Mathematical Mirror

does honor expose itself to ambition? What recesses does pleasure not possess? How entirely nothing is our science, so that we may be said to have the eyes of a Nycticorax night-raven/owl toward the clearest light of truth, and we are not able to name the form of the stone that daily presents itself to our eyes? But if, however, it must be said truly, there are no riches, no honors, no pleasure, science alone claims the palm for itself. When Socrates was held captive in prison, he was oppressed by such a lack of things that, as is in Plato in the Phaedo, he could not have been liberated except by the help of his friends: with what honor was he clear, who, as is taught in Plato’s Apology of Socrates, was falsely both accused and condemned as a carcinoma of the human race and the ruin of youth: what pleasure was in shackles, unless we say he had the pleasure which, when free from shackles, he proposed to his friends with a most elegant eulogy, I believe indeed that pleasure is joined to pain by a tip, so that the latter is an inseparable companion of the former. He excelled in doctrine alone, by which one voice of the oracle he was declared the wisest of men, as is taught in the Euthyphro. Boethius, most wealthy in the goods of fortune, most splendid in honor, was deserted by all his former fortune, [but] only Philosophy followed him as a captive, concerning which matter is the truly philosophical book On the Consolation of Philosophy. Therefore, let the palm be with science. Let us pant to attain it by learning from some, and by teaching others. For in both is a great part of happiness constituted. But why do I dispute these things at such length, which seem to be known already to all who are of a slightly more liberal intellect? Therefore, my most beloved brothers, I have said these things at length, so that you may lead your mind away from worldly things, imbue yourselves with liberal studies, and give yourselves to Philosophy: not indeed to that alone which is placed in subtleties alone, but most of all so that you may cultivate firmness, faith, and sincerity, and apply yourselves to piety: for I think with Plato in his Epistle to Aristodorus that this is true philosophy. But as for other sciences and faculties that turn toward other things, if anyone calls them ornaments, he will, I believe, call them rightly. And this was the reason that I inscribed this book to you, that some public monument might exist, by which I might urge you to diligence, and you might more easily follow one who warns you, as you now indeed do. For I think there cannot exist a greater sign of my love toward you than if it is established that I have been your author in pursuing all the best things. Farewell. Marpurg, the 10th day before the Kalends of April, in the year 1614.