Utopia(乌托邦)

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UTOPIA

Thomas More

UTOPIA

INTRODUCTION

Sir Thomas More, son of Sir John More, a justice of the King's Bench,

was born in 1478, in Milk Street, in the city of London. After his earlier

education at St. Anthony's School, in Threadneedle Street, he was placed,

as a boy, in the household of Cardinal John Morton, Archbishop of

Canterbury and Lord Chancellor. It was not unusual for persons of wealth

or influence and sons of good families to be so established together in a

relation of patron and client. The youth wore his patron's livery, and added

to his state. The patron used, afterwards, his wealth or influence in helping

his young client forward in the world. Cardinal Morton had been in earlier

days that Bishop of Ely whom Richard III. sent to the Tower; was busy

afterwards in hostility to Richard; and was a chief adviser of Henry VII.,

who in 1486 made him Archbishop of Canterbury, and nine months

afterwards Lord Chancellor. Cardinal Morton--of talk at whose table there

are recollections in "Utopia"- -delighted in the quick wit of young Thomas

More. He once said, "Whoever shall live to try it, shall see this child here

waiting at table prove a notable and rare man."

At the age of about nineteen, Thomas More was sent to Canterbury

College, Oxford, by his patron, where he learnt Greek of the first men who

brought Greek studies from Italy to England--William Grocyn and

Thomas Linacre. Linacre, a physician, who afterwards took orders, was

also the founder of the College of Physicians. In 1499, More left Oxford to

study law in London, at Lincoln's Inn, and in the next year Archbishop

Morton died.

More's earnest character caused him while studying law to aim at the

subduing of the flesh, by wearing a hair shirt, taking a log for a pillow, and

whipping himself on Fridays. At the age of twenty-one he entered

Parliament, and soon after he had been called to the bar he was made

Under-Sheriff of London. In 1503 he opposed in the House of Commons

Henry VII.'s proposal for a subsidy on account of the marriage portion of

his daughter Margaret; and he opposed with so much energy that the

House refused to grant it. One went and told the king that a beardless boy

UTOPIA

had disappointed all his expectations. During the last years, therefore, of

Henry VII. More was under the displeasure of the king, and had thoughts

of leaving the country.

Henry VII. died in April, 1509, when More's age was a little over

thirty. In the first years of the reign of Henry VIII. he rose to large practice

in the law courts, where it is said he refused to plead in cases which he

thought unjust, and took no fees from widows, orphans, or the poor. He

would have preferred marrying the second daughter of John Colt, of New

Hall, in Essex, but chose her elder sister, that he might not subject her to

the discredit of being passed over.

In 1513 Thomas More, still Under-Sheriff of London, is said to have

written his "History of the Life and Death of King Edward V., and of the

Usurpation of Richard III." The book, which seems to contain the

knowledge and opinions of More's patron, Morton, was not printed until

1557, when its writer had been twenty-two years dead. It was then printed

from a MS. in More's handwriting.

In the year 1515 Wolsey, Archbishop of York, was made Cardinal by

Leo X.; Henry VIII. made him Lord Chancellor, and from that year until

1523 the King and the Cardinal ruled England with absolute authority, and

called no parliament. In May of the year 1515 Thomas More--not knighted

yet--was joined in a commission to the Low Countries with Cuthbert

Tunstal and others to confer with the ambassadors of Charles V., then only

Archduke of Austria, upon a renewal of alliance. On that embassy More,

aged about thirty- seven, was absent from England for six months, and

while at Antwerp he established friendship with Peter Giles (Latinised

AEgidius), a scholarly and courteous young man, who was secretary to the

municipality of Antwerp.

Cuthbert Tunstal was a rising churchman, chancellor to the Archbishop

of Canterbury, who in that year (1515) was made Archdeacon of Chester,

and in May of the next year (1516) Master of the Rolls. In 1516 he was

sent again to the Low Countries, and More then went with him to Brussels,

where they were in close companionship with Erasmus.

More's "Utopia" was written in Latin, and is in two parts, of which the

second, describing the place ([Greek text]--or Nusquama, as he called it

UTOPIA

sometimes in his letters--"Nowhere"), was probably written towards the

close of 1515; the first part, introductory, early in 1516. The book was first

printed at Louvain, late in 1516, under the editorship of Erasmus, Peter

Giles, and other of More's friends in Flanders. It was then revised by More,

and printed by Frobenius at Basle in November, 1518. It was reprinted at

Paris and Vienna, but was not printed in England during More's lifetime.

Its first publication in this country was in the English translation, made in

Edward's VI.'s reign (1551) by Ralph Robinson. It was translated with

more literary skill by Gilbert Burnet, in 1684, soon after he had conducted

the defence of his friend Lord William Russell, attended his execution,

vindicated his memory, and been spitefully deprived by James II. of his

lectureship at St. Clement's. Burnet was drawn to the translation of

"Utopia" by the same sense of unreason in high places that caused More to

write the book. Burnet's is the translation given in this volume.

The name of the book has given an adjective to our language--we call

an impracticable scheme Utopian. Yet, under the veil of a playful fiction,

the talk is intensely earnest, and abounds in practical suggestion. It is the

work of a scholarly and witty Englishman, who attacks in his own way the

chief political and social evils of his time. Beginning with fact, More tells

how he was sent into Flanders with Cuthbert Tunstal, "whom the king's

majesty of late, to the great rejoicing of all men, did prefer to the office of

Master of the Rolls;" how the commissioners of Charles met them at

Bruges, and presently returned to Brussels for instructions; and how More

then went to Antwerp, where he found a pleasure in the society of Peter

Giles which soothed his desire to see again his wife and children, from

whom he had been four months away. Then fact slides into fiction with the

finding of Raphael Hythloday (whose name, made of two Greek words

[Greek text] and [Greek text], means "knowing in trifles"), a man who had

been with Amerigo Vespucci in the three last of the voyages to the new

world lately discovered, of which the account had been first printed in

1507, only nine years before Utopia was written.

Designedly fantastic in suggestion of details, "Utopia" is the work of a

scholar who had read Plato's "Republic," and had his fancy quickened

after reading Plutarch's account of Spartan life under Lycurgus. Beneath

UTOPIA

the veil of an ideal communism, into which there has been worked some

witty extravagance, there lies a noble English argument. Sometimes More

puts the case as of France when he means England. Sometimes there is

ironical praise of the good faith of Christian kings, saving the book from

censure as a political attack on the policy of Henry VIII. Erasmus wrote to

a friend in 1517 that he should send for More's "Utopia," if he had not read

it, and "wished to see the true source of all political evils." And to More

Erasmus wrote of his book, "A burgomaster of Antwerp is so pleased with

it that he knows it all by heart."

H. M.

UTOPIA

DISCOURSES OF RAPHAEL

HYTHLODAY, OF THE BEST

STATE OF A COMMONWEALTH

Henry VIII., the unconquered King of England, a prince adorned with

all the virtues that become a great monarch, having some differences of no

small consequence with Charles the most serene Prince of Castile, sent me

into Flanders, as his ambassador, for treating and composing matters

between them. I was colleague and companion to that incomparable man

Cuthbert Tonstal, whom the King, with such universal applause, lately

made Master of the Rolls; but of whom I will say nothing; not because I

fear that the testimony of a friend will be suspected, but rather because his

learning and virtues are too great for me to do them justice, and so well

known, that they need not my commendations, unless I would, according

to the proverb, "Show the sun with a lantern." Those that were appointed

by the Prince to treat with us, met us at Bruges, according to agreement;

they were all worthy men. The Margrave of Bruges was their head, and the

chief man among them; but he that was esteemed the wisest, and that

spoke for the rest, was George Temse, the Provost of Casselsee: both art

and nature had concurred to make him eloquent: he was very learned in

the law; and, as he had a great capacity, so, by a long practice in affairs, he

was very dexterous at unravelling them. After we had several times met,

without coming to an agreement, they went to Brussels for some days, to

know the Prince's pleasure; and, since our business would admit it, I went

to Antwerp. While I was there, among many that visited me, there was one

that was more acceptable to me than any other, Peter Giles, born at

Antwerp, who is a man of great honour, and of a good rank in his town,

though less than he deserves; for I do not know if there be anywhere to be

found a more learned and a better bred young man; for as he is both a very

worthy and a very knowing person, so he is so civil to all men, so

particularly kind to his friends, and so full of candour and affection, that

UTOPIA

there is not, perhaps, above one or two anywhere to be found, that is in all

respects so perfect a friend: he is extraordinarily modest, there is no

artifice in him, and yet no man has more of a prudent simplicity. His

conversation was so pleasant and so innocently cheerful, that his company

in a great measure lessened any longings to go back to my country, and to

my wife and children, which an absence of four mouths had quickened

very much. One day, as I was returning home from mass at St. Mary's,

which is the chief church, and the most frequented of any in Antwerp, I

saw him, by accident, talking with a stranger, who seemed past the flower

of his age; his face was tanned, he had a long beard, and his cloak was

hanging carelessly about him, so that, by his looks and habit, I concluded

he was a seaman. As soon as Peter saw me, he came and saluted me, and

as I was returning his civility, he took me aside, and pointing to him with

whom he had been discoursing, he said, "Do you see that man? I was just

thinking to bring him to you." I answered, "He should have been very

welcome on your account." "And on his own too," replied he, "if you

knew the man, for there is none alive that can give so copious an account

of unknown nations and countries as he can do, which I know you very

much desire." "Then," said I, "I did not guess amiss, for at first sight I took

him for a seaman." "But you are much mistaken," said he, "for he has not

sailed as a seaman, but as a traveller, or rather a philosopher. This Raphael,

who from his family carries the name of Hythloday, is not ignorant of the

Latin tongue, but is eminently learned in the Greek, having applied

himself more particularly to that than to the former, because he had given

himself much to philosophy, in which he knew that the Romans have left

us nothing that is valuable, except what is to be found in Seneca and

Cicero. He is a Portuguese by birth, and was so desirous of seeing the

world, that he divided his estate among his brothers, ran the same hazard

as Americus Vesputius, and bore a share in three of his four voyages that

are now published; only he did not return with him in his last, but obtained

leave of him, almost by force, that he might be one of those twenty-four

who were left at the farthest place at which they touched in their last

voyage to New Castile. The leaving him thus did not a little gratify one

that was more fond of travelling than of returning home to be buried in his

UTOPIA

own country; for he used often to say, that the way to heaven was the same

from all places, and he that had no grave had the heavens still over him.

Yet this disposition of mind had cost him dear, if God had not been very

gracious to him; for after he, with five Castalians, had travelled over many

countries, at last, by strange good fortune, he got to Ceylon, and from

thence to Calicut, where he, very happily, found some Portuguese ships;

and, beyond all men's expectations, returned to his native country." When

Peter had said this to me, I thanked him for his kindness in intending to

give me the acquaintance of a man whose conversation he knew would be

so acceptable; and upon that Raphael and I embraced each other. After

those civilities were past which are usual with strangers upon their first

meeting, we all went to my house, and entering into the garden, sat down

on a green bank and entertained one another in discourse. He told us that

when Vesputius had sailed away, he, and his companions that stayed

behind in New Castile, by degrees insinuated themselves into the

affections of the people of the country, meeting often with them and

treating them gently; and at last they not only lived among them without

danger, but conversed familiarly with them, and got so far into the heart of

a prince, whose name and country I have forgot, that he both furnished

them plentifully with all things necessary, and also with the conveniences

of travelling, both boats when they went by water, and waggons when they

trained over land: he sent with them a very faithful guide, who was to

introduce and recommend them to such other princes as they had a mind

to see: and after many days' journey, they came to towns, and cities, and to

commonwealths, that were both happily governed and well peopled.

Under the equator, and as far on both sides of it as the sun moves, there

lay vast deserts that were parched with the perpetual heat of the sun; the

soil was withered, all things looked dismally, and all places were either

quite uninhabited, or abounded with wild beasts and serpents, and some

few men, that were neither less wild nor less cruel than the beasts

themselves. But, as they went farther, a new scene opened, all things grew

milder, the air less burning, the soil more verdant, and even the beasts

were less wild: and, at last, there were nations, towns, and cities, that had

not only mutual commerce among themselves and with their neighbours,

UTOPIA

but traded, both by sea and land, to very remote countries. There they

found the conveniencies of seeing many countries on all hands, for no ship

went any voyage into which he and his companions were not very

welcome. The first vessels that they saw were flat-bottomed, their sails

were made of reeds and wicker, woven close together, only some were of

leather; but, afterwards, they found ships made with round keels and

canvas sails, and in all respects like our ships, and the seamen understood

both astronomy and navigation. He got wonderfully into their favour by

showing them the use of the needle, of which till then they were utterly

ignorant. They sailed before with great caution, and only in summer time;

but now they count all seasons alike, trusting wholly to the loadstone, in

which they are, perhaps, more secure than safe; so that there is reason to

fear that this discovery, which was thought would prove so much to their

advantage, may, by their imprudence, become an occasion of much

mischief to them. But it were too long to dwell on all that he told us he had

observed in every place, it would be too great a digression from our

present purpose: whatever is necessary to be told concerning those wise

and prudent institutions which he observed among civilised nations, may

perhaps be related by us on a more proper occasion. We asked him many

questions concerning all these things, to which he answered very willingly;

we made no inquiries after monsters, than which nothing is more common;

for everywhere one may hear of ravenous dogs and wolves, and cruel

men- eaters, but it is not so easy to find states that are well and wisely

governed.

As he told us of many things that were amiss in those new- discovered

countries, so he reckoned up not a few things, from which patterns might

be taken for correcting the errors of these nations among whom we live; of

which an account may be given, as I have already promised, at some other

time; for, at present, I intend only to relate those particulars that he told us,

of the manners and laws of the Utopians: but I will begin with the

occasion that led us to speak of that commonwealth. After Raphael had

discoursed with great judgment on the many errors that were both among

us and these nations, had treated of the wise institutions both here and

there, and had spoken as distinctly of the customs and government of

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every nation through which he had past, as if he had spent his whole life in

it, Peter, being struck with admiration, said, "I wonder, Raphael, how it

comes that you enter into no king's service, for I am sure there are none to

whom you would not be very acceptable; for your learning and knowledge,

both of men and things, is such, that you would not only entertain them

very pleasantly, but be of great use to them, by the examples you could set

before them, and the advices you could give them; and by this means you

would both serve your own interest, and be of great use to all your

friends." "As for my friends," answered he, "I need not be much concerned,

having already done for them all that was incumbent on me; for when I

was not only in good health, but fresh and young, I distributed that among

my kindred and friends which other people do not part with till they are

old and sick: when they then unwillingly give that which they can enjoy

no longer themselves. I think my friends ought to rest contented with this,

and not to expect that for their sakes I should enslave myself to any king

whatsoever." "Soft and fair!" said Peter; "I do not mean that you should be

a slave to any king, but only that you should assist them and be useful to

them." "The change of the word," said he, "does not alter the matter." "But

term it as you will," replied Peter, "I do not see any other way in which

you can be so useful, both in private to your friends and to the public, and

by which you can make your own condition happier." "Happier?"

answered Raphael, "is that to be compassed in a way so abhorrent to my

genius? Now I live as I will, to which I believe, few courtiers can pretend;

and there are so many that court the favour of great men, that there will be

no great loss if they are not troubled either with me or with others of my

temper." Upon this, said I, "I perceive, Raphael, that you neither desire

wealth nor greatness; and, indeed, I value and admire such a man much

more than I do any of the great men in the world. Yet I think you would do

what would well become so generous and philosophical a soul as yours is,

if you would apply your time and thoughts to public affairs, even though

you may happen to find it a little uneasy to yourself; and this you can

never do with so much advantage as by being taken into the council of

some great prince and putting him on noble and worthy actions, which I

know you would do if you were in such a post; for the springs both of

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摘要：

UTOPIA1UTOPIAThomasMoreUTOPIA2INTRODUCTIONSirThomasMore,sonofSirJohnMore,ajusticeoftheKing'sBench,wasbornin1478,inMilkStreet,inthecityofLondon.AfterhisearliereducationatSt.Anthony'sSchool,inThreadneedleStreet,hewasplaced,asaboy,inthehouseholdofCardinalJohnMorton,ArchbishopofCanterburyandLordChancell...

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