Dante's Heart
The Seven Sages of Rome
(Il Libro del sette savi di Roma)
Translated from the Italian
by Roberta Payne
Introduction
A Roman emperor had an only son whom he loved greatly, whose name was
Stephan. When the son was seven years old, the emperor gave him for his
education to seven of the philosophers he had in his court. Having received
the emperor’s son, the philosophers led him out to a place that was very
pleasant and secret, ten miles from the city, so that they would be able to
teach him better. The youth learned so well that the philosophers marvelled
greatly, and he conducted himself so well that in the span of ten years he
became more perfect than any of his teachers, and there was no one in the
world as wise as he was.
Now it happened that in the middle of these years the wife of the emperor,
the boy's mother, died; and the emperor, at the counsel of his wise men,
took another wife, who was very young and beautiful. Having heard of the
fame and beauty of this youth, although he was her stepson she
nonetheless fell greatly in love with him. She could not control herself,
bothering the emperor every day to send for him, since she desired greatly
to see him. Being in love, the emperor endeavored, as is the custom of old
men who greatly love young women, to satisfy her.
So immediately on Saturday he sent his messengers to the seven
philosophers, saying that, if his son was now very learned, they should lead
him home. And so that they would be able to reply to the messengers, the
philosophers came together and interrogated the youth, putting before him
diverse questions. He replied to them so marvellously that those
philosophers fell into great admiration of him, because they themselves did
not know so fully how to answer their own questions. Having seen this, they
returned to the messengers, saying, “Hasten to depart and say to the
emperor that his son is the wisest man in the world, and tomorrow we, along
with him, will come to the city.” And thus the messengers returned to the
emperor -- and since he was very happy, and so also was his wife, he
ordered all his counts and barons to come to him on a Sunday in order to
accompany him to meet his only son.
After the messengers departed, the philosophers stood talking with the
young man, and as they did, the young man gazed strongly at a star, because
he was a great astrologer, and while he was gazing he began to disturb
himself greatly and to cry bitterly. Seeing this, the philosophers asked him
the reason for his crying.
He said, “Do you not see the sign of that star?”
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(Il Libro del sette savi di Roma)
Translated from the Italian
by Roberta Payne
Introduction
A Roman emperor had an only son whom he loved greatly, whose name was
Stephan. When the son was seven years old, the emperor gave him for his
education to seven of the philosophers he had in his court. Having received
the emperor’s son, the philosophers led him out to a place that was very
pleasant and secret, ten miles from the city, so that they would be able to
teach him better. The youth learned so well that the philosophers marvelled
greatly, and he conducted himself so well that in the span of ten years he
became more perfect than any of his teachers, and there was no one in the
world as wise as he was.
Now it happened that in the middle of these years the wife of the emperor,
the boy's mother, died; and the emperor, at the counsel of his wise men,
took another wife, who was very young and beautiful. Having heard of the
fame and beauty of this youth, although he was her stepson she
nonetheless fell greatly in love with him. She could not control herself,
bothering the emperor every day to send for him, since she desired greatly
to see him. Being in love, the emperor endeavored, as is the custom of old
men who greatly love young women, to satisfy her.
So immediately on Saturday he sent his messengers to the seven
philosophers, saying that, if his son was now very learned, they should lead
him home. And so that they would be able to reply to the messengers, the
philosophers came together and interrogated the youth, putting before him
diverse questions. He replied to them so marvellously that those
philosophers fell into great admiration of him, because they themselves did
not know so fully how to answer their own questions. Having seen this, they
returned to the messengers, saying, “Hasten to depart and say to the
emperor that his son is the wisest man in the world, and tomorrow we, along
with him, will come to the city.” And thus the messengers returned to the
emperor -- and since he was very happy, and so also was his wife, he
ordered all his counts and barons to come to him on a Sunday in order to
accompany him to meet his only son.
After the messengers departed, the philosophers stood talking with the
young man, and as they did, the young man gazed strongly at a star, because
he was a great astrologer, and while he was gazing he began to disturb
himself greatly and to cry bitterly. Seeing this, the philosophers asked him
the reason for his crying.
He said, “Do you not see the sign of that star?”
next page
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