The Holy State, Book 2 · Chapter 8
Iulius Caesar SCALIGER. a great Restorer of Learninge. He died at Agen in France. Ano. Dni. 1558. aged 75 yeares. W. M. sculp:
CHAP. 8. The life of JULIUS SCALIGER.
I Know my choice herein is liable to much exception. Some will make me the pattern of ignorance, for making this Scaliger the pattern of the generall Artist, whose own sonne Joseph might have been his father in many arts. But all things considered, the choice will appear well advised, even in such variety of examples. Yet let him know that undertakes to pick out the best ear amongst an acre of wheat, that he shall leave as good if not a better behind him, then that which he chooseth.
He was born Anno 1484. in Italie, at the Castle of Ripa upon lacus Benacus, now called Lago di Garda, of the illustrious and noble family of the Scaligers, Princes, for many hundreds of years, of Verona, till at last the Venetians outed them of their ancient inheritance. Being about eleven years old, he was brought to the Court of Maximilian Emperour of Germany, where for seventeen years together he was taught learning, and military discipline. I passe by his valiant performances atchieved by him, save that this one action of his is so great and strong, it cannot be kept in silence, but will be recorded.
In the cruel battel at Ravenna betwixt the Emperour and the French, he not onelyonly bravely fetch'd off the dead bodies of Benedictus and Titus his father and brother, but also with his own hands rescued the Eagle (the standard Imperiall) which was taken by the enemies. For which his prowesse Maximilian knighted him, and with his own hands put on him the golden spurres, and chain, the badges of knight-hood.
Amidst these his Martiall employments he made many a clandestine match with the Muses, and whilest he expected the tides and returns of businesse, he fill'd up the empty places of leisure with his studies. Well did the Poets feigne Pallas Patronesse of arts and armes, there being ever good intelligence betwixt the two Professions, and as it were but a narrow cut to ferry over out of one into the other. At last Scaliger sounded a retreat to himself from the warres, and wholly applyed himself to his book, especially after his wandring life was fixed by marriage unto the beautifull Andietta Lobeiaca, with whom he lived at Agin, near Montpeliar in France.
His Latine was twice refined, and most criticall, as appears by his own writings, and notes on other Authours. He was an accurate Grecian, yet began to study it, when well nigh fourty years old, when a mans tongue is too stiff to bow to words. What a torture was it to him who flowed with streams of matter then to learn words, yea letters, drop by drop? But nothing was unconquerable to his pains, who had a golden wit in an iron body. Let his book of Subtilties witnesse his profound skill in Logick, and Naturall Philosophy.
His skill in Physick was as great, as his practice therein was happy; in so much that he did many strange and admirable cures. Heare how a *Stephanus Boetius Regius Senator Burdigolae ad Vidum Brassacum Praesidem.noble and learned pen doth commend him:
Non hunc fefellit ulla vis recondita
Salubris herbae, saltibus si quam aviis
Celat nivosus Caucasus, seu quam procul
Riphaea duro contigit rupes gelu.
Hic jam que spectantes ad orcum non semel
Animas repressit victor, & membris suis
Haerere succis compulit felicibus,
Nigri que avaras Ditis elusit manus.
On snowy Caucasus there grew no root
Of secret power, but he was privy to 't;
On cold Riphean hills no simple grew,
But he the force thereof and virtue knew.
Wherewith (apply'd by his successefull art)
Such sullen souls as would this world depart,
He forc'd still in their bodies to remain,
And from deaths doore fetch'd others back again.
As for his skill in Physiognomy, it was wonderfull. I know some will say, that cannot be read in mens faces which was never wrote there, and that he that seeks to find the disposition of mens souls in the figures of their bodies, looks for letters on the backside of the book. Yet is it credibly *In vita Iul. Scalig. p. 54.averred that he never look'd on his infant-sonne Audectus but with grief, as sorrow-struck with some sad signe of ill successe he saw in his face: which child at last was found stifled in bed with the embraces of his nurce being fast asleep.
In Mathematicks he was no Archimedes, though he shewed his skill therein with the best advantage, and stood therein on his tiptoes, that his learning might seem the taller.
But in Poetry his over-measure of skill might make up this defect, as is attested by his book de Arte Poetica. Yet his own Poems are harsh, and unsmooth, (as if he rather snorted then slept on Parnassus) and they sound better to the brain then the eare. Indeed his censure in Poetry was incomparable; but he was more happy in repairing of Poems then in building them from the ground, which speaks his judgement to be better then his invention.
What shall I speak of his skill in History? whose own actions were a sufficient History. He was excellently vers'd in the passages of the world, both modern and ancient. Many modern languages, which departed from Babel in a confusion, met in his mouth in a method, being skilfull in the Sclavonick tongue, the Hungarian, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and French.
But these his excellent parts were attended with prodigious pride; and he had much of the humour of the Ottomans in him, to kill all his brethren, and cry down all his equalls, which were corrivalls with him in the honour of arts, which was his principall quarrell with Cardan. Great was his spight at Erasmus, the morning-starre of learning, and one by whom Julius himself had profited, though afterwards he sought to put out that candle whereat he had lighted his own. In the bickering betwixt them, Erasmus pluckt Scaliger by the long locks of his immoderate boasting, and touched him to the quick (a proud man lies pat for a jeering mans hand to hit) yea Erasmus was a badger in his jeeres, where he did bite he would make his teeth meet. Nor came Scaliger behind him in railing. However afterward Scaliger repented of his bitternesse, and before his death was *Thuan. obit. Illustr. Anno. 1558.reconciled unto him.
Thus his learning, being in the circuit of arts, spread so wide, no wonder if it lay thinne in some places. His parts were nimble, that starting so late he overtook, yea overran his equalls: so that we may safely conclude that making abatement for his military avocations, and late applying himself to study, scarce any one is to be preferred before him for generality of humane learning. He died Anno 1558. in the 75. yeare of his age.