1. The serious affairs of a republic are managed by persons representing
the persons who live there. 2. The inhabitants are well represented, and
as free as possible. 3. Enlightened persons often prefer to live in a
republic. 4. Persons who have a good king are very happy, but those who
have a bad king are as unhappy as possible. 5. Nowadays ("nuntempe")
there are very few tyrants. 6. The majority of the kings of Europe are
praiseworthy. 7. That nation which was most enlightened a thousand years
ago was the Chinese nation. 8. The Chinese of-that-time already had
good printers among them. 9. It is said (54) that the Chinese drink as
much tea as two or three contemporary nations. 10. The oldest republic
in Europe is named San Marino. 11. It is near the mountains, in the
northern part of the much praised Italian land. 12. It contains only
twenty-two square miles, and is therefore one of the smallest republics
in the world. 13. Fourteen hundred years ago it was already a republic,
and it is still that same republic. 14. The inhabitants are energetic
and patient, and have as much to eat as they need. 15. There are bakers
and shopkeepers (172) and many laborers among them. 16. They do not
think about commerce, or greatly ("multe") change their customs. 17.
They seldom take ("faras") tiresome journeys, but remain peacefully
("pace") at home.