“This nation serves the Utopians against all people whatsoever, for
they pay higher than any other. The Utopians hold this for a maxim,
that as they seek out the best sort of men for their own use at home,
so they make use of this worst sort of men for the consumption of war;
and therefore they hire them with the offers of vast rewards to expose
themselves to all sorts of hazards, out of which the greater part never
returns to claim their promises; yet they make them good most
religiously to such as escape. This animates them to adventure again,
whenever there is occasion for it; for the Utopians are not at all
troubled how many of these happen to be killed, and reckon it a service
done to mankind if they could be a means to deliver the world from such
a lewd and vicious sort of people, that seem to have run together, as
to the drain of human nature. Next to these, they are served in their
wars with those upon whose account they undertake them, and with the
auxiliary troops of their other friends, to whom they join a few of
their own people, and send some man of eminent and approved virtue to
command in chief. There are two sent with him, who, during his command,
are but private men, but the first is to succeed him if he should
happen to be either killed or taken; and, in case of the like
misfortune to him, the third comes in his place; and thus they provide
against all events, that such accidents as may befall their generals
may not endanger their armies. When they draw out troops of their own
people, they take such out of every city as freely offer themselves,
for none are forced to go against their wills, since they think that if
any man is pressed that wants courage, he will not only act faintly,
but by his cowardice dishearten others. But if an invasion is made on
their country, they make use of such men, if they have good bodies,
though they are not brave; and either put them aboard their ships, or
place them on the walls of their towns, that being so posted, they may
find no opportunity of flying away; and thus either shame, the heat of
action, or the impossibility of flying, bears down their cowardice;
they often make a virtue of necessity, and behave themselves well,
because nothing else is left them. But as they force no man to go into
any foreign war against his will, so they do not hinder those women who
are willing to go along with their husbands; on the contrary, they
encourage and praise them, and they stand often next their husbands in
the front of the army. They also place together those who are related,
parents, and children, kindred, and those that are mutually allied,
near one another; that those whom nature has inspired with the greatest
zeal for assisting one another may be the nearest and readiest to do
it; and it is matter of great reproach if husband or wife survive one
another, or if a child survives his parent, and therefore when they
come to be engaged in action, they continue to fight to the last man,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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