按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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