The Dialogue of Creatures

Valerius

Augustine

What is high office original: "sublimitas" if not a storm that brings shipwreck? Who can be in honor without pain? Who in high rank without tribulation? Who in dignity without vanity? As Valerius relates in his seventh book regarding that king of subtle wit and counsel, who, when the crown original: "dyadema" was handed to him, held it for a long time before placing it on his head, and considering it, said: "O noble scepter, how happy you would be if you were not so full of anxieties and perils." Because of this, Augustine says: Nothing is more laborious, nothing more difficult, nothing more dangerous than to lead. Therefore Valerius tells in his seventh book about Cornelius Scipio, to whose house the governance of Spain had fallen by lot; he responded that he did not wish to go there, adding as a reason that he would not know how to act rightly. For he did not consider himself a man sufficiently capable of such great honor and danger.

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¶ On Hesperus and Lucifer. Chapter four.

To the right of the first six lines of text is a square-framed woodcut depicting two eight-pointed stars side-by-side.

Hesperus The evening star, typically the planet Venus appearing after sunset. is the evening star. And Lucifer The morning star, Venus appearing before sunrise. is the morning star which appears at dawn. Whence the verse: "Hesperus shines by night, and Lucifer by day." These two stars gathered all the others to themselves, and with all these they went before the Creator of the stars, saying:

Lord Saturn In medieval cosmology, Saturn was the highest of the seven wandering "planets" and often depicted as a governing or creative force in these fables., you have irradiated us and placed us fittingly. But in this we are supplanted, because our splendor and beauty do not always shine forth. Therefore, we piously pray that you should obscure the sun and deprive it of light, so that we may shine throughout the day as well.

The Creator replied to them: "This is not permitted. For the sun is the adorner of the day, the divider of the hours, and the origin of all living things, and without it nothing could sprout. Therefore, I will not hear your prayers in this matter." Finally, the stars petitioned the Creator, saying:

O Maker of all creatures, at least hear us in this. Stir up and destroy the clouds in the air which hinder our light. For because of the clouds, we are many times unable to be contemplated and seen.

To this, however, the Creator said: "Be silent and do not present unjust things. It is even written in Cato Referring to the Distichs of Cato, a collection of moral proverbs used as a primary school text in the Middle Ages.: 'Ask for what is just, or what seems honest.' For the clouds irrigate the world with their flooding. If it did not rain, the earth would be quite unable to germinate and sprout." And saying this, he drove back the stars and said: "Let those who do not ask for things that are orderly or pleasing be driven away." From this it is clear that whoever wishes to be heard ought to ask for those things which are just and honest to do, and which are according to reason and the will of God. For this reason Augustine says: "When you ask for those things which God praises and permits, ask with confidence. For that petition is granted by God." This is why Isidore Saint Isidore of Seville, a 7th-century scholar. says: "Many who pray are not heard because God bestows better things on them than what they requested." For Seneca relates
Seneca

in the second book of On Benefits that Alexander Alexander the Great. gave a city to a certain man who asked for a penny original: "denariu". And when the man said such a gift was not suitable for him, Alexander replied: "I am not asking what is fitting for you to receive, but what is fitting for me to give." For God acts in this way, because often he does not grant the things requested so that he may give better and more ample things. And as Isidore says: "For often God does not hear many according to their will, so that he may hear them according to their salvation."

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¶ On the rainbow and the crab. Chapter five.