" - Tantum
Carmina Nostra Valent Tela Inter Martia, Quantum
Chaonias Dicunt, Aquila Veniente, Columbas."
Who would hesitate in deciding which are more profitable, the works
of St. Jerom, or the riches of Croesus?
But where now shine the gold
and silver of Croesus? whilst the world is instructed by the example
and enlightened by the learning of the poor coenobite. Yet even he,
through envy, suffered stripes and contumely at Rome, although his
character was so illustrious; and at length being driven beyond the
seas, found a refuge for his studies in the solitude of Bethlehem.
Thus it appears, that gold and arms may support us in this life, but
avail nothing after death; and that letters through envy profit
nothing in this world, but, like a testament, acquire an immortal
value from the seal of death.
According to the poet,
"Pascitur in vivis livor, post fata quiescit;
Cum suus ex merito quemque tuetur honor."
And also
"Denique si quis adhuc praetendit nubila, livor
Occidet, et meriti post me referentur honores."
Those who by artifice endeavour to acquire or preserve the
reputation of abilities or ingenuity, while they abound in the words
of others, have little cause to boast of their own inventions. For
the composers of that polished language, in which such various cases
as occur in the great body of law are treated with such an
appropriate elegance of style, must ever stand forward in the first
ranks of praise. I should indeed have said, that the authors of
refined language, not the hearers only, the inventors, not the
reciters, are most worthy of commendation. You will find, however,
that the practices of the court and of the schools are extremely
similar; as well in the subtleties they employ to lead you forward,
as in the steadiness with which they generally maintain their own
positions. Yet it is certain that the knowledge of logic (the
acumen, if I may so express it, of all other sciences as well as
arts) is very useful, when restricted within proper bounds; whilst
the court (i.e. courtly language), excepting to sycophants or
ambitious men, is by no means necessary. For if you are successful
at court, ambition never wholly quits its hold till satiated, and
allures and draws you still closer; but if your labour is thrown
away, you still continue the pursuit, and, together with your
substance, lose your time, the greatest and most irretrievable of
all losses. There is likewise some resemblance between the court
and the game of dice, as the poet observes:-
"Sic ne perdiderit non cessat perdere lusor,
Dum revocat cupidas alea blanda manus;"
which, by substituting the word CURIA for ALEA, may be applied to
the court. This further proof of their resemblance may be added;
that as the chances of the dice and court are not productive of any
real delight, so they are equally distributed to the worthy and the
unworthy.
Since, therefore, among so many species of men, each follows his own
inclination, and each is actuated by different desires, a regard for
posterity has induced me to choose the study of composition; and, as
this life is temporary and mutable, it is grateful to live in the
memory of future ages, and to be immortalized by fame; for to toil
after that which produces envy in life, but glory after death, is a
sure indication of an elevated mind.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 12 of 103
Words from 5803 to 6369
of 54608
