The Asclepius of Hermes Trismegistus: On the Immortality of the Soul

PREFACE.

...and others, as many as were students of wisdom, are read to have flourished in such studies and in the love of wisdom even into their old age. Socrates, indeed, according to Plato in his Apology, confesses that he neglected prefectures and magistracies so that he might more freely devote himself to the study of wisdom. "I, O men of Athens," he says, "have neglected those things which the common people value so much: profit, family property, prefectures, public assemblies, and other magistracies. I have not betaken myself to these things, in which if I had been occupied, I would have been of use neither to you nor to myself."

"I once traveled to Delphi—I ask you, men, not to take offense at what I am about to say—and I asked if there were anyone wiser than myself. The Pythia The Pythia was the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, who delivered the oracles. replied that no one was wiser. When I heard this, I thought to myself: 'What does the God mean? Or what is the meaning of this? For I am conscious within myself that I am wise in neither great things nor small.' Furthermore, it is not to be believed that the God lies, nor is it lawful for God to do so. But this is what the oracle meant to say: 'That man, O men, seems wise to me, who, like Socrates, understands that in truth his wisdom is worth nothing.'"

"I will catch," said the prophet Job, "the wise in their own craftiness," because the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. original: "Comprehendam... sapientes in astutia sua." Rosseli is quoting Job 5:13, a sentiment later echoed by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians. I turn now to the poets—Homer, Hesiod, and Simonides—who, when they were old, sang a certain swan song, A "swan song" refers to the ancient belief that swans sing a beautiful melody just before they die; here it refers to the late-life masterpieces of these poets. sweeter than usual, as death drew near.

Sophocles, when he was accused of madness by his sons due to his extreme old age and neglect of his family property, recited the story of Oedipus Specifically the play Oedipus at Colonus. which he had recently written, to the judges. He displayed such a specimen of wisdom in his broken age that he turned the severity of the courts into the applause of the theater. Truly Homer reports that from the tongue of Nestor, who was then old and almost decrepit, a speech flowed sweeter than honey. Cato the Censor, the most eloquent of the Roman race, did not blush to learn Greek literature even as an old man; such great power does wisdom have over its students and cultivators.

"Wisdom," says Plato in the Phaedrus, "cannot be seen; for it would excite burning loves if some such clear image of it could come before our eyes." original: "Sapientia... non cernitur." This is a famous Platonic concept: if the true form of Wisdom or Virtue were visible to the physical eye, humanity would be overwhelmed by its beauty. Cicero says, "Sight is the most noble and sharpest sense, but through it we do not see wisdom; for it would excite burning loves of itself if it were seen." And this is not without reason, since wisdom is the knowledge of divine and human things; if anyone disparages the study of it, I truly do not understand what they could possibly think worthy of praise. Wisdom wonders at nothing once it has happened; before a thing arrives, wisdom does not think it impossible that it might not occur. Indeed, she herself moderates and tempers all things: she cares for and arranges the state in the best way; she frees us from the impulse of lusts and the terror of fear; she teaches how to bear the injury of fortune with modesty; and she shows all the ways that lead to peace and tranquility. This is the best art of liv[ing]... The catchword "uendi" at the bottom of the page indicates the next page begins with "vivendi," completing the phrase "art of living."