Apologia pro Jul. Caesare Vanino

who, following the example of his teacher, the great Peripatetic follower of Aristotle Pomponazzi, * had not learned to trade more cautiously. For he had heard him teaching at Padua with such great fame that the Pythagoreans followers of Pythagoras believed the soul of Averroës a 12th-century Moorish philosopher had migrated into him. † Vanini himself burned with such a great ardor for learning that, content with a very small cloak, he would break through the winter cold. ‡

Therefore, he was least aware of how poorly not only that man, but also Cajetan, his teacher, ǂ was regarded by certain Theologians, and what snares the hooded monks had laid for his life and reputation. β Nevertheless, as if seized by a spell, he searched all the entrances of the Peripatos the school of Aristotle under the leadership of Averroës, into whose words John Bacon original: "Joannes Bacconius", the most deserving Prince of the Averroists and his former teacher, had compelled him to swear. γ and everything went well for him, as he was a man of no small talent, though unaware of what he was doing or into what Euripus a turbulent strait or whirlpool he was being carried away: believing the problems of Aristotle were most pleasing to the Church, since he knew not only that all the benches rang with them, but also that his moral Philosophy had once been

• Petit, On the Sibyl, book 1, chapter 13.
  † Vanini, Exercise 6, page 36 of the Amphitheatre.
  ‡ Vanini, Dialogue 49, page 351 of On the Secrets of Nature.
  ǂ Patiniana, page 119.
  β Jovius in the Elogy of Pomponazzi among the Elogies of Famous Men.
  γ Vanini, Exercise 4, page 17 of the Amphitheatre.