GIORDANO BRUNO OF NOLA

whether it ought to come forward, or persevere forever under the same darkness in which it once lay hidden. PHILOTIMUS. Why is this? THEOPHILUS. The OCR identifies the speaker as HER., likely referring to Theophilo, the protagonist of Bruno's dialogues. Because, as they say, its author raises himself up as a target at which many different kinds of armed Archers original: "Sagittarij"; here referring to critics or detractors aiming at the author. take aim. PHILOTIMUS. Indeed, if that were something everyone had to dread and guard against, no one would ever have attempted worthy works; nothing good or excellent would ever have come into view. The providence of the gods does not cease (so said the Egyptian Priests) to send certain Mercuries original: "Mercurios"; referring to messengers of divine wisdom or intellect. to men at certain appointed times, even if they foreknow that these same messengers will be poorly received, or not received at all. Nor does the intellect, or this sensible sun, ever cease to shine simply because we do not always, or all of us, pay attention.

LOGIFER. original: "LOG."; likely Logifer, a pedantic character often used as a foil in Bruno's writing. I would easily agree with those who judge that matters of this kind should by no means be made public. I hear that Philotimus is doubtful about this matter; if he had heard with his own ears what we have heard, he would certainly rather cast these writings into the fire to be burned than see to their publication. For up to now, these things have brought no pleasant harvest to their teacher; now, I do not know what he can hope for in the future, for besides the very few who can understand these things by themselves, people will be least of all able to bring a correct judgment upon them. PHILOTIMUS. You hear what this man says.