The Contest of Wisdom with Folly

Letter

A horizontal ornamental woodcut headpiece featuring symmetrical scrolling foliage, floral patterns, and circular motifs.

To the sons of doctrine and those raised on the wings of justice, we pray from the heart for Concord, Symphony, and immunity from viperous tongues through Jesus Christ.

As it is my nature's constitution (most distinguished men, most desired judges) to lead a life that is, first and foremost, pleasing to my God, and then to men—a life tranquil and full of charity—I follow the theme of the Mosaic Decalogue The Ten Commandments given to Moses. which was contracted into two by our Savior: namely, honor and fear God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Thus (as I hope), in those five volumes of mine now published with the assistance of divine grace, I have conducted myself before both God and men in such a way that no place can be found in them where I have uttered a biting insult original: "dicaculæ probrum" against anyone. Nor, puffed up by vain self-love original: "philautia vana" or led by a foolish and impious desire to disparage others, have I ever thought that because certain corrupt opinions have been trumpeted original: "ebucinatis" to the world, the truths found in the harvests of others should be considered lies—simply because they are perhaps rare to hear, seem crude at first sight, or appear difficult and beyond the grasp of common men’s thoughts.

Without harm to other writers (I say), or the degradation of their dignity—my pen not armed with a viper's tooth, but governed by a peaceful mind with all bitterness set aside, and with hatred and envy banished to Orcus A name for the underworld or Hell in classical mythology., accompanied only by honest reason—I desired to sing of that harmonic matter in the world, both great and small Refers to the Macrocosm (the universe) and the Microcosm (the human being)., for the praise of God and the comfort of men. I did this so that, through the harmony I began, I might make the condition of my mind conform to its laws; for the mind is, in and of itself, quiet, and exists as a rich symphony of its supercelestial homeland, full of divine splendor. Hence, my mind being sincerely occupied in the sweet contemplation of the consonances of true harmony, it delighted in filling these volumes not with quarrels, brawls, calumnies, or lies, but with a real subject supported and confirmed by reason, authority, and visual demonstration.

For what, I ask, can be imagined more futile or more foolish among mortals than to explain peace through the means of war, or Sympathy through the noise of Antipathy, or to contaminate the peaceful proportions of God and nature herself with the discords of Strife original: "Litigii" and the impious and unjust dissonances of the Devil?

No one (as Christ witnessed) can rightly serve two masters. What weight, therefore, can be expected in a true explanation of worldly music where the mind (which worldly harmony fundamentally adorned) is now infected by the stain of Strife and defiled by the filth of dissension because of the pollution of the malignant body? For the more human nature is prone to litigation, the further we judge it to be from the meditation of divine harmony—by which the joints of the world and its elements are arranged toward one another in peace and concord—and consequently, we suspect such a soul to be plunged deeper into the sad valley of darkness. Solomon certainly seems to support this opinion, breaking out into these words: The corruptible body weighs down the soul, and the earthly dwelling oppresses the mind full of many cares, so that we scarcely conceive of the things on earth, and find with labor those things at hand; but who shall investigate the things in heaven? And who shall know the counsel of God unless God gives him wisdom? Thus the paths of those on earth were corrected, and men were taught the things pleasing to God, and so were saved by Wisdom. A quotation from the Wisdom of Solomon 9:15-18. From this, therefore, we see that the holy Wisdom of God is the foundation of universal harmony; with her leading the paths in true concord, we perceive those things pleasing to God (the source of harmony), and we are led to know the harmonic mystery of the world. This is also what the aforementioned wise man seems to confess in this thread of discourse: Wisdom (he says) has given me certain knowledge, so that I may know the constitution of the world, and the power of the elements; the beginning, end, and middle of times; the changes of the solstices and the varieties of seasons; the cycles of the year and the positions of the stars; the natures of living creatures, and the tempers or rages of wild beasts; the forces of winds or spirits, and the thoughts of men; the differences of plants, and the powers of roots; even to know whatever things are... A quotation from the Wisdom of Solomon 7:17-20.