GIORDANO

IN

BRUNO
MEMORIAM

OF

THE

FEBRUARY

17TH

1600

BY

ALOIS

RIEHL

TRANSLATED
WITH

THE

FROM

author's

THE

PERMISSION,

AGNES

FRY

FOULIS

N.

T.

GERMAN

LONDON

"

EDINBURGH
M

BY

AUTHOR'S

PREFACE

SECOND

EDITION

made

HAVE

have

first

that

the

narrow

and

in

main

its
the

and

1889,
account

of

presented,

in

the

be

revived

in

all

of

on

love

and

complete,
the

of

Saale,
1900,

there

of

fate

of
is

nobility
truth

ture
pic-

that

of
can

the

will

memory

7th January

true

death.

January

true,

paper,

whose

where
of

this

outlines

man

places

am

thus

teaching

remarkable

the

have

limits

of

Halle

in

appeared

this

in

philosophy.

hope

and

corrections

remodelled

entirely

Bruno's

few

which

essay,

TO

this

year,

lively

preciatio
ap-

character

despise

TRANSLATOR'S

In
a

PREFACE

"Nature,"

24th May

of the work

review

the

in

alike

of those

the

heroic

death

and
technical

and

and

centary,

therefore,

have

Professor

"

The

origin
Some

wish

of the

pages

have

of the

friend
to

thank

thus

present

this translation
to

that

ter-

Bruno's

tragedy
fittingthan

it

'

Giordano
in

were

lish
Eng-

expressed is

the

translation.

submitted

of

in MS.

author's, whom

the
for

the

philosophicalpart

were

of

the

The

Riehl's

Would

sure
lei-

of

Italian

more

Alois

Bruno.'

of

memorial

no

wander-

Nolan.

strong

work

appeal have
grapple with

hard

versatile

can

romantic

training to
Latin

viewer
re-

however,

Few,

whom

to

The

life and

Bruno's

"

memorable.

and

years

which

following pages.

wrote
are

p. yj, is
I have
lated
trans-

1900,

various

due
also
thanks
are
My
Hastings Rashdall, D.D.,

corrections.
to

the

Rev.

for his kind-

TRANSLATOR'S
in

ness

PREFACE

going
also

for

There

is

I. Frith
of

much
an

to

father.

my

it forms

rections
cor-

Sir Edward

life of

Bruno,

by

the

volume
thirty-first
the English and Foreign Philosophical
"
Library, published by Triibner
:

Bruno's

and

published

Giordano

prima

works

have

Nolano

Bruno,

volta

raccolte

L contains

la
:

ora

Adol-

Trionf

Cavallo

Pegaseo
(dedicated to

Lagarde

by Wagner;

at

De

Sir

out

Vol.
Mondi
;

Caba-

gli Eroici

Philip

edition

Gottingen
8

ante

new

brought

was

de le Ceneri

Cena

de la Bestia

1888

la

volumi

Introduction

Universo

In

de

per

due

in

I'lnfinito

De

Furori

works

Causa, Principio ed Uno.

Spaccio
del

(Opere

1830).

IlCandelajo; La
De

collected

publicateda

Wagner, dottore
Lipsea, Weidmann,

Vol,

been

Leipzig

at

fo

lo

ing
offer-

advice.

and

help
English

Co.

IL

and

whole

suggestions and

valuable

many

Fry,

the

over

of

ney).
Sidhis

de
by Paolo
(Dieterische

TRANSLATOR'S

PREFACE

Universitatsbuchhandlung

Horstmann).
La

"

de

Cena

le

Ceneri

"

^with

its vivid

"

of

descriptions
mud

and

the

is

also

published

of

Rara"
I

64,

have

translation

by

my

abundance

scarcity

"

oteca

the

O.

Daelli

ventured
few

notes,

of

of

English
the

in

to

which

1905.

ners
man-

"Bibli-

Milan,

Co.,

"

add

the

to

are

cated
indi-

initials.
AGNES

Failand,

English

FRY.

In

richest

the

which

is known
the

lies

N.E.

of

town

twelve
of

and
walls

important

and

palaces

of the

families
of

town

Here,

and

than

more

Grecia,

ancient

and
of

beauty
in

witty

recall

and

art

little

at

which

later

age.

solemn

cessions
pro-

and

of

pleasure

speech

might

perhaps

philosophy,
appear

II

Magna
manners

certain

well-chosen

for

provincial

appreciation

an

history

the

Roman

in

Greek
to

even

aptitude
and

old

games,

by

inhabitants.

usages

form,

their

unusual

survived

customs

ing
flourish-

with

elsewhere

of

traces

Certain

it is

in

surrounded

adorned

12,000

some

was

distinguished

most

to-day

it

and

old

An

Greeks,

place,

towers,

distant

Naples.

Empire

the

on

and

Chalchidean

of the

time

from

there

happy,"

Vesuvius,

miles

settlement

Campania,

situated

Nola,

of

of

the

"

as

slopes

about

the

district

the

ture
litera-

again

and

BRUNO

GIORDANO

again
be

the

among

traced

back

inhabitants

the fifteenth

During

the
the

certain

distinction

thrown

are
a

in the greatness

has made

the

"

character,

At
was

the

time

at

born, the

and

the

thought,

art

feature

of his

in

the

court

of the

already waned.
on

the

one

hand,

Giordano

Bruno

Renaissance

Medicean

popes

Ecclesiastical
and
12

his

home.

Italyhad already passed its zenith,

the splendour of that half-heathen
at

the

zens,
fellow-citi-

to

of the

dano
Gior-

call himself

attachment
which

nowned
cityre-

world.

strong

that

in

his

was

of

in his fate and

of his parent

and

as

the fame

alike

delighted to
;

all these

But

of his mind

name

"

Nolan

of

men

by

throughout
Bruno

of

shade

notable

who,

man

of

artists.

the

into

residence

humanists, philosophers,

and

poets

turies
cen-

remarkable

was

birthplace or the
comparatively large number
as

origin.

sixteenth

and

of Nola

town

Greek

their

to

also

may

scientific

in

and
life
had

interests
interests

GIORDANO

BRUNO

the

on

other, had

It is the
and

supplanted

of the

time

the creation

CathoUc

of modern

the

thetic.
aes-

reaction

science.

At

the
at

instigationof Ignatius Loyola, and

the specialdesire of CarafFa, Paul III.,

by

the

Bull

of

July 1542, instituted

the Roman
Inquisition on the pattern
of the Spanish,and in the spring of 1
543
there
appeared Nicholas
Copernicus'
work,

De

"

1 st

Orbium

lutonibus, Libri

in

1548

two

their

determined

the

Revo-

Under

the

events,

Bruno

VI."

of these
born

Ccelestium

stellation
conwas

subsequent

action
inter-

tragic fate

of the

philosopher.
Bruno's

father, Giovanni,

an

officer,we

of

Nola,

assume

may

branch,

family of
no

and
with

Giovanni
the

was

name

soldier

for the Bruni

perhaps,

like

inconsiderable

was

at

of the

trician
pa-

Asti, were

family in the town,

on
friendly terms

poet Tansillo, who

family.
13

The

was

of distinguishe

philosopher's

GIORDANO

BRUNO

mother

named

was

family name
named

was

the

son

up

Savolina.

was

Philip

Vesuvius,

made

The

his childish

and

oaks
with

to

be

the

in

the

he

branches

foot

that

of which

looked

had

his

small
looked

learnt
that

with
our

took

horizon
root

is

alone

we

alters

for

deceive

us

always
with

us

and
the

the

and

turning

Cicala,
house

then

he

saw

carry the
and
the

that
same,

appearance

the

stood,

Bruno

first time

the
:

at

Vesuvius

as

And

in his mind
one

and

distant,

surprise

eyes

advance

our

hill

thence.

elms

interwoven

father's

and

of

ed,
approach-

with
were

the

to

it looked

he

as

it covered

saw

seemed

distance
:

on

boundary

richly-laden vines,

back

we

had

monotonous

whose

tion
expedi-

lasting impression

mind

found

he

after

his childhood,

during

mountain

world, and

bare

baptism,

of the soil. An

Bruno.

the

his

at

himself

He

of the lord

produced

her

Fraulissa, and

Nature
and
of

that
centre

as

of

thought
everywhere
distance

things.

GIORDANO
And
to

BRUNO
his

thus

inner

the limits

expand beyond
and

perceptions began

sensible.

At

of the

about

ward
out-

the

age

of ten, the

all
to
boy, now
fullyawake
that was
him, came
going on around
he was
in
instructed
to
Naples, where
the humanitieSjlogicand dialectics.
He

has

handed

teacher

in this

Teofilo
he

da

had

in

the

he

with

St

the
the

order,

new

of his

name

his

life.

Dominic's

of

St

here

Bruno

Giordano,

which

This

intermission

being

the
cessor,
suc-

magistergeneralisof

indication
order

when

his fifteenth

immediate

its bestowal

member.

and

single

second

1563,

monastery

of
one

perhaps an
placed by the
its

the

name

throughout
of

In

Naples

received

the

completed

entered

bore

us

philosophiclearning,Fra

yet

Dominic

name

to

Veranno.

not

he

year,

down

upon
of

in the

Bruno

was

the

hopes
capacitiesof

In the cloister

Bruno

acquired that deep and wide knowledge

of the older philosophy which
appears
^5

BRUNO

GIORDANO
in all his

After
author
of his

before

had

in which

the

the

of

pressure
self-reliance came
had

Bruno

friar

would

for those

himself
he

to

"

his

studies

his

withdraw

and

of virtue
a

miserable

to

extravagances
did
brethren

of
not

he

some

escape

gave

enthusiasm,
his

to

and

lay his spiritin

to

the

sure
lei-

worthier

free

l6

as

endeavoured

man

him

foolish

Moreover,

der
un-

life

discovered

make

and

his

which

from

too,

surroundings,
powerful spirit.

censors

him

from

passed

fresh

higher occupations,
chains,

Bruno

undisturbed

have

how

in the

that

to

such

soon

surprise

his

to

taught

cloister

hoped
give him

with

must

and

lived

In

hundred

three

order, who

own

his novitiate.

If

pied
occu-

the

monastery

same

also

was

study of scholasticism.
Raymond
LuUy, his favourite
Thomas
was
Aquinas, a member

with

years

He

writings.

in the

the

vice
ser-

slave
of

system
weaknesses

of
ceit."
de-

and

of

his

his

sharp sight,

convent

GIORDANO
or

his

BRUNO
and

humour,

satiric

later

he

on

choly
gives us strikingportraitsof the melanHortensio, the thin Serafino, and
the

inflated

Bonifacio,

doubtless

may

for

and

mind
not

And

elsewhere

Bruno

in

must

soon

in

at

over-apt

in his novitiate

he
of

accusation

an

which

panions,
disgustfrom these comwho
had nothing but contempt
of thought,
full of the ferment

turned

have

found

be

life.

convent

types

as

Even

concealment.

threatened

was

had

He

heresy.

with
moved
re-

of saints from
cell,
Jiis^pictures
and
only retained a crucifix,and when
a brother
one
reading
day he came
upon
Seven
the
on
a poem
Joys of Mary," he
himself
with
a
begged him to occupy
"

book

sensible

more

it

time

went

no

further

his

eighteenth
mentions, he began
In

the ecclesiastical

conceived

He

of the
2

Godhead,

instead.
than

year,
to have

doctrine
the
and

But

Persons

threat.
himself

he

as

doubts
of the
as

this

about

Trinity.

attributes

appealedto Augus17

BRUNO

GIORDANO

still

"Person"

and

innovation,

an

word

the

considered

had

tine, who

only-

But
reservation.
employed it with
of
Bruno's
acquaintance with the work
to be the decisive
point
Copernicus was
in his spiritualdevelopment ; indeed,
life.
This
in his whole
acquaintance

the

rousing

comparatively

of the

door

the

early ("at
mind

made

been

have

must

of

word

man's

young

Copernicus

knocked"), but after twenty years the

him.
impression of itis still livelywithin
felt himself
He
suddenly freed from
to

rather, thought

or,

see,

his

hands, appeared

hitherto

Great

steadfast

remained
1

Copernicus
a

His

Pole.

settled

birth."

at

A.

Thorn

is

grasp with
have dwelt

to
to

spheres

German^
of the

careless

him

of

the

follyof
against

Prussia

F.

i8

at

the

the
of

discoverer

generally spoken
father, a native

in

seemed

now

his admiration

was

noble-minded

who,

as

to

fabled

the

in

heavens.
the

he

Truth, which

chains.

the
of
of

time

crowd,

mighty
in

England
Cracow, had
of

his

son's

GIORDANO
onrush

BRUNO
of

belief.

contrary

Bruno

thing
appropriated the new
teaching as somemost
closely akin to his own
in his
inborn
spirit,a truth that was

mind.
the

Henceforth

theory,

new

and

continue

he
which

free,

and

free

aside

the

fixed

the

amplify

to

calm

ency
consist-

last bonds
had

Copernicus

even

of

master

was

With

it.

laid

he

from
been

not

sphere," the bowl and

convex
superficies"of the firmament.
His
spiritdares the flightthrough the
of the universe
opened heavens, the infinity
itself to his glance, and
discloses
the beauty of the world
shone
bright
took
So Bruno
him."
possession
upon
tellect
of the new
his inlearning not with
"

"

"

alone

it with

he

all his

himself

gave

senses,

all his

to

up

powerful

imagination, and all the enthusiasm

Church's
the mediaeval
his being, and
concept
his

eyes

of

the

like

world
a

dissolved

phantom.

cosmology demanded,
19

as

he

before

The
saw,

of

new
a

new

metaphysic
fashion

to

believed, his
drew

He

and

new

theology

proclaim

this was,

and

and

his

and

vocation

the

NO

RU

GIORDANO

of

elements

and

;
as

he

mission.

his

ophy
philos-

Neo-Platonism
principallyfrom
las
from
the profound writings of Nicoda Cusa, and in the latter especially

spirit,whose
by his priestly

recognized a kindred
activitywas
only fettered
he

garments.
But

the
not

was

exclusively dedicated

philosophic
gave
and

himself
gay.

His

he

also

grave

comedy "II candelaio"

this period, and
doubtless

of those

introduced

Noah's

to

poetry, both

to

sacred

later

in

"Degliheroicifurori."
"

cloister

deep
projects; he

and

studies
also

originatedat
many

of his life in the

leisure

Ark,"

dedicated

songs
the

which

dialogues,

satiric poem,
to

the

Pope,

itself has
appeared in 1570. -JThe poem
disappeared,but we are acquainted with
its subject from
later dialogue ; the
a
donkey is in danger of losing his pre20

GIORDANO
eminence

the

among
retain

struggles to
Meanwhile

the
and

fourth

he

year,
of

life had

and

passed

later in other

province,where
functions, saying
priestly
so

returned

to

forth.
the

After

convent

some

tholomew,
of St. Bar-

monastery

of the

and

took

572, in his twentyin the

said his first mass
in

in the

and

formed
con-

He

course.

Campagna,

there

time

and

animals

outer

usual

holy orders,

other

it.

Bruno's
to

town

U'N

BR

ies
monaster-

he

performed
ing,
preachmass,
three

His

Naples.

at

he

years

of the
play II candelaio," that mirror
surrounded
him, predepravity which
sents
almost
visiblybefore our eyes the
"

kind

of

this

at

contact

whom

with

man

things

which

There

is

no

time

he

to

an

when

and

the

that

doubt

his

Fra

of

state

the

Bruno

monastic

Domenico
21

ready
al-

was

doctrine

abrupt, though hardly

end.

in

came

saw.

estrangedfrom
Church,

he

life
an

of the
came
pected,
unex-

Vito, the

BRUNO

GIORDANO
of

Provincial

Rome

in

It

the

della
that

seems

in

him

heresy against
and thirtyarticles.

hundred

the

order, brought

of

charge
in

his

Bruno

Minerva

was

tery.
monas-

foreseen

had

he

one

the

had

accusation, and

thought to escape
Spanish Inquisition at Naples, but
self
thereby in danger of handing him-

the
came

few
were

days
sent

the

him,

forbidden

discovered
works

of

"

his

it is

which

Chrysostom

that
and

very

process
as

letters
he

departure
true

moreover,

his friend's
books

at

away

in the

And,

from

learnt

stowed

documents

thither.

Bruno

for after

of Rome,

that

to

over

had

these

Jerome,

to

had
been
were

but

annotated
they were
by Erasmus, and
the possessionof them
must
bring him
into still deeper suspicion. And
with
so
sudden
determination, after laying aside
the dress of his order, he escaped from
of 1 576, being then
in the middle
Rome
in his twenty-eighth year.
With
his
Rome
Bruno
flight from
22

GIORDANO

BRUNO
life

began

which

lasted
him

over

he

sought to
conception
mental

would

of
for

fifteen years,

and

ried
car-

half

Europe. Everywhere
plant his doctrine, the new
of

the

But

universe.
which

restlessness

permit

him

sphere for

his

not

wandering,

constant

to

him

beset

find

the

any

manent
per-

over,
activity. Moreill luck and the persecution of his
enemies
followed
him
everywhere. His
life was
constant
a
struggle against the
of scholars, but
he brought this
caste
of
himself
conflict upon
by his manner
he
them.
Wherever
approaching
his impetuosity arouses
comes,
nents.
oppo-

The

boisterous

which

with

zeal

champions his philosophy contrasts

displayed
sharply with the indifference
their
philosophers towards
by other
other philosoown
phers,
teachings. These

he

he
so

much,

guard
indeed

have
supposes,
therefore
and

and
may

to

defend
hold

than

discovered

not

have
he.

less

to

They
philosophy cheap,

23

"

BRUNO

GIORDANO
which

is worth

they
who

has

found

be

and

countenance,

with

but

in

created

the

midst

hid

beauty

jealous lest

misrepresented, slighted, or

But

he

the

the

with

that

one

or

Truth,

the

is enchanted

Treasure,
of her

acquainted

not

are

nothing,

she

faned."
pro-

of this restless life he

the

phy
masterpieces of his philosothe Italian dialogues
those free
:
rich outpourings of his mind, and
Latin
writings, full of poetic rhapsody
and metaphysical depth,
well
as
"

and
the

"

as

the

treatises

numerous

And

teaching.
which

is

with
to

proper

on

that

LuUy's
industry,

genius, he

plied
multi-

his powers.
After

his

Bruno

at

flight we
Noli

instructed

people
months
Turin

on

of

and

grammar,

astronomy

to

made

his

way

Venice, where
24

upon
Here

good position.

he
to

in

come

Genoa.

near

boys

discourses

next

few

After

he
gave

young
few
a

by

Savona

and

he

arrived

at

GIORDANO

BRUNO

of

time

confusion

plague which
Italy,except
victims

Turin,

raging

was

half of the

the

to

Titian, who

of his

work
for

to

Father

had

forerunner

This

After

LuUy,

is lost.

wandered

from
away
and, arrived at

city ;

the
order

had

he

again adopted

writings

a
on

stay, Bruno

depopulated
lowed
Bergamo, he folbrothers
in

met

the monastic

setting forward

work,

the

of the

advice

whom

short

the

of Florence

little

of the

perhaps

order

In

submitted

Remigius

examination.

them

printed
Signs of the

The

"

writings,
he

fell

in his hundredth

almost

after

Times,"

the

in

among

year, died of the infection.

Bruno
make
little money,
to
a
one

north

inhabitants

pestilence:

was

The

dismay.
devastatingall

was

One

town.

and

of his

Padua,
habit

and

before

his

pilgrimage.
after his flightfrom
At last,three
years
he
he left Italy. In Chambery
Rome,
found

shelter

order, but

was

on

in

the

received

25

monastery
with

of

his

suspicion,

BRUNO

GIORDANO
and

determined

Geneva.

his

make

to

he fell in with

Here

to

way
a

whole

of Italian

refugees,who
nized
recogthe
reformed
teaching, and at
whose
head
the Marquis
Galeazzo
was
The
Carracioli, a nephew of Paul IV.
the victim
of the Inquisitio
Marquis received

colony

in

and

insisted

the

monastic

made
the

that

habit,

again, for

wore

unfriendly manner,
Bruno
must
change

not

which

secular

he

never

He

garments.

living by correcting proofs for

From

press.
the
who

time

preachings
belonged to

Church,

but

it,never

alluded

his

time

to

of

formal

his

the

he

tended
at-

men
countryReformed

submission

to

by himself, is by no
ments
means
fullyproved, even
by the docuIn
the
published by Dufour.
of the Academy
registerof the Rector
his

name

hand
sacrae

long

appears

to

written

in

his

own

Philippus Brunus
Nolanus,
theologiasprofessor,"and before
"

as

his tactless zeal

26

was

to

involve

him

GIORDANO
in

the

BRUNO

disputes with
Academy,
misled

fellow

ardent

His

him

member

into

of

ment
tempera-

the

production
of a pamphlet
mission
attributing the comof twenty
in
errors
a
single
lecture to the Professor
of Philosophy,
Antoine
de la Faye.
This
attack
on
of the

one

in

Geneva
in

involved

him

personages

(and
and

his

ter)
prin-

tained
only obhis
freedom
by withdrawing
After
pamphlet.
having spent

his

imprisonment,

rather
he

influential

most

than

more

left the

where

his

made

intolerant

twenty-six
had

vetus

which

was

three

months

city

there,

of

Calvin,

years previously SerHe

to the scaffold.

been

sent

way

by Lyons

at

he

this

to

Toulouse,

the

time

seat

of

flourishinguniversityfrequented by
thousand

students.
teacher

from

of

Toulouse, and

Francois Sanchez,
of

Bodin,
civil

the

law, had

ten

brated
celecome

shortlyafter Bruno,
one

Scepticism, taught
27

of

the

here.

revivers

Bruno

GIORDANO

BRUNO

made

soon

lectures

himself

and

he

of

Doctor

that

the

on

known

by private

"Sphere,"
obtained

Roman

omy,
Astron-

or

the

order

in

Theology

he

candidate
a
might become
an
ordinary chair of philosophy.
received
the professorship,which,
to

for

his
"

two

years,

till finally
the

of
him
his

Civil

abandon

to

eyes towards

about

the

and

writing

had

Navarre

for
He
cording
ac-

held

teaching,"

which

War,

Henry
provoked, compelled

it.

He

then

Paris, which

middle

he

statement,

own

of

degree

of

58

turned

he reached

1
.

Bruno

immediately availed himself of

the rights conferred
by his degree of
Doctor
of Theology and announced
an
"extraordinary" lecture, choosing a
scholastic

theme

for

his

subject.

He

applause : his eloquence and

especiallyhis powerful memory
were
but
he was
greatly admired
obliged
;
great

won

to

decline

which

was

"

an

ordinary

offered

to

28

"

him

professorship
in

Paris, for

GIORDANO
the

BRUNO

duty of hearing mass

professor,and this

to

to

him

as

essential

was

impossible

was

excommunicated

an

person.

wonderNevertheless, the report of his ful

the King.
giftsreached
Henry III.,
who

order
a
as

inclined, summoned
superstitiously
the philosopher before
him, in

was

learn

to

whether

his memory

it was
gift,or whether
not,
of magic,
King suspected,a matter
in
succeeded
establishing the

natural

the

Bruno

character

natural

order
this

to

of his memory,
and
of his
the secret
power

reveal

respect,

dedicated

he

of Ideas"

the

to

for this

"The
Bruno's

of

Shadows
of

series

in

two

dows
Sha-

An

ordinary
extra-

King.

the

Paris

his
them

Ideas"

writings
of

more

comparable

with

in

reward

dedication.

doctrine,
appear

in

"The

professorshipwas

are

was

itself.
to

chief

an

inaugurates
on

the

which
These

29

to

were

writings

airyswarm
philosophic

he introduces

LuUist

himself

panying
accom-

works
to

the

BRUNO

GIORDANO

universities,

he

or

done, he

is

over.

does

It is weU

century,
of

purely

In

saw,,chieflya
the_e^rcIsFof
with
the

the

ideas, the
and
at

his

doubtless

all

part
gerated
exag-

be

represented
mechanical
art"

His

memory.

Bruno

tion
occupa-

certainlydid

art

skill in

mark

his

copious imagery

command

style

"

more

cultivation

3"

which

these

but

and

developed
contains

not

connecting remote
appropriate tions
descrip-

full and

for the

scheme

ofTtuency~alid of

means

thereby. Moreover,
Ideas"

could

qualitieswhich

the

his discovery

tions
possiblecombina-

tlii"" great

LuHy's

rare

to

mechanical

absolutely

an

manner.

create

attached

conceptions
in

are

what

know^n

had

logic,whereby
of

"

this

their

consider

not

to

LuUy,
importance Raymond
of the
teenth
thirSpanish schoolman

the

of

when

But

distinguishedpatrons.
is

them

presents

were

strengthened

The
than
of

Shadows
mere

memory

of

tions
direc-

by

GIORDANO

LuUy's

BRUNO
method.
the

contains

essay

of Bruno's

and

earliest

ment
announce-

philosophy,a

theoretic
relation

first part of this

The

foundation

between

things,and

of

The

it.

mental

our

cally
scientifi-

concepts

things and their

first principle, is considered
creative
under
borrowed
from
symbolic forms
the Allegory of the Cave
in Plato's
public,"
Reand under
the imagery of light
between

"

and

shadow

the

idea

The

in which

and

act

inner

the similitude

re-act

each

on

unity of

essential

the

and

other.
universe

strongly insisted on ; so too is the

As Nature
principle of development.
within
her sphere produces everything
from
everything else,and by slow steps
the higher, so
into
changes the lower
is

the

all in
can

also

understanding
grasp

of the

True

all.
the
:

But

truth

man's

only
the

hence

is able

to

nize
recog-

perception
reflections

in

title

"

Shadows

of Ideas."
In

Paris, Bruno

gave

31

further

proof of

GIORDANO

BRUNO

the
""

many-sided
n^kadslaio,"

of

nature

which

58

the

2) as

of the

one

its kind

as

of

with

unsavoury

as

year
"

it is

kind, though
The

the

tents
con-

of the

taste

Renaissance, and
those

Calandra":

"

of

Cardinal

in form

it is

representationof things as they

with

reluctance

no

the

to

contemplate

ugliest. Moreover,

unity

artistic

its

tioned
men-

same

of Ideas

best.

of the

realistic

even

of the

Comedy

Bibbiena's

are,

plays of

not

in the

Shadows

in accord

are

are

best

is

Italian

"

genius.

have

we

before, appeared

(1

his

in

of the

himself

want

diminishes

execution

value

the

the

work.

five years as the

In reckoning
period of his stay in Paris.
have included
his two
thus, he must
Bruno

visits

of

Paris

to

absence,

spring

mentions

of

and

and
to

journey, on leave
For
in the
England.

1583 he
in June

find him

in

having

been

his

was

already in England,

of the

same

Oxford, his lectures

interrupted
32

this

year

we

in Paris
time

by

GIORDANO

BRUNO

civic disturbances
of his

letter

to

and

arrived

de

with

the

King

of Mau-

Ambassador

object in

in

this

ney
jour-

the
merely to learn to know
and
its people, but also to acquaint
of England with
learned
world
his

land
the

not

doctrine

and

them

win

to

Castelnau

was

the

and

the

the

and

with

the

recalled

his

years'service.

ten

when

lived

in

In

London,
33

such

England

when

post in

'

of

grieved

from

him

secured

Queen

much

was

diplomatic
vantages
personal ad-

his

nevertheless

after the

his skilful

IL, but

address

she

Ambassador

Scotland

to

of Francis

favour

patron

of Elizabeth
political
opponent
defender
of Mary Stuart, whom
conducted

had

death

French

the

to

over

found

He

Copernican system.

he

leave

England
from

French

Bruno's

w^as

in

in

Castelnau, Lord

vissiere, the
London.

the attacks

obtained

of introduction

Michael

by

not

He

colleagues.

of absence
a

and

he

1585,

his house
and

in

that
was

after

Bruno

grati-

GIORDANO
tude
his

BRUNO

hospitalityhe dedicated
three first Italian dialoguesto Castelthe only protector of the Muses."
for

his

"

nau,

But

must

we

letter

between

read

not

the

and

apostate
part

were

catory
dedi-

personal a friendship

too

the French

and

this

into

Catholic

man
noble-

monk:

gerations
exag-

of

the

dedicatory

style.
We

hear

of Bruno's

other

England from the

published in London.
in

his

Oxford,

to

way
himself

experiences
he
writings which
He

where

made

next

he introduced

the

University in a very selfconscious

stylewith his paper on LuUy
entitled, Explanation of the Thirty
to

"

Seals."

discoursed

He

of the
fashion

on

the

soul, introducing

Pythagorean myths
:

ity
immortal-

and

new

he

Naturally he was
professors; and
assertion

of
soon

the

at

on

nicus'
Coper-

the

universe.

war

with

hitherto

of innumerable

34

own

of re-incarnation

discoursed

scheme

in his

the

ed-of
undreamsolar

sys-

GIORDANO

BRUNO

in

terns

infinite

an

endless

universe

gave

specialoffence, and aroused tumultuous

defended
his cosopposition. Bruno
mological innovations
against certain
doctors
of theology in an
tion
disputaopen
held
Polish

June

he

claims

the

the

this

which

of

of

prohibition

words

himself

affected

most

the

Oxford

to

war

victory for

of

visit

Alasco,

In

1583.

result

the

celebrate

Prince, John

in

the

to

him

but
was

continuing

his

lectures.
In

the

of the

summer

to

London,

same

year

where,

in

he

turned
re-

Castel-

composed his Italian

dialogues, while the impression of his
still fresh.
Oxford
He
experiences was
appeared frequently at Court, either
nau's

the

with

he

house,

French

Elizabeth, who
in

Ambassador,
loved

to

show

or

her

alone.

ity
facil-

Italian, enjoyed conversing with

him, and

he,

on

his

side, celebrated

the

in the ornate
styleof the times
queen
she is the great Amphitrite, in allusion

35

GIORDANO
to

her

BRUNO

island

realm

she

or

is the

only

earthly divinity. Nor

is Bruno
unsusceptibleto the beauty of
them
extols
the English ladies.
He
as
the Muses
and
land
roving nymphs of EngDiana,

of

and

he

their

an

praisestheir

fair

forms,

the

their faces.

Of

and

the

hair, the grace

expression of
he

whom

men

met

speciallyin contact
with
man
Philip Sidney, the brilliant statesand
shortlyafterwards,
poet, who
when
only thirty-two years old, lost his
life at Zutphen while
fighting for the
To
independence of the Netherlands.
Bruno
him
dedicated
his
Expulsion of
Beast
the Triumphant
(a book which
the
it had
soon
as
as
appeared became
logues
subjectof a strange myth), and the diaHeroic
thusiasm,
EnThe
concerning
the
of his
lofty song
philosophy, as he himself has called it.
had
Bruno
true
a
perception of the
politicalsignificanceof England ; and
at

Court, he

came

"

"

"

"

"

he

foresaw

the

union

36

of

the

whole

of

GIORDANO
the

BRUNO

British

islands

much

But

his

excited

in London

dislike

barbarous

himself
the

even
so

and

of the

He

it.

hiding.after the
Ash
Wednesday

"

which

paper

with
the

with
he

had

rise

gave
the

province,

One

and

not

all,he

when
works

happiest of his
his pleasure
was

keenest.

in

that
or

kingdom.
were

England

life and

With

37

and

ill-

yet the few

And
in

he

only

town

complained,

him.
disposed towards
that he passed
years
the

of Oxford

whole

that

him

compelled
publicationof
Supper," the
putes
his sharp dis-

one

but

sounded

It seemed

mob.

offended

one

to

pedants

London

and

was

lie in

the

accustom

country
to

the

roughness

he

uncouth

learn

to

he

sky of England

cold

speech

strange

scorned
to

the

to

could

Nor

strangers.

with

of

manners

crowd, and their unprovoked

to

and

of consideration

want

the

kingdom.

one

witnessed

utmost

his vehement
blamed

he

that

in

the

producing
the

were

time

his

exception

BRUNO

GIORDANO
of

his

works

composed

were

London,
"

poem

Candelaio,"

"

and
De

his Latin

immenso,"

here.

38

all
and

his

Italian

published in

masterpiece, the
was

also

begun

II

Bruno

of

modern

times
in

ancients

him
"

Essais

by

no

the

Yet

Bruno's

certain

or

preceded
his

his

imitated

Galileo

on.

means

ample
ex-

practice

decided

asmuch
in-

of teaching
purpose
his Latin
relies exclusivelyon
works,
as

he

scientific

handle

and

later
is

to

living language as
done.
had
Montaigne
by only a few years with

questions

"

of the first philosophers

one

was

and
form

for

even

which
he

for

he

aimed

the

his

Italian

chose

writings
to

seems

these

the

indicate

popular,
than
rather
at a scientific,
presentation
humanists
had
The
of his philosophy.
alreadyimitated the dialoguesof Cicero,

that

who

was

himself

in

an

imitator

at

and

Bruno

acquainted with Plato's dialogues,

but little Greek.
although he understood
ed
it was
But
independently of these learnthat his dialoguesarose, either
models
of an
actual discourse,
a reproduction
as

was

39

GIORDANO

BRUNO

in the

dialogues La Cena de le Ceneri"

(The Ash Wednesday Supper), or
because
the form
of a dialogue is specially
as

"

suited
as

to

are

conceptions

two

strife.

at

seen

of the

contents

I'infinito Universo

in "De

where

the

form
itself when

the

Universe

the

Moreover,

versational
con-

easilysuggest
of

language

actual

for

employed

was

Mondi,"

of the

would

work,

tercours
in-

written

Birunojiaeadialogijyg^in
conver^lo^aT
easy, iJiJjci3iisJtiained,jLnd
manjaeiv-ihough his poefrc'gifts
sometirnes intensifythe style. But
in this
statement.

form

an

of mutual
the

are

he

of

means

and

employs,

strikes

intercourse, how
the

of

there

is

and

and

no

command.
"

Verse
in

"

De

he

lightsome

caustic

expression
quiet thought which

prose

which

tones

and
disquisition
satire

"

expression which

Grave, earnest,

frolic,learned

fold
mani-

vivid

presentation,
re-

rebuke

of

passion

is

not

alternates

at

his

with

gl'heroici furori
40

or

"

GIORDANO

BRUNO

for

instance.

the

verse

The

of

construction

skilful, sometimes

is

ficial,
arti-

the

thought for the most

Much
part overweighs the slightform.
is conventional
in his
style,and his
and

is the

taste

of

barocco

the

Italian

late

especially in the superabundant

of mythology, but in spite
use
of all these blemishes
the originalityof
his mind
shines forth in all his writings.
Renaissance,

At

the head

of Bruno's
London

in
"

La

Supper)
which

Bruno
1

gave
friend

on

the

584,

in

defend

the

dialogues
Ash

from

nesday
Wed-

the

sion
occa-

rise

to

them.

Sir Fulke

Sidney's,had invited
day,
evening of Ash Wednesorder to hear the philosopher

of

chief

of the

doctrine

the

of this
forms

peared
ap-

the

and

motion,

(The

called

so

which

the

stand

de le Ceneri"

Cena

Grevil,

works

narrative

of

subject during
content

the

dialogue.

But

enlarged by

Bruno's

of the

earth's
the

the

cussion
dismeal

so-called

Copernican system,
universal

41

and

vivid

BRUNO

GIORDANO

conception

of it

to

its

real

of the

view

new

topic

all else

merely setting or episode.

merely as the forerunner
Chief
Two
dialogue, "The

Considered
of

this work

remarkable.

universe,

is

of Bruno

in detail

agreement
aside

of the
a

would

also

the

belongs
with

the rotation

necessarilyproduce

perceptiblecontrary

air, with

the

of the

movement

that

observation
to

much

instance, Bruno

objection that

the

earth

for

Galileo's

shows

two

is

Systems,"

is very

of the

comparison

sets

"

earth

and

the
must

air
tate
ro-

The

philosopher'swork
indeed
be compared in scientific
cannot
with
that of the great physicist,
accuracy
it gains in
but on
the
other
hand
its lofty point of observation
whence
the

it.

of view

range

system

only,

Together
the

but

with

the

includes
the

whole

not

the

solar

universe.

the

cerning
Dialogues, "ConInfinite,the Universe, and

Worlds,"
contain

the

Ash

courses
disWednesday
Bruno's
cosmology :

42

GIORDANO
in

only
work,

immenso

is in truth

only

and

Latin

womb

shine

space

suns,

which

star

comprehends

is

wherein

realm
In

this

universal

selves
them-

stars, in

rather

"

immeasurable

one

countless
or

teaches

Bruno

so

"

ethereal
things, one
things circulate.

every

his

innumerabili-

et

heaven,

one

space

all

De

does

respects

complete and improve the philosopher'

picture of the universe.

There

all

few

"

"

bus,

BRUNO

solar

systems, since

encircled, like

our

sun,

by

more
vividly says,
planets,or, as Bruno
There
but
kinds
two
are
by earths.
self-luminous
of heavenly bodies,
or
"

and

suns,

the

why

reason

other

and

planets.
would
All

star.

universe
these

stars

the

Seen
show

"

the

see

vastness

minuteness

from

determination

only

is in thc:

centre

43

sun

as

of
:

of

of

their

of

their

like distance

merely

is relative

and

earths,

or

only

we

is the

systems

distance

sun

illuminated,

our

sparkling
place in the
a

none

of the

of

all

whole,

BRUNO

GIORDANO
but

each

is the

its heaven.

In

therefore
as

belongs

to

and

in

we

the

the

of the

opposite

ours,

universe

there

below,

except

in

many
the

moon

the

does
of the

moon

so

do

moon,

whose

look

are

heaven, just

moon,

can

as

As

stars.

way,

the

to

up

there

heavens,

heaven

of

whole,

its

sense

earth's

other

to

look

the

are

no

belong

this

countless

number

of

centre

be

no

earth
:

the

heads

as

habitant
inare

us.

In

the

above

and

no

at

up

so,

the
as
relatively. And
determination
of place in the universe
is to
be understood
so
are
relatively,
also lightnessand
weight : no body is
heavy in itself,it is only in relation to
its

of

centre

almost

as

universal

in

the

space

positions by
force.

every

of

presage

the

doctrine

gravitation,when

that
free

It strikes

attraction.

The
other

bodies

heavenly
and

their
sun

fixed

Bruno

their

retain

mutually
turns
star

44

on
moves

us

of
plains
ex-

swing
relative

attractive
its

axis
on

as

its

GIORDANO

BRUNO

explain

to

the

Besides
has

this

By

centre.

the

fixed

with
from

its

on

from

the

Cusa

them

sun

in

be

sun

as

of

knows

He

de

Nicolas

stars.

alreadyaware
regards the distance

he

time.

the

forwards
to

seems

stars

strives

axis, the

movement

space : Bruno
of this, because
of the

of

twinkling

rotation

another

Bruno

means

he

ing
differ-

spots

sun

endeavours

the

undoubtedly
false supposition^that the body of the
and
is dark
sun
only its atmospheric
A happier assertion,
envelope luminous.
and one
that sounds
prophetic, is
that there
are
more
planets belonging
to

explain

to

our

than

sun

time.

on

known

were

Bruno

Comets,

at

the

declares, before

opposition
Tycho Brahe, pass without
through the supposed spheres to which
then
the
thought to be
planets were
attached
visible proof of the nona
existence
of these crystalshells.
"

this

It may

at

least

supposition can

false.""

A.

be
be

open

to

considered

F.

45

question
"

as

whether

undoubtedly

BRUNO

GIORDANO
Bruno's

world

real world.

is,as

It should

that

the

itself first

showed

Cosmos

be

never

ten
forgotof

constitution

true

the

know,

now

we

his

to

the

mind.

greatly celebrated
the prophecy of
because
he, fulfilling
old times, discovered
a new
hemisphere,
what
praise,asks the Philosopher, with
for him, who
justifiable
pride, is meet
has
itself
into
heaven
urged his way
If

Columbus

and

there

number
this

we

to

and

each

is

it

see

This

our

shining sparks

and

world

as

this is

prophesies, will

he

sees.

one

fills in

this

outline

with

colour

and

46

earth,
and

more

the

to

eyes

star

the

changing

he

Bruno

from

ball, this

star.

the

further

ever

before

more

without

Bruno

should

we

worlds

thoroughly realised
of considering the world
:
way
ourselves
(he says) remove

new

further

so

discovered

could

is

of

likeness
!

Look

know
and

day
of

life.

up
that

all men,

what

see

his

mology
cos-

Every-

GIORDANO
where

creative

One

akin

Only

space
glorious worlds

more

than

us.

Rather

the

inhabited

of

should

lightwhich

or

is itself

all kinds

worlds

as

more,

nay

great

all forms

of

that

mighty and
be nothing
they send to

In the different

world

even

believe

of these

one

every

in Nature

Bruno's

those

on

there

material

consists

ture
crea-

parts
come

organisms

whole, and

are

herein

perfectionof the universe.

inspiredwith this
spiritgrows
the teeming world
; this thought
the

reconciles

him

decline

and

to

and

whole

being,

actual

earth,

on

fool could

organism.

the

view

is

as

or

does

Bruno

by living beings ;

one

into

those

to

in endless

of

therefore

everywhere organic life

countless
gradations and

in

higher.

each

work.

at

that

develops
forms,

everywhere
is

power

And

doubt

and

ter
mat-

law, reigns in the whole

order, one

universe.

the

universe

is the same,

nature

same

not

the

throughout

of
the

BRUNO

to

the

decay
47

evil of

existence,

in individuals.

As

BRUNO

GIORDANO

good, so all is good,

and through goodness will be led to the
good.
Truly, he who fixes his gaze on
all flows

the

from

details

the

alone

take

cannot

beauty of the whole, just

of a building
him
escapes
a
part,
eye rest merely on

as

the

beauty
lets his

who
a

the

in

stone,

an

or

ornament.

This

is that

Philosophy,Bruno exclaims,
which
the senses,
gives peace to
opens
the mind, ennobles
the understanding,
which
and points to the true
blessedness
man

him
and
and

reach

can

from
the

the
blind

as

toilsome

fear of

overpoweringly
wakened
How

mean

to

pain.

It

with

seemed

of

worlds
mediteval

was

the

was

mind

first fatal

new

itself
and

a-

all existence.

the

referringeverything
well-being !
This
teaching of the existence
man

pleasure

revealed

Bruno's

sympathy
now

for

care

life that

universal

it frees

while

man,

to

blow

of

habit
his

own

of other
to

the

anthropocentric conception
48

GIORDANO
of the

BRUNO
universe

the

this

of the

earth's

the

himself

called

Infinite, and

the

inspired by
which

he

in the

of

of the

were,

of

worshipper
was

infinityof
than

and

space
creative

Is

number,
to

creative

of which
become
and

from

inferred

the

more

the

by

world
all else.

unlimited

is able

quantity

form, should

creative

real,be
actual

actuality,here
not
unworthy
being
power,

nature

real ?

add

to

number

quantity,

to

be

herself

Nature

the

ness
the boundless-

of
principlethe infinity
agination
imit possiblethat our

which

if need

mind

assumed

world.

form

the

his

that

had

Bruno

to

ment
move-

perceiving the contradiction

ity,
assumption of a completed infin-

Without

the

could,

sun

tion
concep-

harmonized.

been

Bruno

for with

doctrines

round
have

able
?

to

Must

force

is

Must

not

and

exceed
not

all,

capable,
tial
poten-

and
existence, possibility
coincide
to

able

suppose
to

49

create

And
that
an

were

such

it
a

infinite

BRUNO

GIORDANO

world, should

only

world

of

barriers

is

sense

he

errs

equivalent

as

The

finite

deny that the

in by absolute
hemmed
in holding this denial

does

Rightly

one?

created

have
Bruno

the

to

of its infinity.

assertion

these

between

antinomy

presents itself at the

I'lnfinDe
of the dialogue

prepositions,which
ito

"

outset

very
"

the

in

question

of the

by

the

that

counter

his

tion
ques-

first resolved

speakers,was

intellectual

It is in

and

of Kant.

acumen

of

conception

the

Cosmos

novelty, the greatness,

originalityof his philosophy
But

the

what

is

for

now

most

of

and

the

appear.

merely

us

of

for Bruno
knowledge, was
the
subject of a fiery passion, of a
and
religious sentiment
overpowering
If the doctrine
of Coperconviction.
nicus
is heliocentric, Bruno's
teaching
is not
merely cosmocentric, rather it is
a

matter

theocentric.

Wheresoever
alike

everywhere
true

centre

the

we

are

Godhead.
50

we

may

near

to

Nay,

be,
our

more,

ClOkDANO

BRUNO

the

latter

we

are

God

is

inwardly present
inwardly present to
basis of

is the

of

essence

all

said

is well

and

move

is

(Natura

est

ourselves.

the

Nature,

as

us,

common

existence, "therefore

that

in

have

Nature

to

Him

God

Creative

individual

in

Deus

in

and

live

we

being."

our

it

things
God

rebus)

is

"

the

of all movement,
the

soul

in

seek

of all

His

skirts
feel

of

and

Good,
runs

Earth,

the

shine
the

one

think

and

hymn

of

bosom

of

unnumbered

immeasurable
and

magnify the
the Highest."

All-

to

51

beauty

live

heaven

All-One,

Bruno's

the

Him

reflection

true

sight of
on

mind

seek

the

in

the

in

from

in the

in the

which

stars

Nature

: we

sun,

fies.
vivi-

able,
unchange-

dispositionof

light of the
that springs

Being,

of

this law

form,

power

the

in

laws

towards

Mother

His

God

reverential

the

principle

the constructive

unalterable

directed

inner

of all which

We

the

the

nature,

proper

and

God-Nature.

So

BRUNO

GIORDANO
With

thoughts, which
Bruno
sought

Idea

of

God.

peated,
re-

the

approach

to

and

freedom

God,

In

"

has

Spinoza

and
action, power
necessity,volition
God
and
and
the same.
being are one
is absolutelyinfinite.His being excludes
all

limits, and

of

each

attributes

His

is

infinite."
But

does

Bruno

existence

The

all.

creative

worlds

without
the

unity
which

power,

infinity in

inner

its

in the

lost

be

to

individual

allow

not

number,
of

is

of the
fests
mani-

producing
at

the

same

development which
in each
individual.
passes into infinity
comes
Nothing becomes
nothing, but all betime

source

all.

nothing
to
not

us,

of the

does

our

to
'

not

strange

any

become

our

thing

Nietzsche's
'Eternal

52

and

return

and

there

become

own."

the

come

own,

again,

return

which

opposition

call

we

and

nor

ourselves, and

"We

things which
vanish,

is

strange
that

We
Eternal

does

feel

the

otony
mon-

of the like.

'

'

GIORDANO

BRUNO

In his chief

and

logues
metaphysical work, the diaCause, Principle
"Concerning
sought to prove proUnity," Bruno
positions

which

be

only

can

held

This
work
philosophic dogmas.
preceded the dialogueson

Infinite,and
them.

stands

close

of

close

mediately
im-

the

relation

that

remarks

Bruno

the

in

as

what

to
was

the

metaphysical
fruit in the cosmological.
work
bears
In other
words, Bruno's
metaphysic is
of his cosmology
the foundation
the
at

sown

"

former

is the

the

means,

latter

the

end.

dialogues, De la Causa, Principio

Uno"
et
(excellentlytranslated into
German
by Lasson) are dramatic, not
form, for the thoughts
only in outward

The

"

themselves
The
and

form

in

are

antithesis

from

which

is annulled

starts

of the

state

at

of dramatic
between
the

gress.
promatter

conversation

the end

in the

unity

world-basis.

As

regards

and

the

cause

finite
are

things

different

53

the
;

the

principle
principle

BRUNO

GIORDANO

in its effect

inherent

remains

line),the

in

to

its result

and

causes,

these

must

single principle.

one

the

of the

aim

and

remodel

by

form

are

to

seems

This
and

be

the

them

this

distinction

of

in

matter

of

is

one

form

54

of
to

as

alone

change
perishing
original,
teaches

Bruno

matter.

ourselves

ploys
em-

principle.

forms
the

spiritualforce, akin
know

he

but

then

there

inner

tween
be-

conceptions

besides

forms

true

manner

dialectically.If
shapes of things

natural

But

essential form

in

is indicated

worthy of the name

alone
persists: the

derivative

this

form,

understood,

pass.

that

In

Aristotelian

these
to

the

and

matter

only

contained

explained.

with

starts

be

conversation

its title is

Bruno

we

tinction
dis-

disappears. For the infinite

and therefore
nothing external to itself,
be
in it there
can
only internal

has

is

this

infinite

the

in

external

remains

cause

(asa point

all

that

reason.

things
which
He

GIORDANO

BRUNO

indicates

from

it,by

Plato,

explains,

the

All, which

and

instructs

dwelling
which

which,

within

the

into

of each
reason

of his art,

an

thus

in all

things.

For

they

nevertheless

act

things
on

and

matter,

is

of

thither

subside
existence

of the

universal

spiritualforce
if

they have

"

have

the

The

its bosom.

and

is,

artist,

an

material

and

of

thing
:

were

fleetingforms

waves

again

if it

as

float hither

surface

It

one

those

creates

world-soul.

fills
identitywhich
enlightensthe universe,
Nature
to
produce her

"

kinds," and

the

as

he

expression borrowed

an

soul

works

not

life,

if in

tuality
ac-

receptive of either
soul or
life,yet they are so potentially,
and
according to their principle,by
of an
virtue
munication
originalact of soul-com-

they

not

are

life."

and

force
matter

all

in
;

things is

and

substance

the
;

This

spiritual

indestructible

form

or

force

of it too, the

like
is likewise

tion
proposi-

holds; nothing perishes:everything

S5

BRUNO

GIORDANO

thus the
and form
are
changes. Matter
two
ciples
abiding,mutually inseparableprinthe
the
former
of all reality,
as
substratum
latter

as

is worked

which
force

the

the

upon,

But

works.

which

philosopher
in this dualityof principles.
cannot
rest
it is not
in itself is intelligible
Matter
:
much
as
so
perceived by the senses
and
belongs
comprehended by reason,
the

therefore

Only
become
a

of the

speculativemind

the

to

finite

things from

another

difference

actuality;

and

the

in

and

form

taken

thing

one

is there

possibilityand
these

difference
is

not

appearance,

form.

as

alone

Absolute

the

so

being

for them

between

And
matter

category

same

one

of

cide.
coin-

between

of

perception
Being. In itself

absolutely,there is but one

:
according to substance,

stance
suball is

one.

Not

of

in their

being,

are

differentiated

being, but
the
from

in their

things in
the

56

the

universe

manner

universe

itself.

GIORDANO

They
the

BRUNO

are

several

"not

substance

one

substances, but
the

in

detail

is in

Nature

several

ticulars,
parless
end-

an

it is
development ; as a whole
inexhaustible
an
developed infinitely,
of livingforms
realm
and grades of being.
in Time
Its outw^ard
and
infinity
Space corresponds to the inner essential
of its principle. What
infinity
appears
in Nature

be

must

in

as

its

being

unfolded

conceived

perfectlyunited
the highest
so

as

principle.

And

all contradictions

unites

the

unity :
determinations,
and
and

differentiate
un-

of all

ground

it is itself without

term,

completely simple, limitless,

That
which
has all
unchangeable.
"

to

use

itself colourless.
and

Bruno's

and

only found

illustration

Death

and

wickedness,

groundwork
neither
realitynor
the

want

in

thus

colours

evil

differentiated

and

have

of

destruction,

in individual

S7

they

but

power,
and

roots

no

things

impotence,

is

"

are

in
are

rather

therefore

things,because

BRUNO

GIORDANO
these
of

all that

not

are

being, and

of existence
"

Thus

and

the

the

the

the

boundless

into
to

with
and

not

an

w^ert

ant

therefore

are

not

no

come

union

and

the
a

and

art

wouldst

of

and

ever

58

star,

things

All

which
is mere

in

being,

remains

deathless

man

thou

man

number

determination

substance

divine

identity

in the infinite these

for difference
mere

nearer

thou

nearer

instead

closely

more

not

because

and

able.
immov-

distinguishable."

accident,

same,

thou

and

while

dost

prehensible,
incom-

endless

come

likeness,to the

come

makes

not

One

illimitable

consequence

dost

the infinite

is

therefore

in

body.

or

that

therefore
;

the

essence.

and

relation, thou

the

the

best

and

Thou

matter

and

unbounded

and

absolute

actuality.One

One

cause,

highest

is the

the

soul. One

or

kind

one

Unity infinite

One

One
possibility,

One

is

universe

capable

are

from

pass over
another.
to

immovable

form

they

essence,

the

GIORDANO
Bruno
and

In

BRUNO
himself

shows

less

independent
creative
in his metaphysical
lations
specuthan in his cosmological views.
the latter he sketched
a
picture of

the

world

almost

the

line

which

has

been

for line

by

later

former

he

borrowed

confirmed
science
Eleatic

ideas, thoughts, and

Neo-Platonic

comparisons direct from

many
But
de Cusa.
the connection
ideas

with

which

he

the

of

conception

in

and
even

Nicolas

of these
Nature

had

expanded is all his own.

Bruno
is the Philosopher of Astronomy.
A
philosophic explanation, or rather
interpretation of his generalization of
this is,in few
the Copernican system,
his
words,
philosophy. Its leading
thought is the infinityof the world.
"

An

infinite

relation
latter
can

to

may

only

effect

and

world
than

God
be
be

His
His

cause

just as

the

stand

must
a

finite

one.

in

other
The

creation, the former

effect.
are
cause

$9

And

necessary
maintains

just

as

tives,
correla-

itself

GIORDANO
the

in

BRUNO

without

the

without
The

and

effect

world,
is the

universe

reflex of the divine

force

in

of

from

We
"

things

of
are

Thus,

then,

world-soul,
therefore
As

he finds

so

one,

power.
in

endless

in the

end
and

separabl
in-

Bruno

heaven
an

is

all

the

us.

ber
num-

things
ledge
know-

the

theme

proclaimed
subsequent speculative philosophy

which

was

from

Spinoza
Our

developed.

all these

efforts
For

one.

belief,

is

tive
crea-

unity is the goal of all philosophy

contemplation of Nature."

and

and

and

there

nature

of this

The

of divine

traces

individuals,
their

in

the

that

Granted

and

and

image

being.
everywhere,

heaven

in

are

the

exist

Nature.

His

finds the heavens

in all

without

substance.

God,

thought

cannot

sublime

Nature,

attribute

an

God

latter,so

the

be

cannot

not

of

learned, from

of

to

Hegel

attitude

took

up

to-day to

cal
metaphysic is a critiof
us
they are
systems
We
have
knowledge.
the
conjoined develop-

60

GIORDANO

BRUNO
scientific

of

ment

thought,

that

limits

Man

"

and

is

philosophic

set

are

born

not

the

of

of

where

the

problems begin,

keep

himself

world,

within

but

the
says

nevertheless

Bruno's

shared

seek

to

and

then
of

limits

comprehensible,"

the

solve

to

problems

ledge.
know-

to

to

the
who

Goethe,

belief in the

God-Nature.
Bruno

stands

two

the

on

boundary line of
and
philosophic

Scientific

ages.

efforts, which

after

him

different

were

still blended

ways,

in his mind.

scientific

and

knowledge,

be

had

not

knowable

in

and

of ideas
the

bounds

this may

almost

advantage

an

with

ideas

same

who

parting

utterance

comparison

of the

the

fieryimagination

his

but

;
as

philosophers

gether
to-

speculation

to

come

certainlytransgress

accounted

method

out

investigation,poetry

He
gave
ways.
full play in the

of the

him

For

of the

which

struck

have
6i

by

of

the
some

written

his

sentation
prelater

with

BRUNO

GIORDANO
of the

more

the

than

appearance

reality

of method.
Bruno's
of

are

dialogues
less

his

than

importance

logical and

philosophy

moral

on

cosmo-

his

than

metaphysical
dialogues: nevertheless
they afford us a
acter.
charglance into the Philosopher'sown
phant
"The
Expulsion of the TriumBeast"
ignorantly considered
the
attack
of
an
on
Pope on account
even

"

its title
and

of

fact

is in

"

of

criticism

in the

Religion

the

wicked,

the

animal

and

weak

in human

determination
have

the

in

"

nature

of the

form

The

ingenious allegory.

an

of Ethics

outline

an

mean,

word,

is,by the

"

over,
gods (who, moreto
reform) to

themselves

be

driven

out

of

under

root

heaven, where
the

animal

Constellations, and

by

the

the
moral

has

order
and

of
as

been
the

be

to

As

world

the

superseded
the aspect of

renewed,

this aspect
62

of

names

virtues.

contrary

Cosmos

is

it has taken

is

has

to

so

be

the
newed,
re-

penetrated

GIORDANO
to

the

so

truth

the

BRUNO
of the

truth
is

to

moral

new

form

one

endless

the

cardinal

order.

Truth

universe,

point

is the

of

unity
est
high-

which

prevailseverywhere, the
takes precedence of all
good which
other
she takes the
things. Therefore
of the Bear,
place of the Constellation
in

whose

Pole.

the

vicinityis

Truth

Prudence

"

is followed

Wisdom

North

stellar

and
by Wisdom
by her daughter

she will
through whom
Very appropriate is the remark,
and
not
friendship are

work.

Law,

where

it is convenient

things, but
ground of common
same

in the

found

believe

to

rather

mony
Har-

"

where,

on

the
the

unite
insight,men
activity. For the rest, the
of the
remaining moral
'

same

enumeration

qualitiesis without

'

system,

and

of

course

the

critique of positive religion lacks

historical
insight.
asm
EnthusiHeroic
The
Dialogues "On
social ethics by
complete Bruno's
"

an

ideal

of

personal
63

conduct.

These

BRUNO

GIORDANO

higher morality,"the
those loftysouls, the few,

Bruno's

are

"

for
are

law

heroic

the

divine

himself

mean

There

The

law.

spiritmakes
its

it

rapturous

with

the

good

things. Man
godlike by contact
This

divine.

kindled

enthusiasm

is

the

of

at

sun

one,

which

kinds

two

the

they
is

"

of

two

sorts

raised

And

standard.

those
of

and

ennobled

are

common

again
of

enthusiasts

ness
only blindother experience
: the
transport, by virtue of

divine

the

of

fanatics,exhibit

unreason

certain

above

are

and

kind

right

lends
godlike passion,which
wherewith
we
approach
may
of knowledge, throwing the
sun
of earthly cares
us."
burden
from

the

the

who

of

root

becomes

thought,
us
wings

the

"soul-flame,

of

desire,one

at

the

with

the

object

aspirationand
and

of

exaltation

with

one

outward

of

independently

the

do

and

themselves

to

rality
mo-

the

one

this
sisting
con-

only the
higher intelligence;
who

64

are

strument
in-

the

GIORDANO

BRUNO

other, of those

who,

"disposed

deeper reflection, of

their

and

ardour

impulse
the

natural

towards
inmost

own

of love

divine, the righteous,the

for

true,

and

after

the

enkindled

by

Idea,

insightand higher
thought. These
speak and

of

act

not

as

but
and

spirit;

rather

but

think

We

the

In Bruno's
in

the

self-creative

as

The

former

the latter

are

of Goethe's

continually active
attract

of the

instruments

mere

heroes.

effort

clearer

to

come

powers

conscious

in

vine,
di-

artists

the divine

have

divine

spirits."

words,

higher

"

God

natures

is
to

lesser."

philosophy. Ethics

direction

superhuman
homogeneity

of

the

through

universal, the
the

idea

of the

throughout the
laws
universe, the moral
a
assume
truly
cosmic
significance. Not
only the
sists
physicalworld, but the moral also,conof like

of all life

also trend

elements.

65

Ill

left

Bruno

England

Ambassador,

to

naturally
He

did

relations

with

departure.
former

The

Paris.

cherished
other

commended,
re-

his
to

return

his
of

University
which

tumults

war

proving

were

Bruno

moreover,

the

been

occasioned

the

frequent

preceded the civil

injurious to study ;

had

not

as

French

the

he

whom

time

same

of

recall

The

Castelnau.

the

at

of

intention

ready
aling
visit-

universities, those, namely, in

But

Germany.

he

wished

depart as
he prepared himself
a philosopher, and
for a battle
the peripatetic
royal with
natural
then
cised
exerphilosophers, who
a

predominant

hundred

and

delivered

to

he

points
the

with

settles
in

the

and

of the

great

his

66

one

he

sity,
Univer-

the

exactness

teaching

nature

Aristotelian.

In

theses, which

Rector

with

which

world

influence.

twenty
the

to

is
In

at

the

ing
concern-

variance

expres-

GIORDANO

BRUNO

of his

sion

precision
later

in

which

was

their

allowed, although
to

it

held

was

side

all

the

natural

took
in

to

year

the

to

were

these

The

but

in

of
was

principles

however,

not,

"

truth

disputation
(25th May)

Whitsuntide

1586

one

cording
subjects ac-

and

science.

for

faith, it

and

method

Sorbonne,

the

them

doctrine

as

treat

the

place at

the

was

that, leaving entirelyon

permissible
of

Catholic

questions

to

defence
of

some

of revelation

matters

to

was

theses, and

contrary

attains

scarcely excelled
mission
Pereven
by Spinoza.
granted for the printing

times

of these

he

propositions

the

College

in

of

of his
Through the mouth
of Paris,
spokesman, Jean Hennequin
covery
Bruno
enthusiasticallyextols the dis-

Cambray.

of worlds
the
he

one

unbounded

declares, is

habit

without

of belief

else hinders

number

the

of

Nothing
despicablethan the
this more
than
aught
human
understanding
universe.

more

and

67

BRUNO

GIORDANO
from

insight even

themselves

in

wish

to

think
it is the

because
of

so

never

Truth
his

of

of

weight
before

not

his

of his

she

for

out

he
cus

Gentilis

was

the

was

compatriot

founders

brought
Albericus

mence
vehe-

of
a

Gentilis

only
scene

In

academic
to

give

Alberi-

teaching
of Bruno

came

68

here
and

science

of

one

of which

Oxford

he

of

national
inter-

Oxford.^
to

in

Athens,"

welcomed.

from

lectures

hand,

German

the

burg,
Mar-

custom

other

knowledge

hither

the

to

solemn

the

on

the

"

law,
had

this

the

generously

was

begged

bend

to

Germany.

to

him

Wittenberg,

he

of Truth.

times, permission

denied

was

and

reasons,

contrary
of the

is ; and

yield to the
language but only

majesty
Immediately after
set

make

cannot

to

the

Bruno

it is

open

mean

men

than

hearers

and

dispositionto
the multitude, merely
as
multitude
: the
opinions
a

many

other

which

matters

clear

are

indication

an

into

he
But

in

1580,

GIORDANO

BRUNO

other

professorsalso treated him as

a
colleague and opened their houses to
him
he himself
declared,
; although, as
the

he

hitherto

had

them, had

to

given

which

to

Wittenberg

to

in

Oxford

reached

"

Holland,
as

he

did

study,
since

much

to

the

revive

Inaugural

An
E.

Holland,

master

days
the

the

from

of

B.C.L.

London,

69

him

Professor
of

Gentilis,
of

traditions

in

unbroken
have

must

Albericus

on

the

original seat

felt in Rorhan

Lecture

"had
of

says

pupil

Irnerius,

interest

middle

with
to

revived

there

teaching

to

Regius

Gentilis

can,

the

after

made

the

bringing

and

upper

returned

which

by

that

direct

from

down

series

T.

no

Oxford

There

doubt

be

and
then

Law,

ebb

low

very

century."

sixteenth

handed

Civil

the

of

the

withdraw

to

was

At

Elector

Christian,

1586,

he

when

1587,

study

civilian

in

And

the

successor

of Civil Law.

Professor

coming

him.

of

compelled

was

went

the

his

under

Bruno

Only
University

this party obtained

Augustus,

osophy
phil-

adhered.

death

the

their

to

party in the

after

had

of the

ill-disposedto

when,
hand

adhesion

they

Calvinistic

remained

of

opponent

an

was

unknown

quite

recommendations,

no

proof

no

faith, and
the

been

done

Law."

"

Gentilis, by

1874."

A.

F.

BRUNO

GIORDANO

lecturing for nearly two

branches
out

In

his

and

philosophy, and
of writings on

of

number

on

years

farewell

discourse

the

to

ent
differ-

bringing
LuUy.
Senate

ual
University, he magnifies the spiritof

greatness

merly

Germany,

which

for^

he

of hard

scarcelyknew
except as a
drinking {Alemagnabibace)

land
The

Germans

"

he

so

vision
in science.
her
and

here

ground

Hither

was

for her

and

had

Greece

planted
trans-

and

Italy,
making ready the
kingdom.
May
"

new

Germans

to

direct

to

know

their

them

to

loftier

no
they be men
longer,
For
but
like
the
to
gods.
godlike
is their
indeed
genius which
lights
the
path of all the sciences, save
up
only those which
they have hitherto
disdained
cultivate."
He
has high
to
he calls
praise also for Luther, whom
the
Alcides, one
who, mightier
new

aims

then

the

phetic
proleaders

become
Wisdom

from

seat

she

Jove grant
powers

would

"

with

announces

will

70

GIORDANO
than

has

Hercules,

horrible

crowned

Cerberus
And

tiara.

with

monster,

the

club, he adds,

his

that

vanquished

pernicious and

most

the

BRUNO

triple
the

was

pen.
From

Bruno

Wittenberg

Prague,

where

he

position and

means

dedicated

the

to

in

sought

to

went

vain

for

of livelihood.

He

11.

Rudolph

Emperor

and

Against the Mathematicians

Philosophers of this Age," and

this

dedication

"

paper,

of

adherent

all

the

religion of

him

months,

resolved

he

the

stadt, where
had

university.
lasted

one

to

new

Bruno's

year,
the

Academy,

honoured

all

to

above

dedication

stay of several

a
move

and

to

wick
Bruns-

promising
the Duke
the

the memory

71

Helm-

stay in Helmstadt

during which
University,

died, and

love

Julius of

Duke

founded

an

gracious giftfrom

and, after

Emperor,

himself

is raised

this

But

controversy.

only procured
the

confesses

religionwhich

the

men,

he

in

Julian
of its

BRUNO

GIORDANO
founder

by

solemn

It

Consolatoria."
the

said, but
and

for the
here

wolf

safety. But
expressed were
Lutheran

not

had

many

gers
dan-

there

the

put

freedom
he thus

assembled
of the
mann,
to

congregation

of

an

end

to

The
Boe-

before

and

the

the Rector

University,the theologian Hofbeing either unable or unwilling

protect

chose

Leipzig

him, he
seek

to

He

This

zeal

teaching ere it had well begun.

Superintendent of Helmstadt, one
him

to

Roman

his

thius, excommunicated

ceived
re-

prey

be fulfilled.

which

his

was

persecuting

pastor

from

truth, he
of

to

the

was

so

he

which

might live in
the hopes which

and

it

of

citizen

he

chance,

exile

vengeance

here

time

An

sake
a

as

hungry
"

after

hither

Oratio

"

Fate

tribulations.

country

the

of

in which

an

not

was

hand

him

brought

part with

took

Bruno

even

mourning,

was

more

pelled
com-

abode.

new

Frankfort

of that

once

age,

72

-am

-Main,

intending to

the
com-

GIORDANO

BRUNO

plete and print his

He
immediately put
with
Weckel

the
and

for him

was

works
be

; at

found

which

went

as

young

this

creative

the

teacher

at

"heretical

that

"

he

intelligenceand
the

religion,to

wit.

works

visit

where

Prior

Carmelite

he

Carmelite

which

73

sequently
subman

was

well

versed

without

sciences, but
"

by

the request of several

The

men.

activity

instruction

LuUy's art, and

length to Zurich,

religion"
the

to

monastery

certain

to

gave

of universal

Of

In

incessant

asserted

all

when

town,

in

some

ite
Carmel-

entirelyoccupied with his

of the day he might
any hour
writing or meditating in his

he

doctors"

tion
connec-

permission

only interruptedby

was

in

the
him

it.

his

cell, and

of

refused

within

Bruno

in

in the

without

monastery

lodge

himself

here.

publishers,J.
Fisher, who
procured

P.

council

works

celebrated

accommodation

the

Latin

Prior's

followed

of

trace

one

own

an-

BRUNO

GIORDANO
other

in

succession

rapid

the

connected

dedicated
Brunswick
These

The

"

three-fold

that

teaches

that

which

unfolds

itself

lives

Universe
in

which
of the
least.

kind

same

The

Nature
in each

is

occur

later

Bruno

even

of Monads
source

of

it is

uses

to

of

of the whole

74

thoughts

works

nitz.
of Leib-

the

expression

denote

things,but

part,

destroyed.
living units,

same

in the

nihilated
an-

be

power
the

in the

be

constituent

could

the

almost

again

Monad

least

living unity

of which

is present

itself would

atom,

of

Accordingly

Universe

smallest

tion,
frac-

substance

in the greatest and

if the
the

the

it constitutes.

infinite

the

its smallest

element

every

Power

same

into

also, in

the

the first work,

In

Bruno

and
and

Immeasurable

Worlds."

Countless

mum,"
Mini-

Number

Monads,

"The

Shape,"

of

special attention.

The

"

are

writings
JuHus

Henry

for

calls

of

group

Duke

to

fort,
Frank-

at

the

tive
crea-

in connection

GIORDANO

BRUNO

with

his

The

work

philosophy its meaning

profound.
the

on

Seven

"

is

Liberal

more

Arts"

shall speak later)was

also
(ofwhich
we
begun and
completed at this time.
Bruno
took it in manuscript with him
to
Venice
it

see

The

he

but

destined

not

was

to

published.

Frankfort

largelyattended
ans.
by foreign booksellers, especiallyItaliOn
the

fair

such

one

carried
to

occasion

of the

acquaintance
Bertano

and

back

under

came

noble, Giovanni

inquired, in

him
secret

that

in

the

Bruno

Giovanni

wish

art

of

with

sciences

that
the
to

writings
of

notice

manner

the

the latter

Giotto's

Mocenigo,

where

eager,

expressed

in

the

sellers
book-

Venetian

of Bruno's

Lying

made

Bruno

Ciotto,and

some

Venice.

these

was

memory
which

young

who

at

was

ably
notice-

once

lived, and

writer

be

shop,

initiated
and
he

by

other

conceived

acquainted.
was
Mocenigo, who
was

IS

at

this

BRUNO

GIORDANO

of
of one
thirty-twoyears old, came
famithe most
distinguishedVenetian
four
had
Hes, which
already furnished
doges to the Republic.
Naturally of
character, suspia
shy and undecided
cious
and reticent, he had given himself
time

up
his

as

tool

mere

spiritualdirector.

served

once

of the
the

as

Holy

intimate

the

at

already
(Deputy

trials before

Office),and had thus

with
the practices of
This

himself

all' eresia"

"savio

into

wretch

become
the

quisition
In-

insinuated

now

life.

Bruno's

of

hand

had

He

Council

High

the

into

invited

He

him

to
Venice, and
repeatedlyto come
that
should
treatment
promised him
invitations
Both
came
satisfyhim.
found
Bruno
them
through Giotto.
on

his

from

return

embarrassed

Zurich,

condition, he

fateful determination
called
after
whose

him.

home,

It

that

charms

"

he

arrived

at

his
the

not

the

they
longing

heaven-blessed
could

76

in

go whither

to
was

and,

paint

land
in

such

"

GIORDANO

BRUNO

livingcolours,

it

moved

the

him

his fate.
Mother

the

To

Earth,
him

to

the

to

child

of

himself

at

with
who

of
And

least of

could

and

care

fell into
for

laid

life is

Skill

and

for

their

so

him

the

man,

and

mence
vehe-

cious,
unsuspi-

that

deceit

the

conduct

time

own

for

poverty?

and

those

to

fuse
re-

whose

had
of
lives

alone, but

centuries.

many
first all

Bruno

in

he

beside

stood

snare

mostly denied

not

are

him.

the

most

him

relieve

simple

yet

widest

of her

one

for all his contentiousness

was

At

and

friendly adviser
warning words,

No

the

est
clos-

might he not think

the protection of the

"

that would

offer

of

self,
him-

"the
Infinity,

became

But

little time

for

of

safe under

an

and

Sun

called

once

seal

spiritexpatiated in

exile

mighty Republic
respected houses

that

to

was

of the

he

as

whose

Fatherland."

step that

contemplation

place

this alone

not

was

arrived

seemed

to

in Venice

11

well.

promise
October

59

1
,

BRUNO

GIORDANO

possessionof a lodging.
The
of Mocenigo
instruction
began,
but was
not
imparted with any great
time
found
to
regularity; and Bruno
and

at

pay a
order

took

once

visit of
to

months

some

give privatelectures
The

students.

greatly celebrated

was

numbered

Copernicus

in

of the
at

few

the

months

came

teach

here

of modern

this

at

science

there

sixteenth

time, and

after Bruno

the

ning
begin-

from

P.P.

it,and

had

lustrio
il-

many
in

at

of

Padua

and

century,

conclusion

Galileo, summoned

in

its scholars

among
names

German

to

"Studium"

in

Padua,

to

left

art.

bens
Ru-

only

Padua,

Pisa, began

to

(September 1592), the creator

science
following hard on

Bruno
1 592
moved
reprophet. In March
again to Venice, and this time
he was
misled
into taking
up his abode
house.
in his pupil'sown
He
was
seen
much
the booksellers'
at
shops, and he
and
was
a welcome
guest at the literary
gathered
philosophic societies which
its

78

BRUNO

GIORDANO
round

Andrea

considered
scholar

Morosini.

But

satisfied with
had

received

the

initiation

with
be

with

he
the
no

into

had

which

he

He

did

if Bruno

do

so.

knew
How

misunderstood

he
not
means

return

been

not

which

he

in vain

for

and

arts

presumed

for which

had

creed

waited

magic

to

printing
permission

desired

had

permission,and

accord, he
have

he

called

the

instruction

aversion.

that

to

with

Bruno

surrounded
"

them
he

ished
cher-

unmixed

therefore
let fall the

refused

threat,

stay of his
to

ences,
sci-

cause
just be-

"

prohibition and terror

secret
a
yearning, not

with
his

the

his

been

Mocenigo

familiar, and
his

had

proceed

to

works, and

depart.

to

he

he

instructed

him, he planned

to teach
upon
Frankfort
to

to

had

all that

in

of his

he

that

When

compel

own

him

Bruno
greatly must
his position when

reply that he had no fears of

Inquisition,for he had prevented
from
one
living according to their
could

79

BRUNO

GIORDANO
belief.

own

to

Strange
did

Bruno

us,

with

the

again

Church

in Toulouse

and

to

the

and

Church,

Seven

it

present

thereby
the
But

to

obtain

again

events

absolution, and

to

his

decision

baggage
Mocenigo

moment

to

hand
for

near

or

six

his

bursting

out

his order.

be

had

He

sent

to

therefore

by

gondoliers, who
palace, he

into

the
80

was

made

dered
or-

fort.
Franknot

effectinghis

Followed

ently
differ-

very

depart, and

to
to

lose in

design.
five

fall

to

be

to

without

expectations.

his

and

the Church

into

were

his

in

to

Clement

pope

necessity of returning
from

firm

the

on

wished

He

new

he

time

very
his work

in

with

clined
thought favourably insciences, and he designed

the

received

had

he

VIII., whom
to

he

himself

Arts."
the

to

and

this

at

Liberal

Again
Paris

in

reconcile

placed great hopes

"

his breach

final.

as

appear

may

consider

not

endeavoured

it

as

erous
treachservant
were

at

pretext

sleeping chamber

GIORDANO

BRUNO

of his teacher

May

forced

1592,

bed, and
into

during

with

room

house.

him

and

for

his

locked

him

storey of the

upper

day
appeared

of 22nd

rise from

hand

next

OfBce

night

to

own

the

on

The

Holy

his

the

of the

ofRcer

an

with

several

tendants,
at-

fined
security con-

greater

the

prisoner in a warehouse, on
the ground level.
the same
On
day
in his written
handed
nunciati
deMocenigo
and during
to the Inquisitor,
the
was
night Bruno
dragged to the
prison of the Inquisition.
The

reports of the
down

come

intact

trial have

Venetian
to

us,

and

The

Court

them
of

consisted
Fra

Giovanni

divico

Taberna,

savii

air

da

Saluzzo,
Lu-

Monsignore

the Patriarch
one

eresia," whose
81

ago.

bunal,"
holy tritor
Inquisi-

Father

Gabrielle

Priuli, and

Lorenzo
"

Justice, "the

Apostolic Nuncio

the

first

decades

several

of the

been

Ranke

repeatedly published, since

discovered

have

of

of Venice
the

duty

it

three
was

to

BRUNO

GIORDANO

and

High
and

legalityof

the

superintend
to

report

Bertano

as

the
a

later

two

of

work

which

from

separate
rests

how
go

of the

mind.

is it

Bruno's

upon

the

on

stands

the

pluralityof
and

hand,

Almost

accusation

the

putrefaction, is

Bruno's

origin of

philosopher who
several origins for

assertion

only

the

82

that

dared
human

understand
mis-

theory of

organisms.

had

and

life arises from

doubtless

all

of

charge,

of his bold
natural

head

doctrine

The

human,

Moceni-

universe,

worlds.

even

ally
actu-

the

at

of the

to

of

declaration, and

other

misheard.

cover,
dis-

to

easy

much

boundlessness

animal,

Nor

of

as

accusations, how

is laid

pleted
com-

much

as

enumeration

the

which

writings, is

its confused

much,
had

he

evil-disposednature

an

bewildered

drea
An-

heard.

Mocenigo's accusation,
in

Ciotto

witnesses.

also

was

the

to

booksellers

appeared

Morosini

ings
proceed-

them

upon

The

Council.

the

to
race

For

the
the

assume

knew

GIORDANO
but

BRUNO
distinction

one

human

life,that of development

animal

that

between

of

doubt

No

essence.

the

know

of God

Son

that

he

became

and

not

Bruno

rightlychargedwith denying
that

and

the

is

dogma
We

man.

had

earlydoubts about the

ecclesiastical
dogma of the Trinity, but
he most
solemnly denied the irreverent
and
expressions concering the person
of Christ which
miracles
Mocenigo puts
into his mouth
and
Mocenigo would
;
be the first hypocrite who, in supnot
posed
zeal for religion,has had recourse
And

to

lies.

to

Bruno

in

concert

the wild

of

with

of

one

those

with

averred

of

Navarre,

its head

at

and

seizing

opportunity offered,
which
lying inventions
as

tales such

that

of

Henry

as
betray themselves
must
Mocenigo
judges, if he ventured

them

attributed

raisinga general revolution

putting himself
other kingdoms
is

scheme

such.
have
to
as

83

mate
esti-

formed

of the
before

come

these

had

Bruno

What

also

expressed

his

BRUNO

GIORDANO

surprise that

the

RepuWic,

should

other

respects,

in the

enjoyment
and

had

as
a

done

and
the

And

monk.

was

had

to

mean-souled

and

began
on

on

the

information
recounted

of the

his

list of his

which

he

accusations

by
and

his

life,and
of

2nd

the

not

himself
until

the

was

the

June
entered

court

still

maintained,

explained,were
were

Their

was

accused

upon.

complete

published writings,

longer defended.
and

least

thinker

great

29th May,
The
30th.

accusation

laid before

Bruno

from

judice
pre-

at

one

concerning

following hearing
matter

the

to

enemy.

continued
gave

whom

was

tion,
informa-

brought against him

sort,

trial

the

calculated

himself

clear

of this

of

part

admirably
judges, of

them

This

in France.

malicious

venues,
re-

enormous

confiscated

have

not

been

most

The

of their

monks

the

leave

in

wise

so

of

some

others

he

contents,

no

he

cal,
exclusivelyphilosophitreated

84

according

to

the

GIORDANO

BRUNO

principlesof
no

direct

natural
at

concern

Catholic

science.

had

Bruno

doctrines

they

did

truth

had
the
not,

ing
accord-

University of
recognized when
they permitted
theses to be printed.
After
unfolded
his philosophic

his
this

with

the

therefore, presuppose
the Faith, as
to
Paris

rate

any

religion, and

They

in

the

recital, neither

summary

concealing nor weakening any essential

feature, but treating them
as
frankly as
in a professor's
if he were
chair and not
before
the judgment seat of the Inquisition.
He
taught an endless universe,
he
deemed
it unworthy
because
to
that divine
potence
think
goodness and omnihad
produced a finite world
number
worlds
without
where
might
have

created.

been
that

there

like this world

with
star.

the

other

And

universal

And

which,

planets,he

in this universe

providence,by
85

he

had

infinite

were

of ours,

so

held
he

virtue

clared
de-

worlds

together
to

be

placed a
of which

GIORDANO

BRUNO

everything lives and

to its perfection,and
conceived

of

in

soul

is present

calls

Nature,

the

so

all and

long

as

of

limits

belief

God
all.

confines

he

philosophy
the
in

Word

first

body,
and
in

again

over

how
his

the

is

at

He

the

the
he

of

ineffable
time

same

concedes

that

within

does

he

impress

the

stand
under-

not

became

it is also

as

which

that

himself
he

comes

providence

ways,

shadow

in which

manner

in

the
and

Deity,

this

two

in

and

grows

flesh, and

uncertain.

As

in
philosopher he agrees with Solomon
understanding by the Holy Spirit,the
From
world-soul.
this Spirit,this All-

life,life
that

soul

has life and

the

as

is division

the

and

word
:

soul.

body

is

to

The

of the

soul is deathless

imperishable

Preacher

is

is nothing

being

every

re-vivification.

and

"There

flow

to

new

death

And

so

stood
be under-

under

the

upon

the

sun."
In

his

doctrine

defence
of

Bruno

relied

duality of truth,
86

accord-

GIORDANO

BRUNO

which

ing to
Science

Philosophy

and

when

even

they
It

had

Faith

is

Lateran

but

may

this

condemned
of

herself

had

trines.
doc-

contrary

that

true

Council

Rome

Theology,
exist
together

maintain

been

already

and

1 2

teaching
by the
heretical

as

held

always

not

fast

of the Council.
by this determination
By an appeal to this principle,
from
the
Pomponatius had obtained
Roman

on

the

Censor

the

of his work

release

immortality

of the

soul

in

University of
Paris had acknowledged the proposition
fore
thereWe
in question as stillvalid.
can
and

in

Bruno's

the

case

how

understand

it is that

the
to
continuallyrecurs
he taught, he asserted as
without
pronouncing in

his

faith

as

Bruno

fact that
a

what

philosopher,

any

Christian.

way

upon

When

the

Inquisitorinterrogatedhim concerning
his belief, he replied throughout as a
CathoUc.
the

did

"What

Incarnation

of the

87

he

Word,

believe
and

of
His

BRUNO

GIORDANO
Birth?"

by the Holy
Virgin Mary,"

the

and

"

love

of

sacrament

of the
the

and

if he

the

so

"

the

in

let

word,

stinence
ab-

answered

Bruno
a

lesson
But

who

none

and

Mass,

regarding

catechism.

Roman

the

tion
transforma-

the

repeating

were

things are
Faith, hope

"

commands
a

of

concerning

on,

Penance,

In
as

ceived
con-

born

and

What

"

elements

Church's

was

Ghost

salvation

to

necessary

Word

the

"That

had

of

out

the

quisitio
In-

fallen

into

cheaply. At the
sitting the Inquisitor
turned
the accused, and
in impresto
sive
language charged him
point by
the
accusation
whole
as
point with
though he had done
nothing to clear
its

power
escape
of the long
end

himself
Bruno

those

matter

Office

of

it ;

continued

things

of

so

he

and

added

that

if

stubbornly to gainsay
which
he might afterwards

be

convinced,

of

surprise to

it

must

him

proceeded againsthim
88

be

no

if the

Holy

with

those

GIORDANO

BRUNO

judicialmeasures

which

and

employ

its power
to
obdurate
offenders
the
Christian

virtue

it

light

those

and

darkness,
of

to

everlastinglife

from

the

these

go's
the

those

who

King

had

he

nay,

On

in

way

strayed

he

his

crushed.
lation
re-

Moceni-

"

evidently working.
acquaintance with

praiseof

the heretic

excused

antiquity. Finally he
comes

89

he

Next

this

flourish, after the

which

his

concerning

any

cile
do-

more

was

of Navarre:

He

which

the following

proved

of Navarre.

England.

rhetorical

turn

the

to

threat

the

was

denied

vindicate
of

ever

slander

Bruno

to

wandered

contained.

Henry

to

the

and

solicitous

back

examined

was

knowledge
ac-

Office, by

Holy

bring

day (3rd June)

He

to

God,

who

those

right path.

words

than

of

was

understood

Bruno

refused

mercy
of the

love

its habit

was

against

who

of which

the

to

it

as

Queen
a

mere

fashion

furnished
very

must

near

an

of
planation
ex-

to

GIORDANO

BRUNO
recantation.

complete
that

he

which

errors

he

the

to

contrary

had

vows,

and

he

have

been

of all he

and

he

all

until

that

day

Faith

and

his

all heresies

he

guilty ;

of which

repented

done, held, said, believed

had

doubted

or

held

Catholic

monastic

might

abhorred

rejected and

now

declared

He

which

was

that

begged

Catholic

not

the

holy tribunal,

having regard to his weakness, would

be reto
provide him with fit means
ceived
the
and
Church,
again into
let
would
ing
prevail. The followmercy
short sittingwas
held ;
day another
then
followed
of eight weeks
a
pause
time enough for the "examen
rigoro-

"

"

sum

used

and

the
the

in

was

30th July
before
it

was

of

case

rapid.

too

that

Bruno

judges. He
possible that, in
into

the

Church,

other

errors

90

generally

was

those

his

from
fallen

rack, which

It

whose
was

version
con-

not

until

again appeared
explained that
his
he

long

tion
separa-

might

than

those

have
he

GIORDANO

BRUNO

confessed, though

had

such

any

he

knees

and

mind,

to

broke

he

could

not

call

fallingon

his

words

into

out

of

treaty
en-

God
and
humbly beseech
all errors
which
your lordshipsto forgive
I have
committed, and I am
ready here
I

"

wisdom
has determined
your
for
And
and ordained
soul's good.
my
if God
and
lordships show
pity
your
and grant me
life,I promise
to
me,
my
to

do what

to

alter

and

have
at

make

to

done.

Venice

"

to

early

demand

that

thither.

Bruno

but
he
he

leader

had
had

Queen

written

of

no

several

England

it

should

cided,
de-

was

rare

and
91

be

to

sent

ordinary heretic,

heretics, an

bestowed

mitted
trans-

were

17th September,

as

Bruno

of

out
with-

pronounced.

arid there

was

proceedings

trial

the

that

conclusion

being

Rome,

as

all men,

evil

this the

With

came

to

all the

good

sentence
any
of
records

The

sight of

life in the

my

heresiarch

books

in which

praise
other

on

the

heretical

BRUNO

GIORDANO
rulers

had

he

had

several

spent

Geneva

been

and

in

and

Dominican,

in

wandering

years

England

had

he

been

before
the Inquisialready summoned
tion
fore
in Naples and elsewhere, and thereit was
expedient that at the first
safe opportunity he should
be sent
to
Ancona

for Ancona

the
But
not

come

and

so

the

to

the

the

had

vessel

and

the

much

the

that
the

7th

Bruno

leave

to

Rome

its

of

3rd

on

surrender

yield

wishes

without

Senate, writing

at

to

however,

Rome,

resolution,

to

the

refused

reluctant

gratify

on

immediate

ambassador

being

under

was

an

prisoner ;

October,

so

The

Rome.

to

ready to sail,and
Inquisitor pressed for a decision.
the High
Council
of Venice
could

vessel

to

thence

and

him,

rights

the

to

Curia.

repeated the demand

more
urgently, alleging
as

friar

must

come

Pope's jurisdiction. Finally,

Council
January, the High

yielded to

the

wishes
92

of

his

Holiness.

GIORDANO
This
the

BRUNO

conclusion

of Contarini,

advice

the

and

wanton

all this

during

guilty of heresy

of

the

learning and

excellent
How

strange
with

keeping
these

are

at

the

intellectual

Holiness

the

6th

of

the

how

On

not

fail

to

of the

show

27th February

times

greatness

"

Republic as "a
gratifyingto himself, and
he will

the
amazement

Pope

93

the

so

from
of the
matter
one

himself

1593

of

entirely in

which

spoke

"

"

knowledge.

announced

January

was

of the

horror
superstitious

ambassador
on

wide

spirit of

in

led

imaginable,

yet

the

words,

mingles with
heresy !
His

and

He

one

was

minds

remarkable

most

had

time

deepest dye

his

otherwise, however,

vailed
pre-

further

life.

diabolical

hearsing
re-

in heretical

lived

long

had

added

Curia,

had

Bruno

lands, and
a

the

by

after

who,

principleswhich

with
that

about

brought

was

Bruno

man

of his

tian
VeneRome

decision
most

for which
"

grateful.
reached

BRUNO

GIORDANO
Rome

he

Rome.

Nearly

passed
the

arrived
the

renew

in

remember
the
its

that

decisions.

fellow

(they are
them
the

years

of

name

the
in

in

two

who

one

dungeon.

that

imprisonment
confirmed
by

we

can

but

the

and

had

may
to

delay

Bruno's

1599
among

find

we

been
but

prisoned
imBruno

had

passed six
It is only by conjecture
explain his long
these

accounts

94

we

April

monks)

years

more

to

of

list

who

clusion
con-

contrary

number,

one

only

hand,

5th

priestsand
nearly

was

of

slow

Office

the

had

makes

the

not

to

he

much

so

was

In

twenty

seven

the

and

Holy

prisoners

in

was

this

and

the other

of the

custom

he

which
;

it

had

age.
determined

Rome

trial

On

in

of his

proferred in Venice
his long detention
surprising.

the

prison
years

recantation

of the

the

flight,and

forty-fifth
year

Bruno

for

seventeen

his

since

prison of

the

exchanged
Inquisitionin Venice
;

guesses
of

are

Schop-

GIORDANO

BRUNO

indeed, they almost

pius,
"

of

value

ascertained

facts.

Kaspar
Scioppius or

Schoppe (Latinized into

Schoppius) had become
his youth, and
made
was
St.

and

Peter

and

the

is

of it.

account

was

end

He

Claravalle

by
literarybusybody,

who

has

his

left

that

he

contrived

another,
What

"

to

and

of time

space

"

procure
defer
to

he

he

had
the

to

fancies," and

empty

Schoppius

Bruno

by the
promised to

theologians, and
but
as
always, so soon
recant,
given his promise, he returned
of his

an

errors

greatest

defence

of

Knight

narrates

of

convinced

in

only contemporary

of Bruno's

witness

was

he

Catholic

of

Count

VIII.

Clement

the

acquire

delay after

one

the

placed
thought

so

sentence.

in

that

short
Bruno

confinement
in
since
only been
the long
over
1598
really extended
of his imprisonment
in
series of
years
had

"

Rome.
Bruno

the

Moreover,
had

been

assertion

convinced

95

of

that
error

BRUNO

GIORDANO

that

he

continued

just these

was

which

the

were

him

from

the

Holy

his

at

was

such
sion
submis-

"

tion,
vacilla-

without

reserve,

longing glance

one

former

as

ward
back-

tions,
convic-

intellectual

glory of the infinite world,

his mind
had
perceived it. Bruno
he
not
only to be urged to recant
;
the

at

as

required

Office

without

prevented

submission

him

convince

to

trine
doc-

truth,

In

that

cause

making

without

his

contrary.
efforts

fact

very

defend

to

the

proves
it

The

correction.

requires

had

recanted

the

and

was

recantation.

His

ready

to

sentiments

repeat
were

changed ; his great intelligence

be
his
to
was
captured ; his name,
the
be
at
to
were
learning, his pen
to

be

service

of

therefore

And

was

his

the

creed
it

was

attacked.

mind, which

of

the

that
But

had

solar

soared

into
spaces, creep back
of
limits
the
Aristotelian

96

Church.
his

how

sophy
philoshould
vast

among
the

narrow

mediaeval

GIORDANO
world

BRUNO
his opponents

? While

his

did

they

him,

convince

which

none

his

all

that

all

vanished,
himself

but

Then

convictions.

sought to
strengthen

can

certainty
un-

of

doubt
who

escape

strugglessingle-handed against the

of

his

did

Bruno
;

that

early days
had

been

slow

as

prison
a

hero

deferential
of his

attitude

imprisonment
of him

unworthy

so

could

steps

overwhelming

he

ally
heroic-

when

he

he

rise

Only by degrees did

it.

above

environment.

his

enter

first appears

he

leaves

not

and

time

dency
ten-

of

the

which

only by

from

escape

and

embarrassments

his
win

that
harmony and therewith
he kept to the
enduring strength which
ness
weakThe
end.
sight of his human
to
us
as
a
brings him nearer
man,
that

inner

the

and

makes

the

greater.

the

right

and

the

first

to

new

to

sacrifice
Even

of his life appear

his

in

entertain

free

conception

struggle for
97

of

supremacy

own

mind

conviction

things had
against

BRUNO

GIORDANO
the
a

of his

power

which

power

early impressions,

own

growth.
Catholic

Church

"denial.

of

belief, but

spirit.

her

find

to

it is

imports

of

the

to

And

when

judge,

had

struggle of

many

of that
his

this

mind

take

have

of

he

Catholic

his

was

deliver

strained
con-

this

himself

how

turned

to

98

decision
in-

by

before

place finallyon

conflict

may

dearest."

from

and

death

the

appeared as his
was
swayed by

whose

power

the

religion,

years'duration

bodily

inner

ception
con-

new

much

and

to

and

mind

even

he

side

withdraw

Mocenigo
the
"ever
testify,
as

wavered

could

scheme

feeling of

and

in the

simple

much

world

conflictingimpulses,

he

his

into

this Church

he

on

the

to

of

Church's

however

censure

him,

to

that

influence

He

idea, and

not

hardly

religious sentiment
older

relation

can

tellectu
in-

own

His

the

he

from

himself

is

denies

He

his

with

grew

the

tory
spiritualvic-

betokened.
often
his

own

In

must

words

his
:

GIORDANO

BRUNO
still fears for his life has

Whoso

"

himself

made
It is

that

1599
the
to

the

until

not

prisoner who
knowledge.

of the year

another

had
A

yet

Godhead."

beginning

catch

we

the

with

one

not

glimpse of
so
long lost

been

of cardinals

number

of the
belonged to the "Congregation
and general
Holy OflSce" of the Roman
these
Inquisition,and prominent among
were

Ludovico
of

and

Madruzzi

San

Severina,

and

ambitious

the

the

latter

dinal
Car-

who

man,

tolerant
in-

an

sidered
con-

of Paris
"Bloody Wedding"
of Saint
Bartholomew)
(the Massacre
a
exceeding
glorious day, and one
the

"

agreeable

Catholics."

to

He

specialnotice.
to

he

examine

did

to

During
embodied
to

the

science, and

himself

the

commissioned

was

teaching,

Bruno's

into

most

deserves

Bellarmine

consultors, Robert

his

secure

twenty

years

chief

on

he

Bellarmine

the
took

part in the
99

and

tion.
condemna-

opposition of
later

the

Among

Curia

upon
first trial

BRUNO

GIORDANO
of Galileo.
larmine

from

the

at

should

indeed,
so

we

few.

Three

ordained

be

these

he

up

at

1 st
a

and

retract,

him."

without

and

should

this

Bruno

that

"

he

that

knew

retract," hastened

matter.

neither
he

not

the
100

had
what

of

time

decision,
was

on

retract,

Pope
cal.
hereti-

as

The

general inspection of

declaration
would

accused

amining
ex-

as
acknowledges them
not, a period of fortydays

December

heard

the

propositions

the

to

for

expired

grace
till

fixed

be

later, after

that

such, well; if
shall

weeks

out

And,

find them

to

Congregation,

If

"

wonder

the

pointed

their

that

completed.

but

can

require

to

ordered

be

The

propositions,and

these

time

same

number

he

writings.

determined

abjure

to

congregation

the

Bruno's

Congregation
Bruno

Bel-

4th January

propositions,which

heretical

culled

the

before

laid

eight
had

On

and

not

brought
the

ers
prison-

His

firm

dared

nor

nothing
he

to

should

catastrophe.

It

GIORDANO

BRUNO

the

of

General

Congregation

his

his Vicar

and

Maria,

the

that

in vain

was

Order,
of

Paul

sent

IppoHta

Mirandola,

refused
Bruno
to
dispute with him.
the proposiacknowledge as heretical
tions
in
pointed out to him, and added
a
dejected way that he had never
given
to

heretical

utterance

to

his words

had

the

January
the

Rome,
A

of

officials

2oth

been

misapprehended

the

decisive

of

year

to

jubilee in

the

in

further
be

he

audience,

consideration,
should

secular

and

and

and
in

sentence

conclusion

was

the

should

brother

the

to

the

assembled
of

presence

the

of Rome,

conformity

lOI

Jor-

over

governor

announced

the

that, without

that

in

was

Congregation

sentence

Before

power.

magistrates

After

delivered

be

congregation,
the

ordered

pronounced,

danus

unread.
the

place.

Pope

opened, but left

Pope had received

by
On

sittingtook

of Bruno

memorial

Office.

Holy

600,

propositions,but

on

with
8 th

this
Feb-

BRUNO

GIORDANO
Bruno

ruary.
hear

to

the

the

secular

the
say,

tence.
sen-

his orders
degraded [i.e.
from
municated,
excomhim), then
and
thereupon given up to

with

power,
he should

that

shedding

sentenced

punished
"

of blood

quest
re-

with

dealt

"

and

be

to

usual

the

be

might be,

as

his

was

taken

gently

kneel

to

of

announcement

He
were

compelled

was

out
with-

that

"

In

burnt.

as

is

to

order

rightlyto appreciate this proceeding,we

remember
that in papal Rome
need
to
there

was

spiritualand
of

governor

delivered, was
a

difference

no

the

spoke

power

whom

to

an

officer

the
;

Bruno

of the

Pope

the
was

and

tence,
hearing the senBruno
rose
proudly, and turning
the judges,
to
threatening mien

words
echo

years

temporal

Rome,

After

Monsignor.

with

between

fear that

which
still

you

this

sentence."

On

2th

"

after

three

It is with

pronounce,

February,
I02

as

far greater

than

the

hundred

receive,

"avvisi"

of

GIORDANO
the

BRUNO

day

inform

of

us,

justicewas

Dominican

heretic,

Nola,

be

burnt

pious sightseershad
a

few

days longer.

for recantation
and

the

wait

last

before

steadf astness,or,as

I die

patience

his enemies

of purchasing
but

soul

my

will

his

conceived

unassailable.

"

martyr's death," he declared,

willingly,knowing that with

smoke
On

in

burning

it,his obstinacy,was
die

the

but

ofiFered him

was

death

alive

opportunity
granted to Bruno
;

was

chance

stifF-necked

to

cution
exe-

in Rome:

expected

of
to

was

solemn

most

ascend

"and
the

Paradise.

to

"^

7th February, in the early

hours
of the morning, one
of those
sad
processions of state
prisoners which
Friday,

not

were

unfamiliar

wending its way

the
place of
Bruno
as

was

should

Church.

the

to

Rome

the

to

was

di

Campo

execution

heretic, and

lest he

the

led

in

pile :

his tongue

for

he

seen

Flora,,

heretics.
was

was

clad
bound

"revilings" against

utter

And
103

now

there

went

BRUNO

GIORDANO
before

him

himself

torches,

those

had

that

foretold

him

be

wanting to
daylight if he was
not

sympathy

Little
for him

together
quite in

was

of

the

so

stake, round
the

flames

but

the

one

sigh
he

when,

in

held

kind

the

ment
senti-

he

he

of

describe
was

which

the

last

piled ;

about
did

the

to

was

him,

wring
living and

not

breast, as

slowly

was

bound
wood

torment

his

pressed
sight-seers,

Bruno's

round

wrapped
from

have

must

row

looked

consumed.

And

his last agony,

crucifix
a
before
his eyes, it is said that

turned

was

he

away.

What
was

this

Schoppius

fearful

seeing

of

felt

ed
stream-

time.

Bruno

moments.

which

with

exactly does

on

be

likely to

crowd

foremost

the

into

clear

die

to

consonance

him

scornfullyat

in

even

sentence

would

they

destined

was

the

among

he

soil.

Catholic

Roman

which

of

seems
a

to

miserable

us

the
and
104

death

shameful

of

hero

end

in

GIORDANO

BRUNO

And
the eyes of his contemporaries.
so," writes Schoppius joyfully, he ished
permiserably in the flames, and in
"

"

those
he

can

wont

narrate

how

treat

such

to

profligatefolk
and

but

is

Galileo
order

to

not

that

the

to
was

scribed.
prohim

mentions

only
Kepler

name,

But

akin

the

as

in

Bruno

to

in

him

mentions

it could

so

to

come

pass

philosopher of the modern

prophet of the scientific idea

the

of the

world,

his

and

first

mind,

and

name

very

was

And

further.

are

repeatedly.
silent
concerning him, in
still
case
prejudice his own

ways,

many

Romans

scattered

Nolan."

who

imagined,

blasphemous

were

his

certain

Germany,
so

the

Campanella
and
not
by

once,

"a

he

himself."

as

ashes

Bruno's

winds,

which

words

other

works

was

almost

soon

numbered

greatest rarities,and
be very careful of
of borrowing from

we

among
must

accusing
them.

105

unknown,
the

therefore
later

writers

Moreover,

BRUNO

GIORDANO
the

paths of

have

later

been

pursued

Bruno
Galileo

the

guilty

of

as

of

the

in

the

Adam

other
?
"

put

thought
Bruno's

who

the

not

had

question
too

that

the

also

Galileo

to

case
an

worlds

earth's

with

was

apostate,

creed

from

sprung

antly
triumphChrist

might

without

even

fied
cruci-

have
this

been

heresy

hopeless one.
a

forsaken
io6

Was

backslider,
his

of

dwellers

was

was

It

was

plurality

Have

the

for them

he

the

is

Church.

the

of the

absolutelyirreconcilable
literal understanding of the

worlds,
the

at

Schoppius

Not

rather

but

trial

he

doctrine
even

rightly perceived.

which

the

plurality of worlds,
motion,

His

Galileo's

of

stands

for which

suffer.

to

germ

be.

may

truth

heresies

of the

found

goal

same

also

was

contains

head

their

for the

died

those

prophetic spirit,

Bruno's

near

science

from

different

very

by

however

philosophy and

order

friar
cause

GIORDANO

BRUNO
condemn

enough at least to
life-longprison.
hand,
the

it

which

universe

which

from

other

the

on

of

it

this^

was

judges could
persistent adherence
his

nor

His

over.

his

occasioned

Church

he

this rendered

to

had

the

neither

pass

to

preciselyhis conception

was

secession

But,

him

the

he

recantation

had

worthless
in the eyes of
already made
the Inquisitors,
from
and prevented him
ed.
recanting in the way that they demandAnd

so,

the

in

pilea

convictions,

but

of

is

brown

than
a

that

slightbuild

His

hair

melancholy
1

portrait said
life.
appear.

But
"

the
A.

was

his

be

to

was

new

ception
con-

His

of

of the

authority

short

man,,

pallidcountenance.
and lighter
sparse,
deep-set eyes had

look.

edition

Wagner's

the

portaitof Bruno,^
he

and

beard

his

his scientific

to
to

cended
as-

Universe.

authentic

no

know

we

victim

martyr

of the
There

truth, Bruno

very

Bruno's

author
for

F.

107

movements-

those

and

work
so

has

has

Frith's-

portraitsdoes

not

BRUNO

GIORDANO
were

very

read

his

lively,and

temperament

and

he

which
he

impetuous,

the

wearied

which

and

he

"

il fastidio

bestowed

of

"

hilaris, in

hilaritate

thus

characterizes

the

And

mind.
all the

he

the

and

vanity

of the

is the

and

the
of

bed,

"

the

death.

pessimism.

the

end

to

quiet rest
Yet
He

his

the

"

trigues,
in-

petty

in

the stormy

zeal

trade
life

of
he

work,
"

sure

repose
spirit is free from

chides
io8

"

through

persecuting

and

In

"

of his

"

for

name

tristis

nature

fraternity who make

Even
philosophy."
early
longed

easily

was

certainlysaw

motives,

mean

life

his

himself.

on

fastidio
he

impulsive

continuity

He

finelydisplayed.

so

citable
ex-

impressions
fore,
details,there-

outlines

main

was

the

that

lacks

he

his

by
In

moment.

and

led

often

sometimes
in

His

teristic
charac-

ways

Italian

to

his

fancy

not

in many

South

was

impossible

gesticulations.
was

of the

of

and

dialogues

accompanying

nature

it is

vulgarity, or

GIORDANO

BRUNO
satiric

lashes

it

glance

is directed

he

sees

vanish

with

the

to

of the

out

whole

very

but

imperfection in

all
;

scorn

his

in which

the

details

difference

and

opposition to things he hears the full

The
thought of this
harmony arise.
all
universal
above
harmony lifts him
suffering.
The
born in him.
feelingfor realitywas
He

divines

and

intuitively,and

It
to

its character

loses himself
in

certainly premature

was

the

accept

established
herself

But

in it.

his

system

Nature

age
as

an

revealed

his

speculations,as his
It is significant
proved.
to

even

he

Copernican

truth.

cosmology
that

immediately,

with

preference to poetry
and expression to his teaching,
to give form
and
his thoughts seem
arise
to
originally in a poetic form.
turns

Bruno
a

he

was

poet,
was

century

no

and

seer,

martyr

"

so

thinker

mere

he

and

an
a

apostle;
hero.

No

prophesiesof
109

in

life,

in death

coming

himself

"

BRUNO

GIORDANO
refuse

will

conqueror
with

to

bear

he

did

great

hero, preferred a

"conception

of

chosen

as

age

him

ilame

with

with
*'

become

Time

done

It has

on

reversed

by men.
1889

since

the

blazed.

his

the

in

But

visible

his
di

Campo

the

by

soul

wilt

ory.
mem-

judgment

of

centuries

ago

Church

and

the

stands

monument

Flora,
1600,

on

the

spot

the

faggots
imperishable than

year
more

is that

monument
1

thou

Bruno's

Three

died, cursed

where,

this

justice to

Inquisition.

execrated
But

and

by Divinity,
flaming fire,"

Bruno

filled his

glow.

has

the

has

immortal

touched

For

to

nobler

an

light

any

God

breast, and

clear

warm

kindled

of

the loftiest

of

servant

but

death

calling.

the

his mortal

in

mind

his

has

God

that

as

had

Bruno

like

death,

courageous

ingloriouslife.

an

fear

not

steadfastness

that

witness

10

invisible

BRUNO

GIORDANO
raised

one

greatness
which
a

by
of

stand

PRINTED

BY

mind

his

before
and

monition

NEILL

himself

Bruno

an

AND

the

and

in

character,

coming

example.

CO.,

LTD.,

the

EDINBDRGH.

world,