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trates of arms； of artillery； of cavalry； of foot…soldiers； 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 unmixed altogether；
and that one is punished most severely who shows any fear。
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 honorably； and then the
teacher answers and says who are right。
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
the spade and the axe。
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 oak…leaves； he who
kills a tyrant dedicates his arms in the temple and receives from
Hoh the cognomen of his deed； and other warriors obtain other
kinds of crowns。
Every horse…soldier 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 light…armed 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