ON THE NATURAL DESIRE FOR KNOWLEDGE 123know little, for which it is not necessary to have a lot <strong>of</strong> doctrine, but withthe gravity <strong>of</strong> speaking sentences and witticisms in time, with entertainingwith ornate <strong>di</strong>scourses and circles 61 in the antechamber, one comes towork quite a lot, and the more the person knows how to banter, mock andderide the more learned he is reputed to be and the more he comes to conciliategrace. Of concepts 62 therefore, and similar propositions he tendsmore to provide himself than with science, and passes his time in accompanimentsand compliments, not in lucubrations; passes all the more 63 ashe has to do battle with the envy which from the grace and favors <strong>of</strong> theprince ensues imme<strong>di</strong>ately and copiously, nor is there little to do withknowing how to shield and defend oneself so that for the satisfaction <strong>of</strong> thegood inclination he can work very little. These then are the defects an<strong>di</strong>mpe<strong>di</strong>ments that render so rare in men the perfection <strong>of</strong> knowledge,despite its being <strong>of</strong>fered to all, despite its being <strong>natural</strong>ly craved by all.They are truly great and many, but the <strong>di</strong>gnity and utility <strong>of</strong> the former isalso so evident that it is both a wonder that it is not sufficiently providedto all and a necessity that with every effort it should be so provided. Thegreat and heroic enterprises all need to be facilitated and helped; nor havethe men who have de<strong>di</strong>cated themselves to them been lazy in seeking it 64with various ways and means and particularly, knowing the small anddefective power <strong>of</strong> the solitary and <strong>di</strong>vided and the strength <strong>of</strong> wellorderedunions and conspirations, with well-regulated congregations andassemblies well furnished with both aid and counsel, they have overcomeall <strong>di</strong>fficulties and attained their ends. 65 Thus we can see the happy successes<strong>of</strong> the private militias, though small, the conservation <strong>of</strong> peoplesand <strong>of</strong> public things, and even in in<strong>di</strong>vidual arts and occupations, bothgreater and viler, good address and excellence, and we can note asadmirable both their acquisition and maintenance. Hence it appears verystrange that in such a principal part, or rather a part that belongs only toman, there has been such little ardor and such great neglect that it remains61 Here circles (‘circoli’) appears to have a double meaning: on the one hand circumlocutionsand on the other an elite gathering <strong>of</strong> courtesans.62 Important and typical term <strong>of</strong> 17th century culture, which in<strong>di</strong>cates witty andacute expressions, concise in<strong>di</strong>cations <strong>of</strong> ideas: Cesi, who sometimes uses them, is evidentlyaware <strong>of</strong> their risks.63 Time.64 Seeking help (for the heroic enterprise <strong>of</strong> knowledge)65 Cesi thus introduces the theme that is dearest to him: the necessity <strong>of</strong> a reorganization<strong>of</strong> knowledge accor<strong>di</strong>ng to the form, so fruitful, <strong>of</strong> the well regulated congregationsand assemblies.
124DEL NATURAL DESIDERIO DI SAPEREscuraggine che resti sottoposta a tanti intoppi senza rime<strong>di</strong>o, vedendosenetanti d’or<strong>di</strong>ni et radunate in<strong>di</strong>rizzate ad altri fini e pensieri.Non deve certo negarsi che le publiche Università o vero Academie e liCollegi e Seminari non habbiano in parte havuta questa mira e similmentele Academie private, ma però né hanno provisto a bastanza, né sono seguitatecon quei progressi che ne pretendevano li institutori, cedendo per lopiù alli correnti abusi et alli fini più communi come <strong>di</strong> sopra s’è detto.Poiché né tendono queste radunate 66 alla perfettione della dottrina né vi èquella forza dell’unione che a tanta opera si ricerca; ogni ammaestramentoin esse si compisce con il corso e con le lettioni e termina nel dottorato, econfessano or<strong>di</strong>nariamente gl’au<strong>di</strong>tori et anco lettori 67 che in stu<strong>di</strong>o 68 nons’apprende altro che li primi termini e regole, anzi la via e modo <strong>di</strong> stu<strong>di</strong>aree d’aprire i libri, e così scusano lo strepito delli incivili applausi e de’ campanie cifolamenti con li quali suol accompagnarsi la lettione quando alpoco appetito de’ scolari riesce troppo lunga, il che suole quoti<strong>di</strong>anamenteavvenire. Né però si vede che, appresi tali principii, si vada più oltre ne’stu<strong>di</strong>, ma sì bene nelli essercitii <strong>di</strong> frutti e ne’ stipen<strong>di</strong> alli quali suole ilgrado magistrale aprir la porta. I Seminari e Collegi che provedono in granparte al vitto e darebbono buona commo<strong>di</strong>tà <strong>di</strong> ritiramento anche essisimilmente licentiano, conseguita la laurea, finito il corso; parimente l’academicheconferenze et essercitationi, che solo sono preparatione a tal compimento,vengono solo maneggiando e solennizando più quei primi precetti.Restano alcune poche academie <strong>di</strong> belle lettere (come si <strong>di</strong>ce) che continuarebbonosempre, nelle quali vi sarebbe non poco frutto se si premesse 69nelle eru<strong>di</strong>tioni scelte 70 e nel buono et utile della filologia e poesia più chenelli sonetti, madrigali, barzelletti e come<strong>di</strong>e, e più nelle lettioni utili e riccheche nelle <strong>di</strong>cerie pompose e vane. Ma però quando anco tutti questi stu<strong>di</strong>osiessercitii or<strong>di</strong>natamente e fruttuosamente procedessero avanti, ovesono li filos<strong>of</strong>ici e mathematici? Che aiuti, che unioni ci sono per questi,che non habbia a replicarsi che sono quasi del tutto abbandonati? A pena66 Riunioni, quasi nel senso <strong>di</strong> universitates.67 Studenti e pr<strong>of</strong>essori.68 Nell’università.69 Insistesse.70 Specialistiche.
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