more2-6-第2节
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！
esteem the loss of a penny。 They find pearls on their coast； and
diamonds and carbuncles on their rocks； they do not look after
them； but； if they find them by chance； they polish them； and with
them they adorn their children； who are delighted with them； and
glory in them during their childhood； but when they grow to years；
and see that none but children use such baubles； they of their own
accord； without being bid by their parents； lay them aside； and
would be as much ashamed to use them afterward as children among
us； when they come to years； are of their puppets and other toys。
I never saw a clearer instance of the opposite impressions that
different customs make on people； than I observed in the
ambassadors of the Anemolians； who came to Amaurot when I was
there。 As they came to treat of affairs of great consequence； the
deputies from several towns met together to wait for their coming。
The ambassadors of the nations that lie near Utopia； knowing their
customs； and that fine clothes are in no esteem among them； that
silk is despised； and gold is a badge of infamy； used to come very
modestly clothed； but the Anemolians； lying more remote； and
having had little commerce with them； understanding that they were
coarsely clothed； and all in the same manner； took it for granted
that they had none of those fine things among them of which they
made no use； and they being a vainglorious rather than a wise
people； resolved to set themselves out with so much pomp； that
they should look like gods； and strike the eyes of the poor
Utopians with their splendor。 Thus three ambassadors made their
entry with 100 attendants； all clad in garments of different
colors； and the greater part in silk； the ambassadors themselves；
who were of the nobility of their country； were in cloth…of…gold；
and adorned with massy chains； ear…rings； and rings of gold： their
caps were covered with bracelets set full of pearls and other
gems： in a word； they were set out with all those things that；
among the Utopians； were the badges of slavery； the marks of
infamy； or the playthings of children。
It was not unpleasant to see； on the one side； how they looked
big； when they compared their rich habits with the plain clothes
of the Utopians； who were come out in great numbers to see them
make their entry： and； on the other； to observe how much they were
mistaken in the impression which they hoped this pomp would have
made on them。 It appeared so ridiculous a show to all that had
never stirred out of their country； and had not seen the customs
of other nations； that though they paid some reverence to those
that were the most meanly clad； as if they had been the
ambassadors； yet when they saw the ambassadors themselves； so full
of gold and chains； they looked upon them as slaves； and forbore
to treat them with reverence。 You might have seen the children；
who were grown big enough to despise their playthings； and who had
thrown away their jewels； call to their mothers； push them gently；
and cry out； 〃See that great fool that wears pearls and gems； as
if he were yet a child。〃 While their mothers very innocently
replied； 〃Hold your peace； this； I believe； is one of the
ambassador's fools。〃 Others censured the fashion of their chains；
and observed that they were of no use； for they were too slight to
bind their slaves； who could easily break them； and besides hung
so loose about them that they thought it easy to throw them away；
and so get from them。
But after the ambassadors had stayed a day among them； and saw so
vast a quantity of gold in their houses； which was as much
despised by them as it was esteemed in other nations； and beheld
more gold and silver in the chains and fetters of one slave than
all their ornaments amounted to； their plumes fell； and they were
ashamed of all that glory for which they had formerly valued
themselves； and accordingly laid it aside； a resolution that they
immediately took； when on their engaging in some free discourse
with the Utopians； they discovered their sense of such things and
their other customs。 The Utopians wonder how any man should be so
much taken with the glaring doubtful lustre of a jewel or a stone；
that can look up to a star or to the sun himself； or how any
should value himself because his cloth is made of a finer thread：
for how fine soever that thread may be； it was once no better than
the fleece of a sheep； and that sheep was a sheep still for all
its wearing it。 They wonder much to hear that gold which in itself
is so useless a thing； should be everywhere so much esteemed； that
even men for whom it was made； and by whom it has its value；
should yet be thought of less value than this metal。 That a man of
lead； who has no more sense than a log of wood； and is as bad as
he is foolish； should have many wise and good men to serve him；
only because he has a great heap of that metal； and that if it
should happen that by some accident or trick of law （which
sometimes produces as great changes as chance itself） all this
wealth should pass from the master to the meanest varlet of his
whole family； he himself would very soon become one of his
servants； as if he were a thing that belonged to his wealth； and
so were bound to follow its fortune。 But they much more admire and
detest the folly of those who； when they see a rich man； though
they neither owe him anything nor are in any sort dependent on his
bounty； yet merely because he is rich give him little less than
divine honors； even though they know him to be so covetous and
base…minded that notwithstanding all his wealth he will not part
with one farthing of it to them as long as he lives。
These and such like notions has that people imbibed； partly from
their education； being bred in a country whose customs and laws
are opposite to all such foolish maxims； and partly from their
learning and studies； for though there are but few in any town
that are so wholly excused from labor as to give themselves
entirely up to their studies； these being only such persons as
discover from their childhood an extraordinary capacity and
disposition for letters； yet their children； and a great part of
the nation； both men and women； are taught to spend those hours in
which they are not obliged to work； in reading： and this they do
through the whole progress of life。 They have all their learning
in their own tongue； which is both a copious and pleasant
language； and in which a man can fully express his mind。 It runs
over a great tract of many countries； but it is not equally pure
in all places。 They had never so much as heard of the names of any
of those philosophers that are so famous in these parts of the
world； before we went among them； and yet they had made the same
discoveries as the Greeks； in music； logic； arithmetic； and
geometry。 But as they are almost in everything equal to the
ancient philosophers； so they far exceed our modern logicians； for
they have never yet fallen upon the barbarous niceties that our
youth are forced to learn in those trifling logical schools that
are among us； they are so far from minding chimeras； and
fantastical images made in the mind； that none of them could
comprehend what we meant when we talked to them of man in the
abstract； as common to all men in particular （so that though we
spoke of him as a thing that we could point at with our fingers；
yet none of them could perceive him）； and yet distinct from
everyone； as if he were some monstrous Colossus or giant。
Yet for all this ignorance of these empty notions； they knew
astronomy； and were perfectly acquainted with the motions of the
heavenly bodies； and have many instruments； well contrived and
divided； by which they very accurately compute the course and
positions of the sun； moon； and stars。 But for the cheat； of
divining by the stars
