第 4 节
作者:北方刷刷      更新:2021-02-19 21:02      字数:9322
  beautiful she may be; however young; however abounding in wealth; a
  husband she can never find。 In truth; nobody turns vices into mirth
  there; nor is the practice of corrupting and of yielding to
  corruption; called the custom of the Age。 Better still do those
  communities; in which none but virgins marry; and where to a single
  marriage all their views and inclinations are at once confined。 Thus;
  as they have but one body and one life; they take but one husband;
  that beyond him they may have no thought; no further wishes; nor love
  him only as their husband but as their marriage。 To restrain
  generation and the increase of children; is esteemed an abominable
  sin; as also to kill infants newly born。 And more powerful with them
  are good manners; than with other people are good laws。
  In all their houses the children are reared naked and nasty; and thus
  grow into those limbs; into that bulk; which with marvel we behold。
  They are all nourished with the milk of their own mothers; and never
  surrendered to handmaids and nurses。 The lord you cannot discern from
  the slave; by any superior delicacy in rearing。 Amongst the same
  cattle they promiscuously live; upon the same ground they without
  distinction lie; till at a proper age the free…born are parted from
  the rest; and their bravery recommend them to notice。 Slow and late do
  the young men come to the use of women; and thus very long preserve
  the vigour of youth。 Neither are the virgins hastened to wed。 They
  must both have the same sprightly youth; the like stature; and marry
  when equal and able…bodied。 Thus the robustness of the parents is
  inherited by the children。 Children are holden in the same estimation
  with their mother's brother; as with their father。 Some hold this tie
  of blood to be most inviolable and binding; and in receiving of
  hostages; such pledges are most considered and claimed; as they who at
  once possess affections the most unalienable; and the most diffuse
  interest in their family。 To every man; however; his own children are
  heirs and successors: wills they make none: for want of children his
  next akin inherits; his own brothers; those of his father; or those of
  his mother。 To ancient men; the more they abound in descendants; in
  relations and affinities; so much the more favour and reverence
  accrues。 From being childless; no advantage nor estimation is derived。
  All the enmities of your house; whether of your father or of your
  kindred; you must necessarily adopt; as well as all their friendships。
  Neither are such enmities unappeasable and permanent: since even for
  so great a crime as homicide; compensation is made by a fixed number
  of sheep and cattle; and by it the whole family is pacified to
  content。 A temper this; wholesome to the State; because to a free
  nation; animosities and faction are always more menacing and perilous。
  In social feasts; and deeds of hospitality; no nation upon earth was
  ever more liberal and abounding。 To refuse admitting under your roof
  any man whatsoever; is held wicked and inhuman。 Every man receives
  every comer; and treats him with repasts as large as his ability can
  possibly furnish。 When the whole stock is consumed; he who has treated
  so hospitably guides and accompanies his guest to the next house;
  though neither of them invited。 Nor avails it; that they were not;
  they are there received; with the same frankness and humanity。 Between
  a stranger and an acquaintance; in dispensing the rules and benefits
  of hospitality; no difference is made。 Upon your departure; if you ask
  anything; it is the custom to grant it; and with the same facility;
  they ask of you。 In gifts they delight; but neither claim merit from
  what they give; nor own any obligation for what they receive。 Their
  manner of entertaining their guests is familiar and kind。
  The moment they rise from sleep; which they generally prolong till
  late in the day; they bathe; most frequently in warm water; as in a
  country where the winter is very long and severe。 From bathing; they
  sit down to meat; every man apart; upon a particular seat; and at a
  separate table。 They then proceed to their affairs; all in arms; as in
  arms; they no less frequently go to banquet。 To continue drinking
  night and day without intermission; is a reproach to no man。 Frequent
  then are their broils; as usual amongst men intoxicated with liquor;
  and such broils rarely terminate in angry words; but for the most part
  in maimings and slaughter。 Moreover in these their feasts; they
  generally deliberate about reconciling parties at enmity; about
  forming affinities; choosing of Princes; and finally about peace and
  war。 For they judge; that at no season is the soul more open to
  thoughts that are artless and upright; or more fired with such as are
  great and bold。 This people; of themselves nowise subtile or politic;
  from the freedom of the place and occasion acquire still more
  frankness to disclose the most secret motions and purposes of their
  hearts。 When therefore the minds of all have been once laid open and
  declared; on the day following the several sentiments are revised and
  canvassed; and to both conjectures of time; due regard is had。 They
  consult; when they know not how to dissemble; they determine; when
  they cannot mistake。
  For their drink; they draw a liquor from barley or other grain; and
  ferment the same so as to make it resemble wine。 Nay; they who dwell
  upon the bank of the Rhine deal in wine。 Their food is very simple;
  wild fruit; fresh venison; or coagulated milk。 They banish hunger
  without formality; without curious dressing and curious fare。 In
  extinguishing thirst; they use not equal temperance。 If you will but
  humour their excess in drinking; and supply them with as much as they
  covet; it will be no less easy to vanquish them by vices than by arms。
  Of public diversions they have but one sort; and in all their meetings
  the same is still exhibited。 Young men; such as make it their pastime;
  fling themselves naked and dance amongst sharp swords and the deadly
  points of javelins。 From habit they acquire their skill; and from
  their skill a graceful manner; yet from hence draw no gain or hire:
  though this adventurous gaiety has its reward; namely; that of
  pleasing the spectators。 What is marvellous; playing at dice is one of
  their most serious employments; and even sober; they are gamesters:
  nay; so desperately do they venture upon the chance of winning or
  losing; that when their whole substance is played away; they stake
  their liberty and their persons upon one and the last throw。 The loser
  goes calmly into voluntary bondage。 However younger he be; however
  stronger; he tamely suffers himself to be bound and sold by the
  winner。 Such is their perseverance in an evil course: they themselves
  call it honour。
  Slaves of this class; they exchange in commerce; to free themselves
  too from the shame of such a victory。 Of their other slaves they make
  not such use as we do of ours; by distributing amongst them the
  several offices and employments of the family。 Each of them has a
  dwelling of his own; each a household to govern。 His lord uses him
  like a tenant; and obliges him to pay a quantity of grain; or of
  cattle; or of cloth。 Thus far only the subserviency of the slave
  extends。 All the other duties in a family; not the slaves; but the
  wives and children discharge。 To inflict stripes upon a slave; or to
  put him in chains; or to doom him to severe labour; are things rarely
  seen。 To kill them they sometimes are wont; not through correction or
  government; but in heat and rage; as they would an enemy; save that no
  vengeance or penalty follows。 The freedmen very little surpass the
  slaves; rarely are of moment in the house; in the community never;
  excepting only such nations where arbitrary dominion prevails。 For
  there they bear higher sway than the free…born; nay; higher than the
  nobles。 In other countries the inferior condition of freedmen is a
  proof of public liberty。
  To the practice of usury and of increasing money by interest; they are
  strangers; and hence is found a better guard against it; than if it
  were forbidden。 They shift from land to land; and; still appropriating
  a portion suitable to the number of hands for manuring; anon parcel
  out the whole amongst particulars according to the condition and
  quality of each。 As the plains are very spacious; the allotments are
  easily assigned。 Every year they change; and cultivate a fresh soil;
  yet still there is ground to spare。 For they strive not to bestow
  labour proportionable to the fertility and compass of their lands; by
  planting orchards; by enclosing meadows; by watering gardens。 From the
  earth; corn only is extracted。 Hence they quarter not the year into so
  many seasons。 Winter; Spring; and Summer; they understand; and for
  each have proper appellations。 Of the name and blessings of Autumn;
  they are equally ignorant。
  In performing their funerals; they show no state or vainglory。 This
  only is carefully observed; that with the corpses of their signal men
  certain woods be burned。 Upon the funeral pile they accumulate neither
  apparel nor perfumes。 Into the fire; are always thrown the arms of the
  dead; and sometimes his horse。 With sods o