Utopia

THOMAS MORE

who consumes nearly half of his life. And so I gain for myself only that time which I steal from sleep and food; and because that is a small amount, I have proceeded slowly; yet because it is something, I have finally finished and sent Utopia original: "Vtopiam." From the Greek for "no place," though it sounds like "good place." to you, my dear Peter, so that you might read it, and if anything has escaped my notice, that you might remind me. For although I do not entirely lack confidence in myself in this regard (and I only wish my talent and learning were as great as my memory, which has not altogether failed me), yet I am not so confident as to believe that nothing could have slipped my mind.

For even John Clement, my page original: "puer meus." John Clement was a real historical figure who served as More's secretary and later became a renowned physician and scholar. In the Renaissance, "puer" (boy) often designated a young assistant or student living in a master's house., who was present with us, as you know—for I never let him be absent from any conversation that might yield some benefit, since from this young sprout, which has begun to turn green with both Latin and Greek literature, I expect a wonderful harvest someday—he has thrown me into a great state of doubt. Indeed, when, as far as I remember, Hythloday related...