Christine de Pizan's Letter to Louis Duc d'Orlean Encouraging Him to
> Orleans
the Study of Literature
>
Most honored, respected and admirable duc, my Lord Louis,
by the grace of God, Duc d'Orlean.1
>
May your grace not spurn these the words of your most
>
meek servant Christine, but instead give them ear in despite of their
> her?
lowly and humble origin.2 I pray your grace, not to be struck by my
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forwardness in this letter, for I write in great earnest and respect of
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your person. Do not be affronted nor vexed with the kind words of this,
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your grateful and modest servant, for they are certainly addressed to
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your grace in the assurance of your mercy and honorable behavior. For
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is not our sovereign land, France herself, wracked by the clash of arms
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and the sloth of ignorant men? Hear the voice of your supplicant, and
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take up not sword and armor, to set brother against brother, but rather
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the great works of Aristotle, Virgil, Ovid, Boccaccio, the holy Fathers
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Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory, Isidore and Jerome, and the very Holy
>
Words of our God.3 May your grace lead in the paths of Wisdom,
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illuminated by erudite men of great literature. For the strengths of
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Wisdom are greater than those of her foe, Discord. For Wisdom gives
> yeah, better than brother
Virtue, Honor and Peace to those who champion her ways. Great, noble
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and excellent duc, hear these kindly words of your most devoted and
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humble servant. The study of literature is urged upon your grace as
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the best hope for peace and the greater glory of our beloved
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France.
>

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The works of the scholars and poets are as counsellors in
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the ways of virtue and avoidance of vice. From this College of Wisdom
>parallelism
found in literature come the three sister Virtues, daughters of God,
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called Reason, Rectitude and Justice, which will guide you, great duc,
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to the very heights of righteousness.4 And surely, most noble and
> is he interested in righteousness?
gracious lord, these virtues will not pass away as do worldly riches,
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but are eternal. Truly these everlasting treasures should be valued
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over all the riches of the world, for earthly ornaments cannot beautify
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as can undying virtue.5 The proper development of habits, the bearing
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and behavior, is even more important than the care of our bodies.6 As
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said the great poet Dante, "Consider your origin; you were not born to
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live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge."7, men cannot
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fail to study literature and gain knowledge, for without it chaos and
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brutality will reign. For it is thought that differs man from beast,
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and gives him the right to rule over those below him, as says Ovid, "A
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creature of a more exalted kind Was wanting yet, and then was man
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design'd: Consicous of thought, of more capricious breast, For empire
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form'd, and fit to rule the rest."8 Wisdom and knowledge, great duc,
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are essential to the perfect prince, as politics are about keeping
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peace with rectitude, reason and justice.9
>

>

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Now is our mother country, great France, weeping for her
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children. For her lands are ravaged by war and watered with blood.
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Great powers are poised to strike the blow which would send France to
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her death in bloody civil war. Honored and revered lord, you are
>separate out enemies from civil war
France's greatest hope for peace and unity. Rather than chose the
>
weapon of war, take up the needle of knowledge and with it sew together
> nice, but nope--the ruler was never seamstress nor
>surgeon (who were down near the barbers in rank)
France's gaping wounds,. Forgive this meek and insignificant servant
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her words, but do not be amazed that in this time of chaos the
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supplicants of France should turn to your grace as the healer of their
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country, for you have long been renown for your wisdom and knowledge.
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"Do not prevent at least this youthful prince From saving a world in
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ruins . . . Blessed is he whose mind had the power to probe The causes
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of things and trample underfoot All terrors and inexorable fate."10,
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are the words of Virgil's Georgics, in calling for an
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end to the wars of Rome, which, as does the strife in our own country,
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tore at it. Turn again to your library, excellent duc, which you have
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generously let this servant employ in her works, even as you constantly
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enlarged it.11 For the tomes it boasts hold knowledge not only for the
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historian, but for those who rule men as well. As it says in the Holy
> These biblical quotations do really work,
>Shana--either a better transition is needed, or other quotes about books
Bible, "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to
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overlook an offense."12 and "It is to a man's honor to avoid strife,
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but every fool is quick to quarrel"13. With wisdom comes peace.
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Follow the study of literature for the glory of France, my lord, for
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she is being torn apart by this dissention.14
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>

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The study of literature, most respected lord, also yields
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honor and strength unto the reader. The righteousness and influence of
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the kingdom under your grace's brother, may the Lord bless his soul in
>Wrong Louis--you're thinking of Louis, Duke of Anjou; this is Louis,
>Duke of Orleans, brother to Charles VI; Charles V was his father
heaven, the late Charles V, was magnified through the guidance of the
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great scholars and poets of the past.15 Surely his honor was increased
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by his learning. As it says in the book of Proverbs, "A wise man is
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strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength."16, and our
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blessed King had the examples of Alexander the Great, Augustus Caesar,
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and Charlemagne to look to. His library certainly contained
> leave out "certainly"--his library
>contained such works as ....
Histoire ancienne jusqu'a Cesar with the tales of
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Alexander's conquests and Caesar's diplomacy in the Roman Senate, and
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Grandes Chroniques de France which tells of the
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wonders of Charlemagne's empire.17 From these works recounting the
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lives of these great men, how could our late King's rule fail but to be
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inspired? Looking to Alexander, King Charles V built up an army and
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navy for the glory of France, and continued with great success the work
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of freeing French soil from the English, and like Charlemagne,
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increased the glory of France.18 Augustus Caesar, Emperor of Rome,
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reformed the law courts in the Basilica Julia, just as King Charles V
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made our monarchy more just and efficient.19 With the inspiration of
> "honorable"
the great men of antiquity, their stories told through great
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literature, your grace's brother, the late King Charles V, increased
> father
the repute of France, and himself. As you, most noble and revered duc,
>
are now eminent among the nobles of the court20, such study would give
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occasion to further your honor through
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knowledge.
>

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Again, your servant, Christine falls humbly at your feet,
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most gracious duc, begging forgiveness for the boldness of these words.
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However, do not be amazed by the earnestness of this missive, for
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France herself is crying out for a leader, and with the weapon of
> a warrior such as Roland, a judge
>such as Solomon, a paragon of courtesy such as Lancelot
knowledge and wisdom in your hand, great duc, you are her greatest
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hope. I pray your library should contain the works of Virgil, the
>
great poet of peace, for through his words it may be seen that without
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a leader of understanding, the people are lost, "So long as the bee's
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king is safe They all are of one mind. If he be lost, Forthwith they
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break their loyalty, themselves Plunder their edifice of treasured
>do you want to say this?
honey."21, and I most devoutly pray that you should consider these
>
words. For through knowledge of literature shall come true wisdom,
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which imparts the virtues of Reason, Rectitude and Justice, to guide
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you, Honor to inspire you, and Peace for you to bestow on a land in
>
grave need. I urge you then, noble, excellent and admirable duc, to
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take up the study of literature, so that these things may be brought to
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fruition through you.
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Written on the third day of July in the year
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1405.
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Your most meek and obedient
>
servant,
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>
Christine de Pizan22