theydonothinderthosewomenwhoarewillingtogoalongwith
theirhusbands;onthecontrary，theyencourageandpraisethem，
andtheystandoftennexttheirhusbandsinthefrontofthearmy。
Theyalsoplacetogetherthosewhoarerelated，parentsand
children，kindred，andthosethataremutuallyallied，nearone
another;thatthosewhomnaturehasinspiredwiththegreatest
zealforassistingoneanother，maybethenearestandreadiestto
doit;anditismatterofgreatreproachifhusbandorwife
surviveoneanother，orifachildsurviveshisparents，and
thereforewhentheycometobeengagedinactiontheycontinueto
fighttothelastman，iftheirenemiesstandbeforethem。
Andastheyuseallprudentmethodstoavoidtheendangeringtheir
ownmen，andifitispossibleletalltheactionanddangerfall
uponthetroopsthattheyhire，soifitbecomesnecessaryfor
themselvestoengage，theythenchargewithasmuchcourageas
theyavoideditbeforewithprudence：norisitafiercechargeat
first，butitincreasesbydegrees;andastheycontinuein
action，theygrowmoreobstinateandpressharderupontheenemy，
insomuchthattheywillmuchsoonerdiethangiveground;forthe
certaintythattheirchildrenwillbewelllookedafterwhenthey
aredead，freesthemfromallthatanxietyconcerningthemwhich
oftenmastersmenofgreatcourage;andthustheyareanimatedby
anobleandinvincibleresolution。Theirskillinmilitaryaffairs
increasestheircourage;andthewisesentimentswhich，according
tothelawsoftheircountry，areinstilledintothemintheir
education，giveadditionalvigortotheirminds：forastheydo
notundervaluelifesoasprodigallytothrowitaway，theyare
notsoindecentlyfondofitastopreserveitbybaseand
unbecomingmethods。Inthegreatestheatofaction，thebravestof
theiryouth，whohavedevotedthemselvestothatservice，single
outthegeneraloftheirenemies，setonhimeitheropenlyorby
ambuscade，pursuehimeverywhere，andwhenspentandweariedout，
arerelievedbyothers，whonevergiveoverthepursuit;either
attackinghimwithcloseweaponswhentheycangetnearhim，or
withthosewhichwoundatadistance，whenothersgetinbetween
them;sothatunlesshesecureshimselfbyflight，theyseldom
failatlasttokillortotakehimprisoner。
Whentheyhaveobtainedavictory，theykillasfewaspossible，
andaremuchmorebentontakingmanyprisonersthanonkilling
thosethatflybeforethem;nordotheyeverlettheirmenso
looseinthepursuitoftheirenemies，asnottoretainanentire
bodystillinorder;sothatiftheyhavebeenforcedtoengage
thelastoftheirbattalionsbeforetheycouldgaintheday，they
willratherlettheirenemiesallescapethanpursuethem，when
theirownarmyisindisorder;rememberingwellwhathasoften
fallenouttothemselves，thatwhenthemainbodyoftheirarmy
hasbeenquitedefeatedandbroken，whentheirenemiesimagining
thevictoryobtained，haveletthemselveslooseintoanirregular
pursuit，afewofthemthatlayforareserve，waitingafit
opportunity，havefallenonthemintheirchase，andwhen
stragglingindisorderandapprehensiveofnodanger，butcounting
thedaytheirown，haveturnedthewholeaction，andwrestlingout
oftheirhandsavictorythatseemedcertainandundoubted，while
thevanquishedhavesuddenlybecomevictorious。
Itishardtotellwhethertheyaremoredexterousinlayingor
avoidingambushes。Theysometimesseemtoflywhenitisfarfrom
theirthoughts;andwhentheyintendtogiveground，theydoitso
thatitisveryhardtofindouttheirdesign。Iftheyseethey
areillposted，orareliketobeoverpoweredbynumbers，they
theneithermarchoffinthenightwithgreatsilence，orbysome
stratagemdeludetheirenemies：iftheyretireinthedaytime，
theydoitinsuchorder，thatitisnolessdangeroustofall
upontheminaretreatthaninamarch。Theyfortifytheircamps
withadeepandlargetrench，andthrowuptheearththatisdug
outofitforawall;nordotheyemployonlytheirslavesin
this，butthewholearmyworksatit，exceptthosethatarethen
upontheguard;sothatwhensomanyhandsareatwork，agreat
lineandastrongfortificationarefinishedinsoshortatime
thatitisscarcecredible。Theirarmorisverystrongfor
defence，andyetisnotsoheavyastomakethemuneasyintheir
marches;theycanevenswimwithit。Allthataretrainedupto
warpracticeswimming。Bothhorseandfootmakegreatuseof
arrows，andareveryexpert。Theyhavenoswords，butfightwitha
pole-axethatisbothsharpandheavy，bywhichtheythrustor
strikedownanenemy。Theyareverygoodatfindingoutwarlike
machines，anddisguisethemsowell，thattheenemydoesnot
perceivethemtillhefeelstheuseofthem;sothathecannot
preparesuchadefenceaswouldrenderthemuseless;thechief
considerationhadinthemakingthemisthattheymaybeeasily
carriedandmanaged。
Iftheyagreetoatruce，theyobserveitsoreligiouslythatno
provocationswillmakethembreakit。Theyneverlaytheir
enemies’countrywastenorburntheircorn，andevenintheir
marchestheytakeallpossiblecarethatneitherhorsenorfoot
maytreaditdown，fortheydonotknowbutthattheymayhaveuse
forit-themselves。Theyhurtnomanwhomtheyfinddisarmed，
unlessheisaspy。Whenatownissurrenderedtothem，theytake
itintotheirprotection;andwhentheycarryaplacebystorm，
theyneverplunderit，butputthoseonlytotheswordthat
opposedtherenderingofitup，andmaketherestofthegarrison
slaves，butfortheotherinhabitants，theydothemnohurt;and
ifanyofthemhadadvisedasurrender，theygivethemgood
rewardsoutoftheestatesofthosethattheycondemn，and
distributetherestamongtheirauxiliarytroops，butthey
themselvestakenoshareofthespoil。
Whenawarisended，theydonotobligetheirfriendstoreimburse
theirexpenses;buttheyobtainthemoftheconquered，eitherin
money，whichtheykeepforthenextoccasion，orinlands，outof
whichaconstantrevenueistobepaidthem;bymanyincreases，
therevenuewhichtheydrawoutfromseveralcountriesonsuch
occasions，isnowrisentoabove700，000ducatsayear。Theysend
someoftheirownpeopletoreceivetheserevenues，whohave
orderstolivemagnificently，andlikeprinces，bywhichmeans
theyconsumemuchofitupontheplace;andeitherbringoverthe
resttoUtopia，orlendittothatnationinwhichitlies。This
theymostcommonlydo，unlesssomegreatoccasion，whichfallsout
butveryseldom，shouldobligethemtocallforitall。Itisout
oftheselandsthattheyassignrewardstosuchastheyencourage
toadventureondesperateattempts。Ifanyprincethatengagesin
warwiththemismakingpreparationsforinvadingtheircountry，
theypreventhim，andmakehiscountrytheseatofthewar;for
theydonotwillinglysufferanywartobreakinupontheir
island;andifthatshouldhappen，theywouldonlydefend
themselvesbytheirownpeople，butwouldnotcallforauxiliary
troopstotheirassistance。