1Thing I troubled myſelf about; all I ſtudied
was how to frame the beſt that poſſibly could
be, and that which deviates leaſt from a Re
ſemblance of this, ought to be preferred above
all the reſt. So our Deſign is to deſcribe and
illuſtrate by Examples ſuch a City as the wiſeſt
Men judge to be in all Reſpects the moſt con
venient; and in other Reſpects accommodat
ing ourſelves to Time and Neceſſity, we ſhall
follow the Opinion of Socrates, that whatever
cannot be alter'd but for the worſe, is really
beſt. I lay it down therefore for granted, that
our City ought to be contrived as to ſuffer
none of the Inconveniencies ſpoken of in the
firſt Book, nor to want any of the Neceſſaries
of Life. Its Territory ſhall be healthy, wide,
pleaſant, various, fruitful, ſecure, and abound
ing with Plenty of Fruits, and great Quantities
of Water. It muſt not want Rivers, Lakes,
and an open Paſſage to the Sea for the con
venient bringing in of ſuch Things as are
wanted, and carrying out ſuch as may be
ſpared. All Things, in a Word, muſt con
tribute to the eſtabliſhing and improving all
Affairs both civil and military, whereby the
Commonwealth may be a Defence to its Sub
jects, an Ornament to itſelf, a Pleaſure to its
Friends, and a Terror to its Enemies. I take
it to be a great Happineſs to any City, to be
able to cultivate a good handſome Part of its
Territory, in Spite of any Enemy whatſoever.
Moreover your City ought to ſtand in the
Middle of its Territory, in a Place from
whence it can have a View all round its Coun
try, and watch its Opportunities, and be ready
where-ever Neceſſity calls, which may lie con
venient for the Farmer, and Ploughman to go
out to his daily Labour, and return with Eaſe
laden with Grain and Fruits. But the Situation
is one of the Things of greateſt Importance,
whether it ſhould be upon an open Plain, or
upon the Shore, or on a Hill: becauſe each of
theſe have ſome particular Qualities that are
uſeful, and others on the contrary that are not
ſo agreeable.
was how to frame the beſt that poſſibly could
be, and that which deviates leaſt from a Re
ſemblance of this, ought to be preferred above
all the reſt. So our Deſign is to deſcribe and
illuſtrate by Examples ſuch a City as the wiſeſt
Men judge to be in all Reſpects the moſt con
venient; and in other Reſpects accommodat
ing ourſelves to Time and Neceſſity, we ſhall
follow the Opinion of Socrates, that whatever
cannot be alter'd but for the worſe, is really
beſt. I lay it down therefore for granted, that
our City ought to be contrived as to ſuffer
none of the Inconveniencies ſpoken of in the
firſt Book, nor to want any of the Neceſſaries
of Life. Its Territory ſhall be healthy, wide,
pleaſant, various, fruitful, ſecure, and abound
ing with Plenty of Fruits, and great Quantities
of Water. It muſt not want Rivers, Lakes,
and an open Paſſage to the Sea for the con
venient bringing in of ſuch Things as are
wanted, and carrying out ſuch as may be
ſpared. All Things, in a Word, muſt con
tribute to the eſtabliſhing and improving all
Affairs both civil and military, whereby the
Commonwealth may be a Defence to its Sub
jects, an Ornament to itſelf, a Pleaſure to its
Friends, and a Terror to its Enemies. I take
it to be a great Happineſs to any City, to be
able to cultivate a good handſome Part of its
Territory, in Spite of any Enemy whatſoever.
Moreover your City ought to ſtand in the
Middle of its Territory, in a Place from
whence it can have a View all round its Coun
try, and watch its Opportunities, and be ready
where-ever Neceſſity calls, which may lie con
venient for the Farmer, and Ploughman to go
out to his daily Labour, and return with Eaſe
laden with Grain and Fruits. But the Situation
is one of the Things of greateſt Importance,
whether it ſhould be upon an open Plain, or
upon the Shore, or on a Hill: becauſe each of
theſe have ſome particular Qualities that are
uſeful, and others on the contrary that are not
ſo agreeable.
WHEN Bacchus led his Army through India,
the exceſſive Heat bred Diſtempers among
them; whereupon he carried them up to the
Hills, where the Wholeſomneſs of the Air im
mediately cured them. Thoſe that firſt built
Cites upon Hills, ſeem to have done it upon Ac
count of the Security of ſuch a Situation; but
then they generally want Water. The Plains af
ford great Conveniencies of Water, and of
Rivers; but the Air is more groſs, which
makes the Summer exceſſively hot, and the
Winter as cold; beſides, being leſs defended
againſt any Violence.
the exceſſive Heat bred Diſtempers among
them; whereupon he carried them up to the
Hills, where the Wholeſomneſs of the Air im
mediately cured them. Thoſe that firſt built
Cites upon Hills, ſeem to have done it upon Ac
count of the Security of ſuch a Situation; but
then they generally want Water. The Plains af
ford great Conveniencies of Water, and of
Rivers; but the Air is more groſs, which
makes the Summer exceſſively hot, and the
Winter as cold; beſides, being leſs defended
againſt any Violence.
THE Sea-ſhore is mighty convenient for the
Importation of Merchandizes; but all Sea
towns are reckoned too fond and greedy of
Novelties, and to ſuffer perpetual Commo
tions from the too great Concourſe, and the
Broils of Strangers, and are expoſed to very
dangerous Inſults and Revolutions from foreign
Fleets. In which ſoever of theſe Situations
therefore you build your City, you ſhould en
deavour to contrive that it may partake of all
the Advantages, and be liable to none of
the Diſadvantages. Upon a Hill I would
make the Ground level, and upon a Plain I
would raiſe it to an Eminence in that Part
where my City was to be placed. And if we
cannot effect this juſt according to our Wiſh,
by reaſon of the great Variety of Places, let
us make uſe of the following Methods to ob
tain at leaſt every Thing that is neceſſary:
On a maritime Coaſt, if it is a Plain, do not
let the City ſtand too near the Sea; nor too
far from it, if it is hilly. We are told that
the Shores of the Sea are liable to Alteration;
and that ſeveral Towns, and particularly
Baiæ in Italy, have been ſwallow'd up by the
Waves.
Importation of Merchandizes; but all Sea
towns are reckoned too fond and greedy of
Novelties, and to ſuffer perpetual Commo
tions from the too great Concourſe, and the
Broils of Strangers, and are expoſed to very
dangerous Inſults and Revolutions from foreign
Fleets. In which ſoever of theſe Situations
therefore you build your City, you ſhould en
deavour to contrive that it may partake of all
the Advantages, and be liable to none of
the Diſadvantages. Upon a Hill I would
make the Ground level, and upon a Plain I
would raiſe it to an Eminence in that Part
where my City was to be placed. And if we
cannot effect this juſt according to our Wiſh,
by reaſon of the great Variety of Places, let
us make uſe of the following Methods to ob
tain at leaſt every Thing that is neceſſary:
On a maritime Coaſt, if it is a Plain, do not
let the City ſtand too near the Sea; nor too
far from it, if it is hilly. We are told that
the Shores of the Sea are liable to Alteration;
and that ſeveral Towns, and particularly
Baiæ in Italy, have been ſwallow'd up by the
Waves.
Pharos in Ægypt, which anciently was ſur
rounded by the Sea, is now become a Cherſo
neſus, or Neck of Land. Strabo writes, that
Tyre and Clazomene underwent the ſame
Change: Nay they tell us that the Temple
of Jupiter Hammon ſtood once upon the Sea
ſhore, though now the Sea has left it, and it
ſtands far within the Land. They adviſe us
to build our City either cloſe to the Shore, or
elſe at a pretty good Diſtance from the Sea:
for we find that the Winds from the Sea are
heavy and ſharp, by reaſon of their Saltneſs:
And therefore, when they arrive at ſome Place
at a middling Diſtance from the Sea, eſpecially
if it is a Plain, you will find the Air there ex
tremely moiſt through the diſſolving of the
Salt which it took from the Sea, which makes
it thick and heavy, and perfectly ropy; ſo
that in ſuch Places you ſhall ſometimes ſee a
Sort of Strings flying about in the Air like
Cobwebs; And they tell us, that a Mixture
of Salt has the ſame Effect upon the Air as it
has upon Water, which it will corrupt to
ſuch a Degree as to make it ſtink very offen
ſively. The Ancients, and chiefly Plato, are
for having a City ſtand at ten Miles Diſtance
rounded by the Sea, is now become a Cherſo
neſus, or Neck of Land. Strabo writes, that
Tyre and Clazomene underwent the ſame
Change: Nay they tell us that the Temple
of Jupiter Hammon ſtood once upon the Sea
ſhore, though now the Sea has left it, and it
ſtands far within the Land. They adviſe us
to build our City either cloſe to the Shore, or
elſe at a pretty good Diſtance from the Sea:
for we find that the Winds from the Sea are
heavy and ſharp, by reaſon of their Saltneſs:
And therefore, when they arrive at ſome Place
at a middling Diſtance from the Sea, eſpecially
if it is a Plain, you will find the Air there ex
tremely moiſt through the diſſolving of the
Salt which it took from the Sea, which makes
it thick and heavy, and perfectly ropy; ſo
that in ſuch Places you ſhall ſometimes ſee a
Sort of Strings flying about in the Air like
Cobwebs; And they tell us, that a Mixture
of Salt has the ſame Effect upon the Air as it
has upon Water, which it will corrupt to
ſuch a Degree as to make it ſtink very offen
ſively. The Ancients, and chiefly Plato, are
for having a City ſtand at ten Miles Diſtance
zoom in
zoom out
zoom area
full page
page width
set mark
remove mark
get reference
digilib