Complete Works

...noticing the common practice, [which] leads to the preparation of infamy for one's associates and the weakening of memory in rebuttal, but contributes nothing or very little to the finding of truth, to which he believed tireless effort should be devoted. But lest I pursue too many things and detain the reader, I shall summarize briefly. One man has shone in eloquence, but was dishonored by ignorance of the secrets of nature. Another knew foreign languages, but was not skilled in the universal decrees of the philosophers. Another read through the inventions of the ancients, but did not compose new dogmas; for another, divine and human sciences were sought only for the sake of men and human glory, not for the benefit of the Christian republic. But he, in truth, had embraced all these things with such equal zeal that they seemed to have flowed into him in troops and heaps—and not like many who, excelling in no single thing, are mere participants in all. Rather, he had made such progress in all the sciences that, whichever of them you considered in him, you would have judged that he had chosen that one as his own particular and peculiar study. These things were also the more admirable because he had attained them by the power of his own genius and love of truth, as if without a teacher, so that we might say of him that which Epicurus used to say of himself: that he had been his own master.

To produce such miraculous effects in so short a span of time, I have found that five causes converged: an incredible genius, a most tenacious memory, and ample means, by which he was aided in purchasing books in our own, the Greek, and the barbarous languages. Indeed, I recall from memory that he spent seven thousand gold coins in acquiring for himself, up to that day, volumes of every kind of literature; then, constant and tireless study; and finally, contempt for earthly things. If, therefore, that ancient age of the Spartans had produced this man, he would have been called (if we believe Aristotle) a divine man. But the virtues of the intellect must now, I think, be left behind, and those parts of his noble soul which regard actions must be pursued, and his most exact character must be brought forth into the public view, so that his soul, inflamed toward God, may become known; so that his riches, bestowed upon the needy, may be praised; and so that an occasion may be most abundantly provided for those who are at last devoted to the divine law to return thanks to the Author of all good things.

Therefore, three years before he departed this life, so that he might live in deep peace, having set aside the cares of ruling, and secure in wherever the scepters might fall, he handed over to me all the patrimonies he possessed in Mirandola and Concordia—that is, a third part of them—I know not whether by gift or by sale. This deed was later confirmed with imperial liberality by Maximilian Augustus, who is our king and lord, and, so to speak, immediate [superior] (for we have recognized no other during so many centuries since Mirandola and Concordia were built, except him who sits successively upon the royal or imperial throne of the Romans). Whatever money he had received from this transaction he partly bestowed upon the poor, and partly spent on purchasing lands from which he and his household might be sustained; specifically, he had acquired for himself the Corbule in the Ferrarese territory for many thousands of gold coins. Likewise, he distributed many silver vessels and parts of his precious furnishings for the use of the poor. He was content with a moderate table, yet retaining something of his former cheerfulness as far as the courses and silver vessels were concerned. Each day he poured out prayers of honor to God. He always gave money to the poor if any crossed his path, and not content with that, he had commissioned Girolamo Benivieni—a learned Florentine citizen whom he loved greatly for his great charity and integrity of character—to always assist the needy with his own money and to provide for the marriage of young women, [promising] him that as soon as the coins were spent...

Five causes of such wonderful effects.
Seven thousand gold coins spent in acquiring books.

Bestowal upon the poor.

A moderate table.