life of john picus earl of mirandola - The Center for Thomas More ...

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Life of John Picus
back into the voluptuous broad way1 ⌐ that leadeth to hell ¬ . What thing
was there¦ of so marvellous strength that might overturn the mind of
him, which now (as Seneca saith) 2 was got above fortune?–as he which
as well her favour as her malice hath set at naught, 3 that he4 might be
coupled with a spiritual knot unto Christ and His heavenly citizens.¦
⌐ How he eschewed Dignities. ¬ When he saw many men with great
labour and money desire and busily purchase the offices and dignities
of the Church (which are nowadays, alas the while, commonly bought
and sold) himself refused to receive them¦ when two kings5 offered
them. When another man6 offered him great worldly promotion if he
would go to the King’s Court,¦ he gave him such an answer that he
should well know that he neither desired worship nor worldly riches, but
rather set them at naught that he might the more quietly give himself
to study and the service of God.¦ This ways° he [was] persuaded that
to a philosopher and him that seeketh for wisdom it was no praise to
gather riches¦ but to refuse them. 7
⌐ Of the despising of Worldly Glory. ¬ All praise of people and all earthly
glory he reputed utterly for nothing. But in the renaying° of this shadow
of glory he laboured for very glory, which evermore followeth virtue as
an inseparable servant. He said that fame oftentimes did hurtΔ8 to men
14 This ways Thus / 18 renaying denying
¦ 2 More omits inquam, “I say” (CW 1:322, 323). / 5 More here omits a transitional clause: Quod
vel hoc argumento liquido percipitur: quod, “That this was so can be clearly seen from the following
evidence…” (CW 1:322, 323). / 9 More omits per internuntios oblatas (testes adsunt gravissimi, testis
ego) se sacris initiari nolle respondens, “through their intermediaries, replying that he did not wish to
enter into holy orders (to this there are very reliable witnesses, and I myself witnessed it also)”
(CW 1:322, 323). / 11 More omits conspicatus angulum non relinqui in quem se conderet ademptaque
esse cuncta suffugia, “since Picus saw that there would be no nook or cranny left for him to hide
in and that all means of escape would be taken from him” (CW 1:324, 325). / 14 Here More
omits half a page of the Latin original, in which Gianfrancesco relates how Picus, following the
example of many holy men who were reluctant to accept appointment to church offices, declined
the office of cardinal. / 16 More omits non quaesisse honores, “or to seek honors” (CW 1:324, 325).
1. voluptuous broad way: Translates the Latin in mollem illam & spatiosam multorum viam, “to that broad
highway of self-indulgence trodden by the many” (CW 1:322, 323).
2. Seneca, De breviate vitae 5.3.
3. which…naught: More condenses the Latin—cum illam, sive secundis flatibus tumidam sive adversis
reflatibus humilem, aliquando contempserit, “since he scorned her in any case, whether her sail was
swollen with favorable winds or drooping in the counterblasts of adversity” (CW 1:322, 323).
4. he: For the Latin eius mens, “his mind” (CW 1:322, 323).
5. two kings: The identity of these kings is unknown.
6. another man: This figure has not been identified.
7. to refuse them: Here More moves a brief passage that follows in the Latin original (et umbratilem…
comitatur) to just after the following sentence (beginning Humanam gloriam in the Latin; see CW
1:324, 325).
∆8. More significantly alters the Latin, which says not that fame “oftentimes did hurt” but that
it “is of some use to the living” (famam vivis nonnihil; CW 1:325, 324 respectively).
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Ambition subdued
Shadow of glory
Fame