Reasoning

given so to everyone, and thank the Divine goodness for them. Truly I thank it continuously, he replied; but for this, the thirst that I have for knowledge is not extinguished; because it is a natural thing for everyone; rather from day to day it continues growing in me. Nor do I grieve to be near the years of decrepitude; but I do grieve, that it will befall me to die just when I will start to learn. However, may the will of the Lord always be done. Now the desire that I hold for knowledge makes me pray to you again, Master Gioseffo, to do what I have proposed to you. I have no less thirst for such a thing, added Signor Desiderio, than our Master Adriano has; because even if I have seen and read many things demonstrated by some Authors; nevertheless I have not remained fully satisfied. You would need a river of the greatest, I will not say that is in Italy, but of the greatest that is in the world; and not a small stream, as is mine, to wish to extinguish these so ardent thirsts; however I want to tell you; that if so many, who have written, and have treated these things before me, have not been able to draw this thirst from you, what should I hope for? But because I am much beholden to Master Adriano; and I have that obligation to him, as if he were a father; and a certain honesty does not support that I refuse this charge, to satisfy this honorable and virtuous company; therefore I do not wish to refrain from doing what I can with all my strength; because even if from me you do not have that all, which you desire; you will see at least, that my will is ready in serving you. And I pray God, that this time I may be both Musician and Physician together, which will make me of great content to have done in a single stroke two operations; that is, given the convenient food to the Intellect of those who listen to me; and lifted the ailment from those who have need of health. In the name of the Lord therefore I wish to take this charge willingly; It is true, however, that I do not wish to obligate myself to demonstrate to you and resolve for you all those difficulties, that can fall into Music; being that if one wished to demonstrate every thing; besides the difficulty and the length of time, it would be, if not impossible, at least difficult to collect them all one by one together, and demonstrate them in order. To this law, replied Master Adriano, we do not wish to subject you; being that we know too well that this is an impossible thing. Signor Desiderio then added; Begin at least from whichever end pleases you; because when some doubt is born for us, we will go proposing it to you; and you will resolve it for us, if you wish. So I will do, therefore, I added; But beware, that when at times I will propose to you some thing, which you might have heard, read, or known beforehand in some Author, do not accuse me of theft; as do some little-judgmented, and little-prudent [critics]; accusing this and that Writer; nor even say, that there was no need to commemorate it; because wishing to demonstrate to you in order the things of Music; I cannot do otherwise than to discourse to you some things necessary for such reasonings; maximally knowing the greater part of you have not given work to the study of the Arts, and do not know what this name Demonstration imports, and those parts that enter into it. This, said Master Francesco, pleases me supremely; because even if it may be that I have heard at times what a Demonstration is, from the dialogues of our Maggio and Pigna, great men in letters; held often with our Lord Duke, and with other signaled persons; nevertheless, as it is not my profession, I cannot remember it so fully. Wherefore doing what you have said, it cannot be for us but of great utility. You must do it by any means; said Master Adriano; because even I do not remember these things too well, even if being young I heard them in Paris, when I gave myself to the study of the Imperial Laws. I too will have great pleasure in it, said Master Claudio: because of these things, I believe I know few; although I have heard many in the reasonings of those excellent Men, with whom I practiced continuously; wherefore I will come to remember some things, and I will keep them well in memory. Since you content yourselves thus, so I will do; I replied; wherefore I will speak now with you, Signor Desiderio; whom I know from the reasoning held a little while ago with us, to be very instructed. Let everyone beware, however, that in this Reasoning I cannot do otherwise than what also the greater part of those, who have written and reasoned before me about these things, have done; that is, that I take a part of those means, which serve me to come to the demonstrative act,

Metaphysics 1. ch. 1.

Note for the malicious.