[De contemptu mundi]

salubrious for them: for he had already known that man was created by God for this reason: that he might recover and restore the ruin of them from his descendants. For doctors write that when God said with light: let there be light and there was light: the angels and spirits of light were created: namely Lucifer and the other spirits. And they had free will from the beginning of their creation. From which, seeing Lucifer, who had been more excellent than the others: in his beauty and splendor, along with other gifts and circumstances with which God had endowed him with wisdom: he fell into pride: which is the origin and source of all sin: he had dared to please himself: and to say: I will place my seat toward the north a biblical reference to Isaiah 14:13 and I will be like the Most High. Wherefore, because he determined in his mind that he existed and was equal to God alone: he was cast down from heaven with his accomplices who had consented to his elation: some into hell: some possessing this darkened air: and leading us into evil day by day. And doctors say: that a third part fell with him: who had consented to him: and of all the nine choirs they did not even last long in their happiness: but fell immediately. And their splendor was transformed into the greatest deformity: so that