IV

GROWTH OF MEN

Law, temperance and piety conspire in explaining as follows the generation of men from each other, after what manner, from what particulars, and how effected. The first postulate is that sexual association should occur never for pleasure but only for procreation of children.

Those powers and instruments, and appetites ministering to copulation were implanted in man by divinity, not for the sake of voluptuousness, but for the perpetuation of the race. Since it was impossible that man, who is born mortal, should participate in a divine life were his race not immortal, divinity operated this immortality through individuals, and lent continuousness to mankind's generation. This is the first essential, that cohabitation should not be effected for mere pleasure.

Next, man should be considered in connection with the social organism, a house or city, and especially that each human progeny should work at the completion of the world, unless he plans to be a deserter of either the domestic, political or divine Vestal hearth.

For those who are not entirely connected with each other for the sake of begetting children, injure the most honorable system of convention. But if persons of this description procreate with libidinous insolence and intemperance, their offspring will be miserable and flagitious, and will be execrated by God and geniuses, by men, families and cities.

Those therefore who deliberately consider these things ought not, in a way similar to irrational animals, to engage in venereal connections, but should think copulation a necessary good. For it is the opinion of worthy men that it is necessary and beautiful, not only to fill houses with large families, and also the greater part of the earth (for man is the most mild and the best of all animals), but as a thing of the greatest consequence, to cause them to abound with the most excellent men.

For on this account men inhabit cities governed by the best laws, rightly manage their domestic affairs and if they are able, impart to their friends such political employments as are conformable to the polities in which they live, since they not only provide for the multitude at large, but especially for worthy men.

Hence many men err who enter into connubial state without regarding the magnitude off the power of fortune, or public utility, but direct their attention to wealth, or dignity of birth. For in consequence of this, instead of uniting with females who are young and in the flower of their age, they become connected with extremely old women; and instead of having wives with a disposition according with, and most similar to their own, they marry those who are of an illustrious family, or are extremely rich. On this account, they procure for themselves discord instead of concord; and instead of unanimity, dissension; contending with each other for the mastery. For the wife who surpasses her husband in wealth, in birth, or in friends, is desirous of ruling over him, contrary to the law of nature. But the husband justly resisting this desire of superiority in his wife, and wishing not to be the second, but the first in domestic sway, is unable, in the management of his family, to take the lead.

This being, the case, it happens that not only families, but cities become miserable. For families are parts of cities, while the composition of the whole and the universe derives its subsistence from its parts. It is therefore, reasonable to admit that such as are the parts, such likewise will be the whole and the all which consists of things of this kind. As in fabrics of a primary nature the first structures operate greatly to the good or bad completion of the whole work; as for instance the manner in which the foundation is laid in a house-building, the structure of a keel in ship-building, and the utterance and closing of voice in musical modulation, so the concordant condition of families greatly contributes to the well or ill establishment of a polity.

Those therefore who direct their attention to the propagation of the human species, ought guard against everything which is dissimilar and imperfect; for neither plants nor animals when imperfect are prolific, but their fructification demands a certain amount of time, so that when the bodies are strong and perfect, they may produce seeds and fruits.

Hence it is necessary that boys and girls while they are virgin should be trained up in exercising and proper endurance, and that they be nourished with that kind of food which is adapted to a laborious, temperate, and patient life.

Moreover, in human life there are many things of such a kind that it is better for the knowledge of them to be deferred, for a certain time. Hence a boy should be so tutored as not to seek after venereal pleasure before he is twenty years of age, and then should rarely engage in them. This however will take place if he conceives that a good habit of body and continence are beautiful and honorable.

The following laws should be taught in Grecian cities: that connection with a mother, or a daughter, or a sister, should not be permitted either in temples or in a public place; for it would be well to employ numerous impediments to this energy.

All natural connexions, should be prevented, especially those attended with wanton insolence. But such as harmonize with nature should be encouraged, such as are effected with temperance for the purpose of producing a temperate and legitimate offspring.

Again, those who intend to beget children should providentially attend to the welfare of their future offspring. A temperate and salutary diet therefore is the first and greatest thing to be considered by the would be begetter; so that he should neither be filled with unseasonable food, nor become intoxicated, nor subject himself to any other perturbation which may injure the body -habits. But above all things he should be careful that the mind in the act of copulation should remain in a tranquil state, for bad seed is produced from depraved, discordant and turbulent habits.

With all possible earnestness and attention, we should endeavor that children be born elegant and graceful, and that when born, they should be well educated. For it is foolish that those who rear horses, birds or dog should, with the utmost diligence render the breed perfect, and from proper food, and when it is proper; and likewise consider how they ought to be disposed when they copulate with each other, that the offspring be not the result of chance; while men are inattentive to their progeny, begetting them by chance; and when begotten, should neglect both their food and education. It is the disregard of these that causes all the vice and depravity, since those born thus will resemble cattle, ignoble and vile.