Leon Battista Alberti - The Books on the Family

Page 18

Literature of Italy - Einaudi

...attentive, diligent, farsighted, and active in correcting and guiding the youth, they should know that if any part of the family falls, they will inevitably be ruined along with them. And the greater their own prominence, fortune, and rank within the family, the greater the crash they will feel within themselves. The stones set higher in a wall than the others are those that shatter more when they fall. Therefore, let the elders always be awake and industrious for the good and honor of the entire family, advising, correcting, and, as it were, holding the reins Alberti uses the metaphor of the briglia (bridle/reins) to suggest that the patriarch must steer the family like a horse, using both restraint and direction. of the whole family. Furthermore, it is a highly praised, pious, and grateful task to use words and gentleness Original: facilità. Referring to an approachable and persuasive manner rather than harsh discipline. to restrain the appetites of the young, to awaken sluggish spirits, and to warm cold wills so that they may honor themselves and, at the same time, bring greatness to their country and their house. Nor does it seem to me anything but a most worthy and easy task for the fathers of families to restrain with gravity and moderation, and to pull back the excessive license Original: licenza. This refers to the unrestrained or impulsive behavior often attributed to youth in Renaissance social thought. of the youth; indeed, for any who wish to earn great merit from their juniors, it is a most fitting thing to maintain for themselves the prize of old age, which I believe is nothing other than authority and reverence. Nor can the elderly better acquire, increase, and preserve in themselves greater authority and dignity than by caring for the youth, leading them toward virtue Original: virtù. In the Renaissance sense, this encompasses not just moral goodness but also effectiveness, skill, and civic excellence., and rendering each of them more learned and accomplished, more loved and esteemed. Thus, they should lead them toward a desire for the most grand and supreme things, keeping them occupied in the study of excellent and highly praised matters, kindling in their tender minds a love of praise and honor, calming their every dissolute whim and every minor, misplaced disturbance of the soul. In this way, they root out every seed of vice and cause of enmity, filling them instead with good teachings and examples. They must not act as many old men do who are perhaps given over to avarice—those who, in seeking to make their sons frugal householders Original: massai. From masserizia, the art of household management and thrift. While Alberti generally values this, he warns here against it descending into "misery and servility.", instead make them miserable and servile; and where they value riches more than honor, they teach their sons ugly arts and base occupations. I do not praise that sort of liberality which is harmful and offers no reward of reputation or friendship,

Vocabulary: Leon Battista Alberti, family, youth, old age, virtue, honor, avarice, householders, teachings