The Life of Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc

he showed himself to be a more noble Maecenas Maecenas was a Roman advisor to Emperor Augustus and a famous patron of poets like Virgil and Horace. His name became a general term for a wealthy benefactor of the arts.. For this reason, although his fame does not seem capable of being extinguished, as the world of scholars is filled with his illustrious name, we must not allow the same fault to be held against us that was held against the age of Maecenas. Because no contemporary passed down a history of Maecenas to future generations, it has happened that, besides a name very dear to the learned, hardly any details about him have reached us. Since the same fate might be feared for Our Friend original: "Nostro." Gassendi frequently uses this affectionate term to refer to Peiresc., it is surely right that those who lived with him intimately should ensure that his character becomes known even to distant descendants. The fame of human events is like the evening twilight. It is very bright at first, but it fades so gradually that it eventually turns into darkness. History is therefore necessary to act like a torch and carry that fame forward. Furthermore, I acknowledge that there is no one upon whom this duty falls more than me. There is no one to whom he could have been better known, owing to our long and familiar life together. It is also true that, after his death, I was able to examine his letters and other records original: "monumentis." In this period, the term refers to any written evidence, archives, or physical memorials that preserve memory.. I was able to understand things from these sources that would not have been so readily available to anyone else. It is certainly for this reason that, although many excellent men could have honored this task original: "Spartam ornare." From a Latin proverb meaning to do justice to the position or duty one has been given., they nevertheless agreed with you and urged me to set my hand to the work. Finally, as it concerns our country, this era, and