Chapter 3 "Utopia" Part 1-1

Speech of the distinguished man Raphael Hissrad on the ideal prosperity of a certain country, retold by Thomas More, the Citizen and Sheriff of London, a well-known British city, and a well-known person The invincible King Henry VIII of England, renown for having all the qualities of an exemplary monarch, has lately had a dispute with His Royal Highness Charles, King of Castile, on some important points. In order to consult and obtain Reconciliation, the King sent me to Flanders, accompanied by the unique Cuthbert Tunstall, who was recently appointed Judge of the Record by the King, to everyone's delight. I do not I intend to say something to compliment him. This is not because I am afraid that the testimony of a friend will not be trusted, but because his integrity and learning are far beyond my praise, and are well known, and need no praise from me. Unless I want to give people Such an impression, as the saying goes, shine a lantern on the sun!

According to prior arrangements, the people (all extraordinary talents) appointed by the King of Castile to deal with this project received us in Bruges. The central speaker of all was Tancis, the rector of Gasser, eloquent and endowed, and well versed in the law, a diplomatic negotiator, gifted in this field, and many years of experience. At one or two conferences we could not agree on several points. So they bid us farewell for a few days and went to Brussels to hear the official opinion of their King. Meanwhile I went to Antwerp on business. I stayed at During the time of the city there was one Peter Giles, one of the many visitors, and the most popular of them all. A native born, a man of honor, yet deserving of the greatest Exalted position, because he was young and excellent both in learning and character. He was very virtuous and well-bred, courteous to all people, open-minded, loving and loyal to friends, and therefore, cannot be found anywhere. I would never have thought of a man or two who, in all respects, could be called perfect friends like him. He was extraordinarily humble, more unaffected than anyone else, more innocent and wise than anyone else. Prudence. Besides, his conversation is gentle and humorous without displeasing the listener. So, when I am happy with him and have a pleasant conversation, my nostalgia for the country is much lost, and I am not as conscious as I was before. Separation from my family, from my wife and children, I have been away from them for more than four months, how eager I was to return to them. One day, I was worshiping in Notre Dame Cathedral, which is the most beautiful and crowded building in the city Church. I was going back to the house after the service, when I happened to see Peter talking to a stranger, an elderly man with a tanned face and a long beard, and a cloak that he didn't care about. On his shoulders. From his appearance and clothes, I could tell he looked like a captain of a ship. As soon as Peter saw me, he came up to greet me. As I was about to return my greetings, he took me aside and pointed to the The man he was talking to asked me, "Did you see that man? I'm going to take him to you right away."

"You're very welcome," I said, "for your sake." "No," said he, "for his sake, if you knew him. There is no other man in the present day who can make such reports on strange peoples and countries, and I understand that this is the subject you are eager to hear. .” "Well, then," said I, "I guessed well. As soon as I saw him, I decided he was the captain of the ship." "But you are quite mistaken," said he, "for his voyage was not like that of Balineuras, but like that of Odysseus, or rather like Plato. This Raphael— That was his name, and his name was Hislad—not only Latin, but Greek as well. He studied Greek more deeply than Latin, for he devoted himself to philosophy, and he He felt that, apart from some treatises of Seneca ④ and Cicero ⑤, Latin lacked valuable things about the science of philosophy. is Portuguese)

, he joined Amerigo Vespucci and his party as his companions on the last three of his four voyages, and always followed Vespucci. Everyone has read about these four voyages. He begged and even threatened Vespucci to agree to be one of the twenty-four who remained at the fort at the end of the fourth voyage. So he stayed, free to do as he pleased: he was more enthusiastic about Wandering, he would rather give up life and death. He has two old sayings: 'There is no coffin after death, and the blue sky is the cover', and 'The road to heaven is the same everywhere.' If not for God's blessing, his kind Attitude would have made him suffer. But since Vespucci's departure he has sailed through many countries with five companions from the fort. Licarte, where he met some Portuguese ships, and at last came back to his own country quite unexpectedly."

After Peter finished speaking, I thanked him for his kindness. He had spent a lot of energy, but asked me to talk to the man, hoping that the man's talk would make me happy. I turned to Raphael, exchanged salutes, and said The usual polite words when strangers first met, and then we came to my residence together, sat on a grassy bench in the garden, and we began to talk. Raphael described that since Vespucci left , he and his companions who remained at the fortress, by constantly meeting and being polite to the natives, gradually gained their favor, until they no longer felt any danger from them, but actually developed friendship with each other. , I also got the appreciation and favor of a leader (what is the name of this leader and what country he belongs to, I can't remember).Thanks to the generosity of this leader, he and five other companions were well supplied with supplies and travel expenses, and were assigned a reliable guide along the way, partly by water raft and partly by land, to be led to other leaders. Going, with very earnest letters of introduction, asking to be looked after. Raphael said that they traveled for many days, and visited various towns, cities, and countries that were bustling and well-organized.

①Ceylon—now Sri Lanka.——Chinese translator ②Calicut——Indian seaport. This port. ——Chinese translator It is true, he said, that below the equator, and on both sides of this line almost as far as the sun travels, there are deserts which are constantly scorching with heat. poisonous snakes, or people who are as savage and harmful as beasts. However, as they advance a little further, the scenery gradually becomes more pleasant, the weather is not so hot, the ground is covered with lovely grass, and the beasts are more docile. Finally, they Met people and towns. Between these towns and near them, and with distant countries, there was frequent land and water trade. Raphael said that at that time they had the opportunity to visit many countries around, because any sea line that was ready to open He and his companions are welcome to board any boat on board. The boats they saw in the place where they first traveled were flat-bottomed, and sailed with sails made of a kind of papyrus or willow, and sometimes made of leather. Sails. Afterwards they came upon ships with pointed keels and canvas canopies, which were in fact all like ours. Their sailors were good at acclimatizing themselves to the sea and the climate. But according to Raphael, since he pointed How they used the compass, he gained their uncommon favor. They were utterly ignorant of the subject before, and therefore hesitated to trust the sea at the mercy of the sea, which they did only in summer. Now they relied on The compass does not feel scary in winter, but it is too self-confident, which leads to danger instead. In this way, things that were originally thought to be of great benefit to them, because of their rashness, may bring them great harm. Raphael said Everywhere he went, it is a long story, and it does not serve the purpose of this book. We may tell the story he tells on another occasion, especially anything that will be beneficial to the reader, first in those The wise and prudent laws of civilized peoples, this is what he has noticed. For, on such subjects, we are eager to ask him, and he is just as willing to talk about it. But

Yes, we don't like to inquire about stale seafaring tales. Silas and gluttonous Celinos, man-eating Restoligonis, and similar dreadful monsters, are exceedingly common. But Well-governed citizens are not to be found everywhere. Indeed, Raphael both draws attention to the many irrational customs of these new-found nations, and details several points by which our cities, our kingdoms, and the various peoples and peoples I have already said that I must leave the account of these cases for another occasion. I will now only relate what he says about the ways and customs of the Utopians, but first of all Tell the conversation that caused him to mention this country. Raphael speaks wisely of the shortcomings of our hemisphere, and of the other, and finds that there are many in both. The wise measures in between were compared. He recalled the customs and habits of each country as if he had lived all his life where he had only been once. Peter expressed his admiration at the man in the following words: Dear Raphael, I don't understand why you don't attach yourself to a king. I believe that there is no king who does not welcome you, because your knowledge and your familiarity with various customs and customs not only give him joy, but also make him happy. Give him an example, and give him helpful advice. This will be of great benefit not only to yourself, but to all your friends and relatives in order to elevate them."

"Speaking of my friends and relatives," he answered, "I don't worry much about them, because I think I have done my duty to them well. Even then it was very reluctantly given up, although there was nothing I could do to keep it. When I was not in the prime of life, actually young, I divided my property among friends and relatives. I think my relatives and friends should be satisfied with my generosity, and not additionally require or expect me to serve the king for their sake." "Well said!" Peter declared, "I mean you serve the king, not the king."

"Serve and serve is but a syllable," he said. "But I'm sure," Peter went on, "Whatever you call this life, it is a means of doing good to others, both privately and to all the citizens of the country, and to be more prosperous yourself." "I must," Raphael said, "Do you use the method that I hate in my heart to make more fortune? In fact, I am living freely now, and I believe that there are very few nobles in the court like me. Moreover, there are many people who curry favor with the powerful. Don't think that without me or one or two people like me around the rich and powerful, it will cause great losses."

"Hey," I then said, "it's obvious, my dear Raphael, that you don't envy people of money and power. I have no doubt that I respect a man of your mind as much as I respect a very important person." It seems to me, however, that if in your own life you use intelligence and industry for the public good, even at your own personal disadvantage, it will suit you, and your magnanimous and truly philosophic spirit. To do this very fruitfully, you must be counselor to a great king, and persuade him (I am sure you can make him) to a course of honest honor. From the king, as from an inexhaustible fountain , and all that springs forth is a stream of water that can benefit or harm the whole country. Even if your business experience is not rich, you have great learning; There is a competent minister in the council."

"Dear More," said he, "you are wrong in two respects. First, as far as I am concerned; and secondly, as regards the matter itself. Talent, while disturbing my quiet life, I have no way to benefit the public. First, almost all kings are willing to pursue martial arts. I don't know martial arts, and I don't want to know martial arts. They would rather not engage in glorious peaceful activities. What they are more concerned about is trying to seize a new kingdom, rather than governing the already acquired kingdom.” Secondly, the court ministers are indeed smart and do not need others to advise; or they think they are smart and disdain to listen to other people’s opinions. However, they echoed the fallacies of the king's first-class favorites, wanting to be famous, and gain favor through flattery. Originally, it is human nature to think that their own opinions are the best, just like crows and monkeys treat their young ones. Always very cute." Among those who are jealous of other people's originality and value their own originality, if someone mentions something he has read in a different time and place, the listener will seem to have all the reputation of intellect. Yu, it seems, henceforth will only be regarded as fools, unless they can find fault with other people's original ideas. When all attempts fail, they publish such remarks as a last resort: "Such things are our ancestors as we like, but please be as wise as our ancestors were.' Then, feeling that this brilliant statement seemed to end the whole matter, they sat down in their places—meaning, of course, that if at any point it appeared to be more Our ancestors were wiser, and that would be dangerous. However, no matter what good insights our ancestors had, we are always indifferent. However, if in any case, our ancestors acted in a less wise direction, this shortcoming This kind of arrogance, absurdity and stubborn prejudice, I have seen many times in other countries, and I have seen it once in England.” "What," I said, "have you been to my country?" "Yes," he replied, "I lived there some months, not long after the disastrous uprising of the people of the West of England against the King; Cardinal Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord Chancellor of England at that time. Dear Peter (I am speaking only to you, Moore knows the Archbishop well and does not need me to know) , this archbishop is worthy of respect, for he is far-sighted, noble and respected. He is of middle height, and does not look old at all. His appearance is respectable without being intimidating. His speech is calm and solemn, But it sounds pleasant and comfortable. He likes to use rough language to test people who have requests for an audience, but it is entirely out of good intentions to observe the courage and composure of the other party. The frank and fearless attitude is He appreciates nothing that is imprudent; he praises it because it is close to his temperament, and befits a man in office. Very well. Learning and experience have made his extraordinary gifts better and more beautiful. ①Refers to the people living in the Cornwall area who rebelled against taxation in 1497 and was later suppressed by King Henry VII (reigned 1485-1509). ——Chinese translator ②John, Morton (John Morton, 1420-150)——was a cardinal and Prime Minister of King Henry VII of England. Morton served as a servant of the Morton family when he was young. ——Chinese translator "The King of England listened to his opinion very much. When I was in England, he seemed to be the pillar of the country. As expected by most people, he entered the court from school almost at a very young age. He dealt with major government affairs all his life. Through the ups and downs of fortune, thus gaining a statesman's foresight amidst many storms, such a foresight from personal experience is not easy to forget." One day, I was having dinner with him, and there was a future man who was proficient in English law. There were lay people in the clergy. Somehow this man found an opportunity to speak eloquently of the severity of the law against thieves in England in those days. They were everywhere executed. According to him, sometimes as many as twenty people were hanged at a time. He also said that he was even more surprised that although very few people slipped through the net, why unfortunately the whole country is still rampant with thieves?At that time, I did not take the liberty of expressing my opinion at the cardinal's chair. I said: "'Don't be surprised, because it is illegal to punish thieves in this way, and it is not good for society. It is too much for theft. Severe punishment, but it cannot prevent theft. Mere theft is not a felony punishable by death, and a person who has no other choice but to steal will still engage in theft. Like most of the world, it's like misleading schoolteachers, who would rather flog their students than educate them. You promulgate a terrible torture for a thief, when it is better to give him a way of living, so that no one would be in danger of stealing and then being put to death.'"'In this case,' said the man, 'we have taken adequate measures. We have crafts. We have farm work. Only one person is unwilling he can do these jobs for a living.' "'No,' retorted, 'you won't get rid of it so easily. This has been the case with the English lately against the Cornish, and lately against France. These Englishmen, in the service of their country and king, have lost all their limbs. They are disabled from their employment, and from their age. Not small and unable to learn new trades. Let us not consider these people, because wars are always occasional. Let us consider the situation that occurs every day."'First, there are a large number of nobles, these people are like drones, doing nothing , to feed themselves on the labor of others, e.g., tenant farmers who work on their own farms, exploiting these tenant farmers as much as possible to increase their income, (the only thing they have to do is pennies on this point, otherwise they always spend money like water, and make themselves poor Light up!) And with a large number of idle followers who have never learned any skills of life. As soon as the master dies, or if they themselves fall ill, this group of people will be driven out immediately. The master would rather keep idlers than sick. Often unable to maintain as large a household as their predecessors did, at least at first."' At the same time, these people can only steal as much as possible, but starve as much as possible. Indeed, what can they do? The vagabond life gradually makes Their clothes are so shabby, and their bodies so weak, that no gentleman would bother to employ them, and the peasants would be afraid of them, being so poor and sick. The peasants know that a man is accustomed to being comfortable and lazy, with a knife and a shield, and no fear of his surroundings. If a person is boastful and puts on airs, he will not pick up a shovel and a pick and work honestly for the poor people for a small reward and a simple meal.'"'But this kind of person ,' retorted the fellow of the law, 'that is what we shall try to support. When we need to go to war, it is the kind of men who will be the backbone of our army, who have more courage than the workman and the farmer. .' ①Cornishmen , see note on page 17 of this book. ——Chinese translator "'Of course,' said I, 'you might as well say that in order to fight we must encourage thieves. As long as you keep such people, you can never make thieves extinct. Besides, thieves are not soldiers. The least active; the soldier who does theft is not the least energetic. common to all nations." 'France suffers from another, worse disaster. Even in peacetime (if you can call it peacetime), France is full of mercenaries, because the French think as the British , think it is good to have a lazy entourage. These smart people think that if society is to be safe, it must have a strong and reliable guard at all times, mainly composed of veterans, because they do not trust recruits. They had to constantly look for pretexts for war, designed for soldiers to gain experience in battle, and killed blindly, lest, as Celeste ① put it brilliantly, "neither the heart nor the hand will work if you don't use it." However, the French eat How dangerous it is to keep such savage beasts, is proved at great loss by the cases of Rome, Carthage, Syria, and many other countries whose standing armies not only destroyed their countries the supreme power, and even the lands and cities were destroyed." 'The need for maintenance of such an army is clearly proved from this: even the French soldiers who have been carefully trained in the ranks from childhood dare not boast that if they are with you Conscripted soldiers are often victorious in battle. I need not dwell on this, lest I seem to be flattering you. At any rate, your city-bred artisans or farm country folks, except for their lack of physical fitness and valor Besides, except for those whose ambitions are tortured by insufficient food at home, it is believed that they have no fear of lazy retinues who serve gentlemen. Therefore, these retinues were once strong and strong (because the gentlemen's intentions to corrupt happened to be experienced and a well-chosen man), now weakened by indolence, limp by unmanly work. If once exercised, to do honest work to support oneself, and do solid rough work, there is no need Worried about not being able to stand up and be a husband! "'In any case, it seems to me that it is not conducive to the welfare of society to keep a large number of such disturbers in order to meet the emergency war. If you don't want war, there will never be war, and your more important thing is Peace, not war. But that's not the only circumstance that makes theft inevitable. There's another special circumstance that I think is British.'"'What's that? asked the cardinal. "'Your sheep,' replied I, 'who were ever so tame and easy to feed, are said to have become so rapacious and ferocious that they eat men, and take your fields, Homes and cities lay in ruins. In every part of the land, where the finest and most precious wools were produced, there were noble lords, and God knows what saints, some bishops, who felt that the customary annual rents and annuities on their ancestral estates could not satisfy them. They Leading a life of leisure and luxury, doing nothing good for the country, feeling it insufficient, and determined to do it serious harm. They made all the land uncultivable, fenced off every inch of it for pastures, and destroyed houses and towns and leave only the churches for sheepfolds. And, as if they had not wasted enough English land on bird and zoo enclosures, these fellows have laid waste to every field used for habitation and cultivation." 'Thus1 the tenants are driven from the land for a glutton who is indeed a harm to the country, and may enclose thousands and thousands of acres with a fence. deprived of their possessions by the means of their own means, or so wronged and damaged that they had to sell their possessions. These unfortunates were compelled to leave their homes by every kind of persecution—men, women, husbands, wives, orphans. , widows, parents with children, and a large family with little means of living, because farming requires a lot of hands. Hey, they left, the only hometown they knew, but they couldn't find a place to live. Their All the belongings, if they waited for the buyer, would have been worth little, since they were forced to leave, so they sold them for a penny." Is there any other way than to be hanged (which is what you deserve, you will say), or to beg along the way? I really want to work, but I can't find an employer. They are experts in farming, but they can't find farming work, because there is no land for farming. The land that once required many people to cultivate to produce food is used for grazing. Just one shepherd is enough."'This situation has caused a sharp increase in the price of food in many areas. And the price of raw wool is so high that the poor English people who have been weaving wool cannot afford it, so a large number of them are out of work. , Many sheep died from a plague. It seems that God sent plague on the sheep as a punishment for greed. In fact, it is more reasonable to send the plague on the head of the owner of the sheep. However, no matter how many sheep reproduce The price of sheep has not fallen at all, because there is more than one seller, although it cannot be called a monopoly, but the method of sale is undoubtedly oligarchy. All the sheep fall into the hands of a very small number of people. They don't want to sell, they don't have to sell, and they don't want to do it if they don't get the price they want." 'By this time, all the other cattle were also priced up for the same reason, and worse because of the destruction of farms. , agriculture tends to be depressed, and no one is engaged in raising livestock. The rich don't like to raise their ownThey raise their calves like lambs. They buy lean calves cheaply from abroad, fatten them up in the pastures, and sell them at a high price. It seems to me that the full danger of this method has not yet been felt. Until Now, these traders only raise the price at the place where the livestock are off their hands, but once they purchase more frequently at the place of origin, exceeding the speed of breeding at that place, then since the supply in the source market is gradually decreasing, the result will be far short of supply.”’In this way, Due to the insatiable greed of a small number of people, the things that were considered to bring great luck to your island country have now been destroyed. As a result of the high food prices, every family has reduced employment as much as possible. Excuse me, these fired people do not go begging , or not to rob (a path that is easier for the brave), what else can be done? "'Moreover, poverty on the one hand, and extravagance on the other. Not only the servants of the nobles, but also the craftsmen, and even almost the peasants themselves. Hall brothels, and places not less than brothels (like those restaurants), as well as illegal games, such as dice, cards, double continent, playing ball, throwing hoops, etc., all these are not enough to make the hobby quickly Spend all your money and get robbed? "'Abstain from these injurious things. Make it law that whoever destroys farms and villages must restore them himself, or hand them over to those who will restore them and be happy to build them. The right of the rich to hoard and take advantage of this This right monopolizes the market and must be strictly controlled. Fewer lazy people are fed. Agriculture is revived. Weaving is restored to an honorable profession, and a large number of useful but idle hands are installed. Thieves, or those who are currently vagabond or helpers, will eventually become thieves. There is no doubt that unless you cure these ills, it is useless to boast about how you enforce the law and punish thieves. Such law enforcement is beautiful on the surface. It's not just, it doesn't work. You let the youth be infected with evil, and even degenerate from infancy, and when they grow up, they commit the same crimes that they always seem to commit from their childhood, when, of course, , to be punished. You first let the people become thieves, and then acted as the person who did the thieves. Isn't that what you are doing? ' "While I was making this long argument, the lawyer was busy preparing a reply, and resolved to adopt the customary manner of a polemicist, namely, to endeavor to restate what had been said, instead of giving an answer, showing that his memory was not bad. "'Certainly,' said he, 'you talk very well, considering that you are only a foreigner, and have more ear to ear than truth to this sort of thing--I will put it briefly. First give what you have said in order, and then point out where you are mistaken because you are ignorant of our situation. Finally, I will refute all your arguments. Well, from the first I promised At four o'clock I think you—' "'Hold on,' interrupted the Cardinal, 'you will not be able to answer in a few words when you start like this. Your right to reply can be fully reserved until the next meeting, which is tomorrow, and I plan to arrange it this way, if it is convenient for you and Rafael. "'My dear Raphael, I would like you to tell me why you do not think capital punishment should be imposed for theft, and how do you think it is better for society to use it, and I am sure that even you do not feel compelled to let with impunity. Even with the death penalty, as it is now, theft is rife. What power, what fear, can stop the burglar once he knows that he will never be punished with death. reward for them.'" 'Of course,' said I, 'My Reverend Cardinal, it is very unjust that a man should lose his own life when he inflicts another's. Precious. If it is said that the punishment for such a crime is due to the violation of the law and not to the theft of money, then such extreme enforcement can be described as extremely illegal. For we neither agree with Mann. The legal code of Lias, which requires immediate punishment for minor crimes, also opposes the ordinance of the Stoics, which treats all crimes on the same level, and regards murder and robbery as indistinguishable. The two cases are neither the same nor related if there is any sense." 'God commanded:' Thou shalt not kill,' shall we put to death lightly the thief of a small sum of money? If so, God commanded us To abstain from killing does not mean that one must abstain from killing when it is considered permissible according to human law. Then, too, people can decide among themselves to what extent rape, fornication, and perjury are permissible. God commands us not to kill no right to suicide, and no right to commit suicide. And people ①Manlius Torquatus ——An ancient Roman statesman, when he served as consul for the third time, in a foreign war in 340 BC, his own son who violated the military order was sentenced to death. ——Chinese translator ②Stoic—Ancient A philosophical school in Greece, which held the idea that "all evils are equal" in its later period. ——Chinese translator Mutual agreement, in certain cases, a man may kill. But if this agreement among men should be so effective as to relieve their servants of God's commandments, although there is no precedent from God, these servants However, people who should be executed according to human laws can be executed. Isn't it true that God's commandments are valid within the scope of human laws?The result will be that in every case it will be the same for men to decide how far the commandments of God are convenient for them." 'Finally, the laws of Moses, though severe, were, as they were intended for slaves and untouchables, and theft is punishable only by a fine, not by death. Let us not think that God, who instructs us as fathers instruct his children in his benevolent new laws, allows men this greater liberty to be cruel to one another. "' That's why I think this kind of punishment is illegal. Moreover, anyone can see how absurd and even dangerous it is for a country to impose the same punishment on robbers and murderers. When the thief finds out, For theft alone, the sentence was as terrible as for murder. This simple consideration prompted him to simply kill the person he had only wanted to rob. If he was captured, he would not have taken greater risks; , more likely to cover up the crime, it is safer for him. Thus, while we frighten the thief with torture, we encourage him to exterminate good citizens." 'As to the common question of the more appropriate form of punishment, I think It's easier to find a better way than a worse way. Very much longer than ①Moses ——The leader of the Israeli tribe in the 14th or 13th century BC. For what is said here, see the Christian Bible "Exodus of the Old Testament", Chapter 22. ——Chinese translator Doctrines in the Gospels of the New Testament. ——Chinese translator A method of punishing crimes, which the Roman rulers loved in ancient times, is a good method, why should we doubt it?罗马人把经过判罪的重犯始终加上镣铐，罚去终身采石开矿.“'然而，关于这个问题，任何国家的制度都比不上我旅行波斯时在一般叫做波利来赖塔人①中所看到的那种制度.他们的国家很大，治理得宜，除向波斯国王进贡年税而外，他们生活自由，按本身立法实行自治.他们的地方离海很远，几乎四面环山，物产完全自给自足. 因此，他们和别的国家极少互通往来. 按照他们多少年来的国策，他们不求扩张自己的领土，而且，既有高山作屏障，又对他们的霸主进献贡物，因此，保卫本国领土使其不受侵略也不费力. 他们既然完全不受军国主义的侵扰，过的生活尽管平常却很舒适，虽然默默无闻却很快乐. 我想，甚至他们的国名，除近邻外，外间都不大知道.”'在这个国家，盗窃犯定罪后须将赃物交还失主，不象通常在别处须送给国王. 他们认为，国王和盗窃犯都没有取得该物的权利.如原物已失，则按价从盗窃犯的财产中取偿，多余的钱全部还与犯人的妻子儿女. 犯人本身则被罚令服苦役. 如罪行不严重，犯人不至于坐监牢，也免于上脚镣，在身体自由的情况下派去为公众服劳役. 拒绝劳动或劳动态度差的犯人不但被加上锁链，而且受到鞭笞，进行强迫劳动.他们若是做工勤快，决不会受到侮辱和伤害. 只是每夜他们经 ①波利来赖塔人（Ｐｏｌｙｌｅｒｉｔｅｓ）——用希腊语成分杜撰，意指“一派胡说”。 ——Chinese translator 过点名后，被锁禁在睡觉的处所.“'除去经常做工外，犯人的生活中没有什么苦可吃. 例如，他们的伙食很好，由公库开支，因为他们是替公家做工——关于这方面的办法各地不一样. 在某些地区，用于他们身上的开支来自筹集救济金. 这个办法虽不稳定，然而波利来赖塔人存心非常慈善，所以其他任何办法所得都不比这个办法更能供应充裕，满足需要. 在另一些地区，拨出固定的公共税收以支付此项费用. 其余地区则按人口抽特定的税充当这笔经费. 还有若干地区的犯人无须为公众服劳役，任何公民需要帮工，可到市场雇用他们，按日发给固定的工资，略低于雇用自由的公民. 并且，受雇的犯人如工作不力，雇主可施行鞭打. 因此，犯人不愁无工可做，不但赚钱养活自己，还每天为国库增加收入.”'他们穿的衣服颜色全一样. 他们不剃头，把两耳上面的发剪短，并削去一个耳垂①.他们可以接受朋友赠送的饮食以及符合规定颜色的衣服. 金钱赠予，对送者及收者都是死罪. 任何自由公民，不问理由如何，若是接受犯人的钱，以及奴隶（定罪犯人的通称）若是接触武器，都冒被处死刑的危险. 每一地区的奴隶带有特殊标志，以资识别；当他从本区外出，或和另一地区奴隶交谈时，扔掉这个标志构成死罪.此外，凡密谋逃亡与实际逃亡是同样的险事. 对逃亡有默许行为的，若是奴隶，处以死刑；若是自由公民，罚令充当奴 ①削去耳垂——亨利八世王朝的英国确有类似的用刑，参见马克思：《资本论》第１卷，人民出版社１９７５年版，第８０３页. ——中译者 隶. 相反，对告发者规定了奖赏，自由公民得现钱，奴隶恢复自由，对以上两种人都免予追究其同谋的罪行.其用意是，作恶到头的人决不能比及早回头的人占更安全的便宜.“'这就是关于这个问题的法令和步骤，我已经对你描述过了.你会很容易看出，这是多么合乎人道，多么有益处.公众所表示的愤怒，其目的无非是根除罪恶，挽救犯罪的人，处理他们时使他们一定要改过迁善，以后一辈子将功赎罪.”'而且，也无须担心这样的人旧病重犯.甚至旅客出行，认为用这类奴隶做向导是十分安全的，每当进入一个新地区，就更换奴隶.奴隶没有可用于抢劫的工具.他们不携带武器，如发现有钱适足以证明有罪.这种人一经被捕，就受到惩处，想逍遥法外是绝不可能的. 他的衣服和通常人的衣服绝无相同之处，除非赤裸裸上路，怎能够悄悄逃去不给发现呢？即使赤裸裸上路，他的耳朵也会在逃亡中使人识破他.“'不过当然啦，会不会竟有奴隶共同阴谋叛国之虞呢？ 那就好象任何一个地区的奴隶在这方面可望成功，而无须先对其他许多地区的奴隶群进行试探和煽动了！他们是不可能共同密谋的，甚至不能见面交谈或互相招呼. 他们更不可能胆敢将阴谋向自己的伙伴泄露，因为他们深知，隐瞒阴谋者是处于危险之中的，而告发阴谋者是得到好处的. 相反，如果一个人心甘情愿而毫无怨言地忍受他的处罚，有从此改过自新的表现，他是有希望终有一天获得自由的. 实际上，每年都有大批这样的人由于服从管教而被给与自由.'“我说过这段话后，接着又说，我看不出这个方法何以在英国不能采用，何以比起和我辩论的这位法律家所夸不绝口的司法措施不更行之有利.那位法律家回答说，'把这套制度在英国定下来一定弄得全国不得安宁.'他边说边摇头努嘴，然后沉默下去. 在场的人都认为他的话有道理.“接着红衣主教发言说，'要猜测这个制度行之有利或有害是一件难事，因为完全没有实施过.如果，宣判死刑后，英王下令暂缓执行；并经过对庇护权①的限制，我们试行这个制度，那时实践有效的话，把这个制度当成法律就是正当的.倘若行之不利，然后将已判处死刑的人立即执行，比起现在就执行，会一样有利于公众，而且一样公正. 同时，这种试行并不带来危险.而且，我相信，对于游民可用同样办法处理②，因为，尽管屡次制定法令制裁这批人，我们成绩毫无.'”红衣主教话才说完，大家争先恐后称赞不已；可是这些意见刚才从我口里提出，他们都瞧不起. 关于讲话中涉及游民的部分，大家尤其恭维，因为这是红衣主教的补充意见.“我感到为难，是否把接着发生的事略去不讲还好些，因为那是很可笑的. 不过我还是得讲，它本身无害，而且和我们讨论的问题有关.”那就是当时恰巧有个清客在一旁，他想给人扮演滑稽家的印象，可是他的扮演逼真，使他显得确是滑稽. 他的不合时宜的打趣的话本是用来引人发笑的，可是更引人发笑的是 ①庇护权——英国中世纪某种类型的犯罪者如避入教堂等处，可逃免追捕，得到庇护. ——中译者②对于游民可用同样办法处理——暗指当时英国残酷地镇压游民，参见马克思：《资本论》第１卷，人民出版社１９７５年版第８０３—８０５页. ——中译者 他本人而不是他的笑话. 但他有时说的话不失为中肯，这就证明这句谚语的真实性：一个人常掷骰子，他迟早总要中一次彩. 有个客人碰巧说：“'拉斐尔的建议是对付盗窃犯的良好措施.红衣主教也采取了预防游民的好办法. 现在剩下的只是，为那些由于老病而陷于贫困又无从工作谋生的人制定社会方案.'”'如果我获得允许，'那个清客自告奋勇说，'我会设法把这种情况治好.我最巴不得将这样的人从我面前打发走.他们老是纠缠住我讨钱，发出凄凉的呼号声. 可是随他们叫出什么调子，我是分文不给. 往往发生的不外乎两者之一，我不愿意给钱，或是我手头空空，无钱可给. 现在他们聪明起来了. 他们看见我走过时，一言不发，再不想白费气力. 他们再也不想从我得到什么了，真的，仿佛我是教区外的僧侣一样，从他捞不到东西. 至于我，我要制定一条法令，把全部乞丐分配到各个班尼提克特①寺院去，男的当勤杂道人，女的做尼姑.'“红衣主教微笑，把这些话当成说着玩的，可是其余的人却很当真. 其中有一个神学家，是一个托钵僧②，他对于取笑教区外的僧侣和取笑和尚，颇感兴趣，因此他自己也来开心一番，虽然他平常是严肃的，达到阴郁的程度.”'不，'他说，'即使情况是这样，你也不能使乞丐绝迹， ①班尼提克特——属于天主教班尼提克特僧团（ｔｈｅＢｅｎｅｄｉｃｔｉｎｅＯｒｄｅｒ） 的. 当亨利八世王朝，这个僧团有三百座寺院，极为富有. ——中译者②托钵僧——罗马天主教中以依靠施舍物为生的一种僧侣. ——中译者 除非对我们托钵僧有所照顾.'“'可是这已经有照顾了，'那清客报复说.'红衣主教决定把游民管禁起来，让他们作工，这就很好地照顾了你们，因为你们是第一号游民.'”当时大家注视红衣主教，见他对这个笑话未感到生气，如同对上面的笑话未生气一样，大家也就觉得听来高兴，只有托体僧是例外.那是不足为怪的，他在这番讽刺的冲击下，怒不可言，止不住辱骂那个开玩笑的人.他骂对方是坏蛋、诽谤者、该死的家伙，同时从《圣经》上引用厉害的谴责词句.这个嘲笑者开始认真嘲笑起来，很得意自如：“'不要生气，好托钵僧. 圣书上写道：”你们常存忍耐就必保全灵魂.“ '① “托钵僧就回击——原话引在下面：'你这该死的东西，我倒不曾生气，至少我不曾犯罪，因为赞美诗作者说：”你生气吧，可不要犯罪.“ '② “这时红衣主教很温和地告诫托钵僧平静下来，但是他回答说：”'不，大人，我说话出于一片善良的热切之心，我应该这样. 由于圣洁的人是有热切之心的，因此圣书说：“我因为 ①见《新约全书路加福音》，第２１章，第１９节. ——中译者②见《旧约全书诗篇》，第４篇，第４节. 此处莫尔的译文是忠实的，１６１年英国钦定译本此句欠确：１９７０年《新英语圣经》此句译得对. ——中译者 你的庙殿而心里热切，如同火烧.“