Nine Books on the Dignity and Advancement of Learning

very great consideration. This will provide entertainment for your spirit, which nourishes itself on sublime things; when you are able to give it the freedom of its true Application.

The fourth, which deserves to be read with great attention, displays for us a doctrine of Man, divided in two, namely into the Philosophy of Humanity; and into that of Civility etiquette/social conduct. We consider in the first the miseries to which we are subject. And upon this encounter the Author provides us, regarding Medicine, observations that had not yet been made therein. It is in this that I believe I have prepared for you an agreeable diversion, MY LORD, and one which is capable of relieving the inconveniences caused to you by the too painful occupation that you take upon yourself for the good of France. But after having spoken of the lowering and the weakness of man, he would like to raise him up by the great prerogatives that he ought to obtain above all other sublunary creatures. He finds, however, that this part is defective; because it has never been well treated. That is why, in order to supplement this great defect, I propose to those of our age the eminence of your perfections; and I give to posterity a very certain assurance that you have been so accomplished that you must obtain all the privileges that one cannot refuse to one who is perfectly virtuous. As for the other portion of the Philosophy of Civility or propriety, which regards the body kept properly; I have nothing else to say, except that you will take pleasure in it; since you are the Perfect Courtier.

The fifth is entirely occupied, under the general name of Logic, with the Art of inventing Arguments. Where you will remark therein, if it pleases you, MY LORD,