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！
The City of the Sun
by Tommaso Campanells
A Poetical Dialogue between a Grandmaster of the Knights
Hospitallers and a Genoese Sea…Captain； his guest。
G。M。 Prithee； now； tell me what happened to you during
that voyage？
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。
G。M。 And what befell you here？
Capt。 I came upon a large crowd of men and armed women；
many of whom did not understand our language； and they con…
ducted me forthwith to the City of the Sun。
G。M。 Tell me after what plan this city is built and how it
is governed。
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 and so well fortified
is it with breastworks； towers； guns； and ditches。
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 well…shaped 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 level plain。
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。
G。M。 Tell on； I pray you！ Tell on！ I am dying to hear
more。
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 seven planets。
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 forty…nine。
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 thirty…six； 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 written with letters of gold。
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 workmen connected with matters of this sort。
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 of each； expressed separately in