按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
clearly as in the original； that atmosphere of intrigue and
brutal assertion of power by which the Roman Curia； after packing
the Council with petty Italian bishops； bade defiance to the
Catholic world。 This translation； more than all else； has enabled
the English…speaking peoples to understand what was meant by the
Italian historian when he said that Father Paul 〃taught the world
how the Holy Spirit guides the Great Councils of the Church。〃 It
remains cogent down to this day； after reading it one feels that
such guidance might equally be claimed for Tammany Hall。
Although Father Paul never acknowledged the authorship of the
history of the Council of Trent； and although his original copy；
prepared for the press； with his latest corrections； still
remains buried in the archives at Venice； the whole world knew
that he alone could have written it。
But during all these years； while elaborating opinions on the
weightiest matters of state for the Venetian Senate； and sending
out this series of books which so powerfully influenced the
attitude of his own and after generations toward the Vatican； he
was working with great effect in yet another field。 With the
possible exception of Voltaire； he was the most vigorous and
influential letter…writer during the three hundred years which
separated Erasmus from Thomas Jefferson。 Voltaire certainly
spread his work over a larger field； lighted it with more wit；
and gained by it more brilliant victories； but as regards
accurate historical knowledge； close acquaintance with statesmen；
familiarity with the best and worst which statesmen could do；
sober judgment and cogent argument； the great Venetian was his
superior。 Curiously enough； Sarpi resembles the American
statesman more closely than either of the Europeans。 Both he and
Jefferson had the intense practical interest of statesmen； not
only in the welfare of their own countries； but in all the
political and religious problems of their times。 Both were keenly
alive to progress in the physical sciences； wherever made。 Both
were wont to throw a light veil of humor over very serious
discussions。 Both could use； with great effect； curt； caustic
description： Jefferson's letter to Governor Langdon satirizing
the crowned heads of Europe； as he had seen them； has a worthy
pendant in Fra Paolo's pictures of sundry representatives of the
Vatican。 In both these writers was a deep earnestness which； at
times； showed itself in prophetic utterances。 The amazing
prophecy of Jefferson against American slavery； beginning with
the words； 〃I tremble when I remember that God is just；〃 which；
in the light of our civil war； seems divinely inspired； is
paralleled by some of Sarpi's utterances against the unmoral
tendencies of Jesuitism and Ultramontanism； and these too seem
divinely inspired as one reads them in the light of what has
happened since in Spain； in Sicily； in Naples； in Poland； in
Ireland； and in sundry South American republics。
The range of Sarpi's friendly relations was amazing。 They
embraced statesmen； churchmen； scholars； scientific
investigators； diplomatists in every part of Europe； and among
these Galileo and Lord Bacon； Grotius and Mornay； Salmasius and
Casaubon； De Thou and Sir Henry Wotton； Bishop Bedell and
Vossius； with a great number of others of nearly equal rank。
Unfortunately the greater part of his correspondence has
perished。 In the two small volumes collected by Polidori； and in
the small additional volume of letters to Simon Contarini；
Venetian Ambassador at Rome； unearthed a few years since in the
Venetian archives by Castellani； we have all that is known。 It is
but a small fraction of his epistolary work； but it enables us to
form a clear opinion。 The letters are well worthy of the man who
wrote the history of the Council of Trent and the protest of
Venice against the Interdict。
It is true that there has been derived from these letters； by his
open enemies on one side and his defenders of a rather sickly
conscientious sort on the other； one charge against him： this is
based on his famous declaration； 〃I utter falsehood never； but
the truth not to every one。〃 （〃La falsita non dico mai mai； ma la
verita non a ogniuno。〃）＇1＇ Considering his vast responsibilities
as a statesman and the terrible dangers which beset him as a
theologian； that in the first of these capacities the least
misstep might wreck the great cause which he supported； and that
in the second such a misstep might easily bring him to the
torture chamber and the stake； normally healthful minds will
doubtless agree that the criticism upon these words is more
Pharisaic than wholesome。
＇1＇ For this famous utterance； see notes of conversations given
by Christoph； Burggraf von Dohna； in July； 1608； in Briefe und
Acten zur Geschichte des Dreissigjahrigen Krieges； Munchen； 1874；
p。 79。
Sarpi was now spoken of； more than ever； both among friends and
foes； as the 〃terribile frate。〃 Terrible to the main enemies of
Venice he indeed was； and the machinations of his opponents grew
more and more serious。 Efforts to assassinate him； to poison him；
to discredit him； to lure him to Rome； or at least within reach
of the Inquisition； became almost frantic； but all in vain。 He
still continued his quiet life at the monastery of Santa Fosca；
publishing from time to time discussions of questions important
for Venice and for Europe； working steadily in the public service
until his last hours。 In spite of his excommunication and of his
friendships with many of the most earnest Protestants of Europe；
he remained a son of the church in which he was born。 His life
was shaped in accordance with its general precepts； and every day
he heard mass。 So his career quietly ran on until； in 1623； he
met death calmly； without fear； in full reliance upon the divine
justice and mercy。 His last words were a prayer for Venice。
He had fought the good fight。 He had won it for Venice and for
humanity。 For all this； the Republic had； in his later years；
tried to show her gratitude； and he had quietly and firmly
refused the main gifts proposed to him。 But now came a new
outburst of grateful feeling。 The Republic sent notice of his
death to other powers of Europe through its Ambassadors in the
terms usual at the death of royal personages； in every way； it
showed its appreciation of his character and services； and it
crowned all by voting him a public monument。
Hardly was the decree known； when the Vatican authorities sent