Text.Harvet.1597-01.A2r
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Source: Israel Harvet, Discours par lequel est monstré ... qu’il n’y à aucune raison que, quelques vns puissent vivre sans manger, Niort: Thomas Portau, 1597, sig. A2r–A3v = pag. 3–6 [BP.Harvet.1597-01]
Summary: In this letter, Israel Harvet addresses Marie du Fou, the widow of Charles Eschalard, a distinguished lord and official in the French court, praising her noble lineage and virtuous character. Harvet discusses the universal vice of ambition, which he sees as the root of societal and political turmoil, including wars, rebellions, and the downfall of cities and kingdoms. He criticizes the way flatterers encourage the powerful to pursue glory at any cost, leading to widespread corruption and impiety, even within the realm of religion.
Harvet reflects on the nature of human sciences and philosophy, noting the abundance of conflicting opinions and the ambition that drives philosophers to challenge ancient wisdom. He points out the irony in the pursuit of truth, where the ambition to overturn established ideas is often cloaked in the guise of seeking knowledge. Despite acknowledging the freedom to question the ancients like Hippocrates and Aristotle, Harvet argues that true honor lies not in the challenge but in upholding truth, even if it seems effortless compared to the struggles against it.
He concludes by commending Marie du Fou for her magnanimity and dedication to truth, despite her noble status and the expectations of her social position. (generated by ChatGPT)
Text
Madame
de toutes les paßions de l’ame, il n’y en n’a aucune (à mon iugement) plus vniverselle que l’ambition, car de toutes les autres, nous voyons les vns plutost enclins à celle ci, les autres plutost a celle là, ce seul vice indifferanment est commun à toute sorte desprit, n’y ayant grand, mediocre, n’y petit, qui n’en soit entaché. C’est l’origine & la source des guerres, massacres, revoltes, & de la ruine des Villes, Provinces, & Royaumes.
Mais qui a il d’estrange, si cette [p. 4] maladie fomentee de l’impieté des flateurs qui font acroire aux grands que tout est né pour leur gloire, le ciel & la tere en sont esbranlez? il y à bien plus dequoy s’etonner en la religion.
Car encore que tous ceux qui font profeßion de craindre Dieu, confeßent librement que tout à esté creé par luy pour sa propre gloire, combien s’en trouvera il qui tendent là? qui à crucifié le Sauueur du monde? qui depuis à persecuté ses Apostres? & finalement qui à semé tant de schismes & d’heresies en l’Eglise? Considerant ces choses,[c1] Madame, i’ay ceßé de m’estonner voyant en toutes le sciences humaines tant de miliers d’opinions sur vne mesme chose, car outre ce qu’entre les Philosophes il ne se trouve moins d’ambition qu’entre tout autre genre d’homme, il y à plus, c’est qu’impunement on peut & dire, & escrire, ce qu’on pense (ou pour mieux dire) ce qu’on veut: la cause de ceci, c’est qu’il n’y à aucune peine establie contre ceux qui tachent à demolir & renverses l’opinion antienne, au contraire & la gloire & le profit suivent ordinnairement telles entreprises: car pourquoy non? ils cerchent la verité.
Voice le manteau conmun de nostre impudence, c’est le pretexte de la defence ambitieuse de nos erreurs & resveries, c’est l’espee par laquelle nous attaquons [p. 5] les conclusions, & maximes les plus veritables, il ne faut plus repartir, que c’est l’advis des plus excellens auteurs, que c’est le commun consentement de tous, vous serez tout estonné que vous oyrez distiller en vos oreilles, que vous estes logé au pont aux asnes, qu’Hipocrate[c2], Platon, Aristote, Theophraste, Galien, & leurs semblables ont esté hommes comme les autres.
A la verité ie confesse bien que ces anciens n’ont esté Evangelistes, qu’il est libre à vn chacun de leur contredire, mais i’adiouteray außi qu’il n’est tant aisé à triompher d’eux, qu’on pouroit s’imaginer: außi est-ce là (disent ils) qu’il y à de la gloire, ny ayant rien de beau, que ce qui est difficile.
Or que telle gens embrassent tant qu’ils voudront l’ombre de leurs fantasies si y à il beau coup plus d’honneur à maintenir la verité, encore que ce soit sans sueur & sans poudre, qu’a la combatre avec tous les travaux, peines, & dangers qu’on scauroit s’imaginer: car outre ce qu’il est certain, que qui se plaist aux dangers perit ordinairement aux dangers, il y a plus, c’est que la verité ne peut iamais sucomber, que si pour quelque temps elle demeure enveloppee entre les brouillars, & est aßiegee des tenebres si est ce qu’en fin son pere vient au secours, qui fait qu’el- [p. 6] le mesme par son feu & par sa splendeur dißipe & consume tous les nuages, & chassant les tenebres paroit plus clere que le Soleil, couronnant d’vne gloire immortelle ceux qui nonobstant son opreßion l’ont recognue, confessee, & maintenu son parti.
Pour vous, Madame, de tout temps vous avez esté recogneue si magnanime (comme celle qui a esté fille d’vn des plus vertueux gentilhomme du monde, puis femme d’vn homme tres-excellent en pieté, & secondement d’vn autre, duquel les faits genereux ont esté tels & si cogneus d’vn chacun qu’il n’est besoin de le nommer pour le cognoistre) que vous avez courageusement postposé tout ce que les hommes apellent honneur pour l’embrasser & defendre, c’est ce qui m’a incité a vous consacrer ce petit discours, m’asseurant que les simples raisons d’iceluy ornees de la verité vous seront autant agreables, que vous estes ennemie des subtils & profonds arguments defenseurs du mensonge.
Vostre tres-humble & tres-obeissant serviteur I[srael] H[arvet].
Modern English Raw Translation
Madam,
Of all the emotions that stir the soul, I believe there is none more universal than ambition. Unlike other passions, where some may lean more towards one and others towards another, this particular vice is indiscriminately common to all types of minds. There is no one, whether great, average, or small, who is not tainted by it. It is the root and source of wars, massacres, rebellions, and the downfall of cities, provinces, and kingdoms.
But what is so surprising if this disease, fueled by the impiety of flatterers who convince the powerful that everything exists for their glory, shakes both heaven and earth? There is even more reason for astonishment in matters of religion.
For although all those who profess to fear God freely admit that everything was created by Him for His own glory, how many actually strive towards this goal? Who crucified the Savior of the world? Who thereafter persecuted His Apostles? And finally, who has sown so many schisms and heresies in the Church? Considering these things, Madam, I have ceased to be amazed when I see in all human sciences so many thousands of opinions on the same matter. This is because, among philosophers, there is no less ambition than among any other group of people. Moreover, one can freely say and write what one thinks (or rather, what one wishes) without punishment. The reason for this is that there is no penalty established against those who attempt to demolish and overturn ancient opinions. On the contrary, glory and profit often follow such endeavors. Why not? They are seeking the truth.
This is the common cloak of our impudence, the pretext for the ambitious defense of our errors and fantasies. It is the sword with which we attack the most truthful conclusions and maxims. It is no longer enough to reply that this is the opinion of the most excellent authors, that it is the general consensus of all. You will be astonished when you hear whispered in your ear that you are stuck at the simplest level, that Hippocrates, Plato, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Galen, and their likes were merely men like others.
Indeed, I confess that these ancients were not evangelists, and it is free for anyone to contradict them. However, I will also add that it is not as easy to triumph over them as one might imagine. They say there is glory in the challenge, for nothing beautiful comes without difficulty.
Let those who wish chase the shadows of their fantasies. There is far more honor in upholding the truth, even if it is without sweat and toil, than in fighting against it with all the labor, pain, and danger one can imagine. Besides, it is certain that those who delight in danger often perish by it. Moreover, the truth can never be truly defeated. Even if it may be obscured by mists and besieged by darkness for a time, in the end, its father comes to its aid. With its own fire and brilliance, it dispels and consumes all clouds, driving away the darkness to shine brighter than the sun, crowning with immortal glory those who, despite oppression, have recognized, confessed, and maintained its cause.
For you, Madam, who have always been recognized as magnanimous (as one who was the daughter of one of the most virtuous gentlemen in the world, then the wife of a man most excellent in piety, and subsequently of another whose noble deeds are so well known that there is no need to name him for recognition), you have courageously set aside all that men call honor to embrace and defend the truth. This has inspired me to dedicate this brief discourse to you, confident that its simple arguments, adorned with truth, will be as pleasing to you as you are averse to the subtle and profound arguments that defend falsehood.
Your very humble and obedient servant, Israel Harvet.