Dante's Heart
The Seven Sages of Rome
The Blind King, the Seven Sages, and Merlin
“…It is happening to you as it happened to a king who could not see light
from outside his city. He asked counsel about it from many wise men, but he
was not able to find any remedy to help him get well. And he also had and
held seven philosophers, to whom he had to make certain to give money, for
they interpreted dreams. And at that time there was a sage whose name was
Merlin, and counsel was given to his majesty the king that he should send for
him. He sent his messengers with a great quantity of gold.
"Going to Merlin, one of them was found acceptable and was called before
Merlin himself. Merlin said to him, ‘Go to the philosophers of the king to
ask about a dream. What you carry in your hand is in fact a byzantine, and
if you want to give it to me, I will tell you now what your dream means, which
they will not tell you.’ The messenger said, ‘Gentleman, gladly.’ Merlin said,
‘You have dreamed that a fountain was in your house.’ And he confessed
that it was true. Then Merlin said, ‘Go and look under your hearth, and
you will find much silver.’ That one went and found it as the wise man had
said, and the other messengers of the king went with him to see this, and
much did they marvel. They returned to Merlin and led him to his majesty
the king.
“Merlin said to the king, ‘Do you wish to be cured of your illness?’ And the
king said that indeed he did. And Merlin said, ‘Have the heads cut off of
the seven philosophers who are in your court, and you will be cured.’ The
king became very sad, because his court stood strong through those
philosophers. Then Merlin said to the king that he had to dig under his bed.
And the king had it dug out, and he found a furnace boiling, which sent out
seven vapors. The seven philosophers had devised this furnace through
magic art. Merlin said, ‘Have the head of one of the philosophers cut off,
and one of the vapors will cease.’ The king said, ‘If I find it as you say, I will
do all your pleasure.’
"And the king found it as Merlin had told him. Then he had the heads cut
off the seven philosophers, and he cured his infirmity. And just so, these
philosophers have made your understanding blind, so that you do not see
the true road. But if you did see, you would have to have their heads cut
off because they have taught your son poorly.”
The emperor said, "I will send them into ruin," and he ordered that his son
be led to judgment.
But hear the words of the fourth philosopher, who said, much as the others
had said, “You must do to your wife as did a wise cavalier.”
The emperor asked, “What did he do?”
And the philosopher replied:
back next page: "The Husband and the Magpie"
The Blind King, the Seven Sages, and Merlin
“…It is happening to you as it happened to a king who could not see light
from outside his city. He asked counsel about it from many wise men, but he
was not able to find any remedy to help him get well. And he also had and
held seven philosophers, to whom he had to make certain to give money, for
they interpreted dreams. And at that time there was a sage whose name was
Merlin, and counsel was given to his majesty the king that he should send for
him. He sent his messengers with a great quantity of gold.
"Going to Merlin, one of them was found acceptable and was called before
Merlin himself. Merlin said to him, ‘Go to the philosophers of the king to
ask about a dream. What you carry in your hand is in fact a byzantine, and
if you want to give it to me, I will tell you now what your dream means, which
they will not tell you.’ The messenger said, ‘Gentleman, gladly.’ Merlin said,
‘You have dreamed that a fountain was in your house.’ And he confessed
that it was true. Then Merlin said, ‘Go and look under your hearth, and
you will find much silver.’ That one went and found it as the wise man had
said, and the other messengers of the king went with him to see this, and
much did they marvel. They returned to Merlin and led him to his majesty
the king.
“Merlin said to the king, ‘Do you wish to be cured of your illness?’ And the
king said that indeed he did. And Merlin said, ‘Have the heads cut off of
the seven philosophers who are in your court, and you will be cured.’ The
king became very sad, because his court stood strong through those
philosophers. Then Merlin said to the king that he had to dig under his bed.
And the king had it dug out, and he found a furnace boiling, which sent out
seven vapors. The seven philosophers had devised this furnace through
magic art. Merlin said, ‘Have the head of one of the philosophers cut off,
and one of the vapors will cease.’ The king said, ‘If I find it as you say, I will
do all your pleasure.’
"And the king found it as Merlin had told him. Then he had the heads cut
off the seven philosophers, and he cured his infirmity. And just so, these
philosophers have made your understanding blind, so that you do not see
the true road. But if you did see, you would have to have their heads cut
off because they have taught your son poorly.”
The emperor said, "I will send them into ruin," and he ordered that his son
be led to judgment.
But hear the words of the fourth philosopher, who said, much as the others
had said, “You must do to your wife as did a wise cavalier.”
The emperor asked, “What did he do?”
And the philosopher replied:
back next page: "The Husband and the Magpie"
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