and motions of each； expressed separately in three little verses。
On the interior wall of the first circuit all the mathematical
figures are conspicuously painted figures more in number
than Archimedes or Euclid discovered； marked symmetrically；
and with the explanation of them neatly written and contained
each in a little verse。 There are definitions and propositions；
etc。 On the exterior convex wall is first an immense drawing
of the whole earth； given at one view。 Following upon this；
there are tablets setting forth for every separate country the
customs both public and private； the laws； the origins and the
power of the inhabitants； and the alphabets the different people
use can be seen above that of the City of the Sun。
On the inside of the second circuit； that is to say of the second
ring of buildings； paintings of all kinds of precious and com…
mon stones； of minerals and metals； are seen； and a little piece
of the metal itself is also there with an apposite explanation
in two small verses for each metal or stone。 On the outside
are marked all the seas； rivers； lakes； and streams which are
on the face of the earth； as are also the wines and the oils and
the different liquids； with the sources from which the last are
extracted； their qualities and strength。 There are also vessels
built into the wall above the arches； and these are full of liquids
from one to 300 years old； which cure all diseases。 Hail and
snow； storms and thunder； and whatever else takes place in the
air； are represented with suitable figures and little verses。 The
inhabitants even have the art of representing in stone all the
phenomena of the air； such as the wind； rain； thunder； the rain…
bow； etc。
On the interior of the third circuit all the different families
of trees and herbs are depicted； and there is a live specimen of
each plant in earthenware vessels placed upon the outer parti…
tion of the arches。 With the specimens there are explanations
as to where they were first found； what are their powers and
natures； and resemblances to celestial things and to metals； to
parts of the human body and to things in the sea； and also as
to their uses in medicine； etc。 On the exterior wall are all the
races of fish found in rivers； lakes； and seas； and their habits
and values； and ways of breeding； training； and living； the pur…
poses for which they exist in the world； and their uses to man。
Further； their resemblances to celestial and terrestrial things；
produced both by nature and art； are so given that I was as…
tonished when I saw a fish which was like a bishop； one like a
chain； another like a garment； a fourth like a nail； a fifth like
a star； and others like images of those things existing among
us； the relation in each case being completely manifest。 There
are sea…urchins to be seen； and the purple shell…fish and mus…
sels； and whatever the watery world possesses worthy of being
known is there fully shown in marvellous characters of paint…
ing and drawing。
On the fourth interior wall all the different kinds of birds are
painted； with their natures； sizes； customs； colors； manner of
living； etc。； and the only real phoenix is possessed by the inhabi…
tants of this city。 On the exterior are shown all the races of
creeping animals； serpents； dragons； and worms； the insects；
the flies； gnats； beetles； etc。； in their different states； strength；
venoms； and uses； and a great deal more than you or I can think
of。
On the fifth interior they have all the larger animals of the
earth； as many in number as would astonish you。 We indeed
know not the thousandth part of them； for on the exterior wall
also a great many of immense size are also portrayed。 To be
sure； of horses alone； how great a number of breeds there is and
how beautiful are the forms there cleverly displayed！
On the sixth interior are painted all the mechanical arts； with
the several instruments for each and their manner of use among
different nations。 Alongside； the dignity of such is placed； and
their several inventors are named。 But on the exterior all the
inventors in science； in warfare； and in law are represented。
There I saw Moses； Osiris； Jupiter； Mercury； Lycurgus； Pom…
pilius； Pythagoras； Zamolxis； Solon； Charondas； Phoroneus；
with very many others。 They even have Mahomet； whom
nevertheless they hate as a false and sordid legislator。 In the
most dignified position I saw a representation of Jesus Christ
and of the twelve Apostles； whom they consider very worthy
and hold to be great。 Of the representations of men； I per…
ceived Caesar； Alexander； Pyrrhus； and Hannibal in the high…
est place； and other very renowned heroes in peace and war；
especially Roman heroes； were painted in lower positions； under
the galleries。 And when I asked with astonishment whence
they had obtained our history； they told me that among them
there was a knowledge of all languages； and that by persever…
ance they continually send explorers and ambassadors over the
whole earth； who learn thoroughly the customs； forces； rule and
histories of the nations； bad and good alike。 These they apply
all to their own republic； and with this they are well pleased。
I learned that cannon and typography were invented by the
Chinese before we knew of them。 There are magistrates who
announce the meaning of the pictures； and boys are accustomed
to learn all the sciences； without toil and as if for pleasure； but
in the way of history only until they are ten years old。
Love is foremost in attending to the charge of the race。 He
sees that men and women are so joined together； that they bring
forth the best offspring。 Indeed； they laugh at us who exhibit
a studious care for our breed of horses and dogs； but neglect
the breeding of human beings。 Thus the education of the chil…
dren is under his rule。 So also is the medicine that is sold； the
sowing and collecting of fruits of the earth and of trees； agri…
culture； pasturage； the preparations for the months； the cook…
ing arrangements； and whatever has any reference to food；
clothing； and the intercourse of the sexes。 Love himself is
ruler； but there are many male and female magistrates dedi…
cated to these arts。
Metaphysic； then； with these three rulers； manages all the
above…named matters； and even by himself alone nothing is
done； all business is discharged by the four together； but in
whatever Metaphysic inclines to the rest are sure to agree。
G。M。 Tell me； please； of the magistrates； their services and
duties； of the education and mode of living； whether the gov…
ernment is a monarchy； a republic； or an aristocracy。
Capt。 This race of men came there from India； flying from
the sword of the Magi； a race of plunderers and tyrants who
laid waste their country； and they determined to lead a philo…
sophic life in fellowship with one another。 Although the com…
munity of wives is not instituted among the other inhabitants
of their province； among them it is in use after this manner：
All things are common with them； and their dispensation is by
the authority of the magistrates。 Arts and honors and pleas…
ures are common； and are held in such a manner that no one
can appropriate anything to himself。
They say that all private property is acquired and improved
for the reason that each one of us by himself has his own home
and wife and children。 From this； self…love springs。 For
when we raise a son to riches and dignities； and leave an heir to
much wealth； we become either ready to grasp at the property of
the State； if in any case fear should be removed from the power
which belongs to riches and rank； or avaricious； crafty； and
hypocritical； if anyone is of slender purse； little strength； and
mean ancestry。 But when we have taken away self…love； there
remains only love for the State。
G。M。 Under such circumstances no one will be willing to
labor； while he expects others to work； on the fruit of whose
labors he can live； as Aristotle argues against Plato。
Capt。 I do not know how to deal with that argument； but
I declare to you that they burn with so great a love for their
fatherland； as I could scarcely have believed possible； and in…
deed with much more than the histories tell us belonged to the
Romans； who fell willingly for their country； inasmuch as they
have to a greater extent surrendered their private property。
I think truly that the friars and monks and clergy of our coun…
try； if they were not weakened by love for their kindred and
friends or by the ambition to rise to higher dignities； would be
less fond of property； and more imbued with a spirit of charity
toward all； as it was in the time of the apostles； and is now in a
great many cases。
G。M。 St。 Augustine may say that； but I say that among this
race of men； friendship is worth nothing； since they have not
the chance of conferring mutual benefits on one another。
Capt。 Nay； indeed。 For it is worth the trouble to see that
no one can receive gifts from another。 Whatever is necessary
they have； they receive it from the community； and the magis…
trate takes care that no one receives more than he des