TABLE OF

THE TITLES OF THE

L E T T E R S .

A decorative printer's woodcut ornament featuring stylized foliage and a central floral motif.

The desire for Happiness is shown. page 1
It is shown what the path to happiness may be. 2
He gives thanks, & shows that imitation is better than reading: 3
Theological Dialogue between God & the soul. 4
Law & justice are shown. 7
The divine madness Original: "furore diuino." A reference to the Platonic concept of divine mania or inspired frenzy. is discussed. 8
An excuse is made for the lengthiness. 13
Dealing with divination and the divinity of the human soul. 14
A way of praising without flattery. 15
The usefulness of the solitary life is shown. 15
The modesty of a composer Original: "componitore," meaning an author or writer. is shown. 15
Praise for the interpreters of Plato. 16
Exhortation to knowledge Original: "scienza." In the 16th century, this referred to systematic learning or philosophical wisdom rather than modern "science.". 17
Consolation upon the death of a friend. 17
It is shown that one must be brief in writing. 18
Showing that the praise of a work is not contained in the words of others, but in the goodness & perfection of the work. 18
What the right path to seek God might be. 19
What a wise and happy man might be. 19
That it is better to write good things than many things. 19
Exhortation to knowledge. 20
He invites a friend to write. 21
A way of giving thanks. 22

The love between two friends is shown. 23
Praise of a friend & a word of thanks. 24
Marvelous praises of a friend. 24
He reproaches one for not having written. 25
How one ought to love another & how to praise. 26
A humorous letter with which a friend is invited to return. 27
That great men ought to be appreciated. 28
That which is done for love is more pleasing than that which is done out of duty. 28
He invites a friend to write, & reproaches him for not having written. 29
That letters between friends are necessary. 29
That the loss of the temple Original: "tempio." This may be a typographical error in the original for "tempo" (time), as the "loss of time" was a common philosophical theme. matters much, & that one should not want what is impossible. 30
How welcome the letters of friends are. 30
One must never blame a person just because God punishes them. 30
That man is the soul, & that the soul is within the beloved. 31
That the soul after death understands more clearly than while it is in the body. 32
Against Averroes A 12th-century Islamic philosopher whose theories on the soul were often debated by Renaissance thinkers., who claims there is only one intellect in man, proving the contrary. 34
That theologians are awake, & others dream. 35
Shows what the truth of God may be.