The Complete Works of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola

although they had not been fully explored) he nevertheless seemed to hate and detest them. In my judgment, this was because he noticed that their common use was directed toward bringing infamy upon one's colleagues and undermining their memory in rebuttals; he felt such methods contributed little or nothing to the discovery of truth, to which he believed untiring labor should be devoted. But lest I pursue this further and detain the reader, I will summarize briefly. One man may have shone in eloquence, but was dishonored by ignorance of the secrets of nature. Another mastered foreign languages, but did not understand the universal decrees of the philosophers; or perhaps he read the deep discoveries of the ancients but did not compose any new doctrines of his own. For another, knowledge was sought only for the sake of human glory, not for the benefit of the Christian commonwealth original: "christianæ rei pub." (the Christian Republic), referring to the collective body of Western Christendom or the divine. Pico, however, had embraced all these things with such equal zeal that they seemed to have flowed into him in troops and heaps. He was not like many who, excelling in one thing, do not participate in all. Instead, he had made such progress in all the sciences that if you considered any one of them in him, you would have judged that he had chosen that specific one as his own peculiar specialty. These things were also the more admirable because he attained them by the power of his own genius and love of truth, almost without a teacher. Thus, we might say of him what Epicurus used to say of himself: original: "Se sibi ipsum... fuisse magistrum" That he was his own master.

Five causes of such wonderful effects. Seven thousand gold coins spent in gathering books.

As for the causes that met to produce such wonderful effects in so short a span of time, I have found several: an incredible genius, a most tenacious memory, and ample resources, by which he was aided in purchasing books in our own language as well as in Greek and the "barbarian" In the Renaissance, "barbarian" often referred to Hebrew, Arabic, or Chaldean (Aramaic) languages. tongues. Indeed, I recall it being reported to me that he had spent seven thousand gold coins up to that day in acquiring for himself volumes of every kind of literature. Finally, there was his constant and indefatigable study, and his contempt for earthly things. If the ancient age of the Spartans original: "laconum" (Laconians), known for their discipline and brevity. had produced him, then—if we believe Aristotle—they would have called him a divine man. But now, I believe, the virtues of the intellect must be left behind, and the noble parts of his soul regarding his actions must be followed; his most exacting morals must be brought into public view. This is so that his soul’s flaming devotion to God may become known, that his wealth bestowed upon the needy may be praised, and that those who are finally devoted to the divine law may have an abundant occasion to return thanks to the Author of all good things. Therefore, three years before he passed away, so that he might live in deep peace—having set aside the cares of ruling and being unconcerned with where the scepter might fall—he handed over all the patrimonies he possessed in Mirandola and Concordia (that is, a third part of them) to me, whether by gift or by sale I know not. This act was later confirmed by the generous imperial hand of Maximilian Augustus Emperor Maximilian I (reigned 1493–1519)., who is our King and immediate Lord (for we have recognized no other for as many centuries as Mirandola and Concordia have been built, except for whoever sits successively upon the royal or imperial throne of the Romans).

Distribution to the poor

Whatever money he had received from this business he partly bestowed upon the poor, and partly spent on buying lands from which he and his household might be sustained. Specifically, he purchased the Corbulas in the territory of Ferrara for many thousands of gold coins.

A moderate table

He likewise distributed many silver vessels and precious parts of his furniture for the use of the poor. He was content with a moderate table, though he still retained something of his former elegance regarding the dishes and silver vessels. Each day at the appointed hours, he poured out prayers to God. He always gave money to the poor if any encountered him; not content with that, he had commissioned Girolamo Benivieni A Florentine poet and close friend of Pico who shared his interest in mystical philosophy.—a learned Florentine citizen whom he loved greatly for his immense charity and integrity of character—to always help the needy with his [Pico's] own money. He also provided for young women to be married Referring to the practice of providing dowries for poor girls to ensure they could marry honorably., and immediately [replenished] him as soon as he [had spent the coins]...