Prefatory Epistle
Written for the most
illustrious
Signeur Michel de Castelnau
Signeur of
Mauvissiere, Concressault and Joinville
Councilor of the
Privy Council,
Captain of 50 men at
arms,
And Ambassador to Her
Serene Majesty of England
O most illustrious Knight, if I had driven a plow, herded
sheep, cultivated a garden, or trimmed a garment, then no one would have held me
in much regard, few would have seen me, and even fewer chosen to deal with me, and
then I could well try to please everyone. But, because I have tried to describe
the field of nature, consider the disposition of the soul, partake of the life
of the mind, and travel like a master artificer
through the maze of the intellect, those who have regarded me have threatened
me, those who have seen me have assailed me, those who have encountered me have
tried to bite me, and those who have understood me have tried to destroy me;
not just one, nor a few, but many, or virtually all. If you want to understand
why this is so, I will tell you the reason: everyday people displease me,
commoners are odious, the multitude discontent me, and only the singular one is
my beloved: through her I have freedom in subjection, happiness in sorrow, wealth
in poverty, and life in death; through her I escape envy of those who are
servants in freedom, have pain even in pleasure, are poor despite their wealth,
dead though living; for in their body is that chain that binds them, in their
spirit is the hell that oppresses them, within their soul is the sin that
sickens them, within their mind is the sloth that kills them; for they lack the
magnanimity that grants resolve, the endurance for success, the splendor of the
illustrious, and the knowledge that enlivens. Thus, I do not avoid the arduous
path for want of energy, nor spare my arm from this work for laziness, nor in
cowardice shrink from the enemy who confronts me, nor, dazzled, turn my eyes
from the splendor of the divine; I am aware that I have a bit of a reputation
as a sophist, more interested in seeming to be clever than in truly being wise,
more ambitious to establish a new and false sect than to support that which is
old and true; a bird catcher, trying to capture splendor and glory; an unquiet
spirit, trying to undermine the foundations of good discipline by using siege
engines of perversity.
Therefore, My Lord, let the saints disperse those who
unjustly hate me, may I always do what is pleasing before my God, may I gain
favor with the rulers of this world, may the stars grant me fertile land for my
seed and abundant seed for my land, that I might harvest abundant fruit from my
labors, that the spirits be awoken and the hearts be opened of all who suffer
in darkness: for I certainly make no falsehood, if I err, it is by accident,
and I do strive for love of victory itself (because empty success and hollow
victory are enemies of God, vile and without honor, and such are not truly triumphs);
rather, I suffer, torment and tire myself for love of true knowledge and true
contemplation. All this shall I make manifest through demonstrative arguments, dependent
on lively reasoning, supported by moderated senses, admitting no false particulars,
rather arriving like true ambassadors of objective Nature, presenting
themselves to the searcher, appearing to the observer, clear to those who would
understand, plain to those who would comprehend. So here I present my
contemplation of the infinite, the universe and the innumerable worlds.
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