CHAPTER IX

COMMUNITY AND CHASTITY

What Pythagoras said to the youths in the gymnasium, these reported to their elders. Hereupon these latter, a thousand strong, called him into the senate-house, praised him for what he had said to their sons, and desired him to unfold to the public administration any thoughts advantageous to the Crotonians that he might have.

His first advice was to build a temple to the Muses, which would preserve the already existing concord. He observed to them that all of these divinities were grouped together by their common name, that they subsisted only in conjunction with each other, that they specially rejoiced in social honors, and that—in spite of all changes—the choir of the Muses subsisted always as one and the same. They comprehended symphony, harmony, rhythm, and all things breeding concord. Not only to beautiful theorems does their power extend, but to the general symphonious harmony.

Justice was the next desideratum (thing desired). Their common country was not to be victimized selfishly, but to be received as a common deposit from the multitude of citizens. They should therefore govern it in a manner such that, as an hereditary possession, they might transmit it to their posterity. This could best be effected if the members of the administration realized their equality with the citizens, with the only supereminence being that of justice. It is from the common recognition that justice is required in every place that fables were created, such as that Themis sits in the same order with Jupiter, that Dice (or rightness) is seated by Pluto, and that Law is established in all cities, so that whoever is unjust in things required of him by his position in society may concurrently appear unjust towards the whole world. Moreover, senators should not make use of any of the Gods for the purpose of an oath, inasmuch as their language should be such as to make them credible even without any oaths.

As to their domestic affairs, their government should be the object of deliberate choice. They should show genuine affection to their own offspring, remembering that these, from among all animals, were the only ones who could appreciate this affection. Their associations with their partners in life, their wives, should be such that they are mindful that while other compacts are engraved on tables and pillars, uxorial (marital) ones are incarnated in children. They should, moreover, make an effort to win the affection of their children, not merely in a natural, involuntary manner, but through deliberate choice, which alone merits beneficence.

He further besought them to avoid connection with any but their wives, lest, angered by their husbands’ neglect and vice, these should not get even by adulterating the race. They should also consider that they received their wives from the Vestal hearth with libations, and brought them home in the presence of the Gods themselves as suppliants would have done. Also, that by orderly conduct and temperance, they should become models not only for their family, but also for their community.

Again, they should minimize public vice, lest offenders indulge in secret sins to escape the punishment of the laws, but should, rather, be impelled to justice from a reverence for beauty and propriety. Procrastination also was to be ended, inasmuch as opportuneness was the best part of any deed. The separation of parents from their children Pythagoras considered the greatest of evils. While he who is able to discern what is advantageous to himself may be considered the best man, next to him in excellence should be ranked he who can see the utility in what happens to others; while the...