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 magistrate takes care that no
one receives more than he deserves. Yet nothing necessary is denied to
anyone. Friendship is recognized among them in war, in infirmity, in the
art contests, by which means they aid one another mutually by
teaching. Sometimes they improve themselves mutually with praises, with
conversation, with actions, and out of the things they need. All those
of the same age call one another brothers. They call all over twenty-two
years of age, fathers; those that are less than twenty-two are named
sons. Moreover, the magistrates govern well, so that no one in the
fraternity can do injury to another.
G.M. And how?
Capt. As many names of virtues as there are among us, so many
magistrates there are among them. There is a magistrate who is named
Magnanimity, another Fortitude, a third Chastity, a fourth Liberality,
a fifth Criminal and Civil Justice, a sixth Comfort, a seventh Truth, an
eighth Kindness, a tenth Gratitude, an eleventh Cheerfulness, a twelfth
Exercise, a thirteenth Sobriety, etc. They are elected to duties of that
kind, each one to that duty for excellence in which he is known from
boyhood to be most suitable. Wherefore among them neither robbery nor
clever murders, nor lewdness, incest, adultery, or other crimes of
which we accuse one another, can be found. They accuse themselves of
ingratitude and malignity when anyone denies a lawful satisfaction to
another of indolence, of sadness, of anger, of scurrility, of slander,
and of lying, which curseful thing they thoroughly hate. Accused persons
undergoing punishment are deprived of the common table, and other
honors, until the judge thinks that they agree with their correction.
G.M. Tell me the manner in which the magistrates are chosen.
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