and drinking, and over every department an old man and an old
woman preside. These two have at once the command of those
who serve, and the power of chastising, or causing to be chas-
tised, those who are negligent or disobedient; and they also
examine and mark each one, both male and female, who excels
in his or her duties.

All the young people wait upon the older ones who have
passed the age of forty, and in the evening when they go to
sleep the master and mistress command that those should be
sent to work in the morning, upon whom in succession the duty
falls, one or two to separate apartments. The young people,
however, wait upon one another, and that alas! with some un-
willingness. They have first and second tables, and on both
sides there are seats. On one side sit the women, on the other
the men; and as in the refectories of the monks, there is no
noise. While they are eating a young man reads a book from
a platform, intoning distinctly and sonorously, and often the
magistrates question them upon the more important parts of
the reading. And truly it is pleasant to observe in what man-
ner these young people, so beautiful and clothed in garments
so suitable, attend to them, and to see at the same time so many
friends, brothers, sons, fathers, and mothers all in their turn
living together with so much honesty, propriety, and love. So
each one is given a napkin, a plate, fish, and a dish of food. It
is the duty of the medical officers to tell the cooks what repasts
shall be prepared on each day, and what food for the old, what
for the young, and what for the sick. The magistrates receive
the full-grown and fatter portion, and they from their share
always distribute something to the boys at the table who have