De vita solitaria
De vita solitaria ("Of Solitary Life" or "On the Solitary Life"; translated as The Life of Solitude) is a philosophical treatise composed in Latin and written between 1346 and 1356 (mainly in Lent of 1346) by Italian Renaissance humanist Petrarch. It constitutes an apology of solitude dedicated to his friend Philippe de Cabassoles.[1][2]
Argument
Solitude is necessary for a life of
Contents
Petrarch divided this work into two books from the beginning. A later translator further broke it down into tractate sections and chapters. The elaborate chapter titles were not in the original.[2]
Book 1
First Tractate
In the first chapter, Petrarch talks in this book of needful to those that desire peace and quiet. He talks of "men of learning" desiring solitude for contemplation.[6]
In the second chapter, he addresses the experiences of the life of solitude. He indicates that while others may have written on the life of solitude, he draws mostly from his own experiences rather than that of a stranger. He prefers to use his own experiences as a "guide" to what a life of solitude is.[7]
In the third chapter, he states that there is a single idea underlying the observations of the life of busyness and the life of solitude being opposites. One life leads to grievous worry, while the other attains happy leisure. He says that he dislikes the adversities that happen in crowds and a populous environment, while solitude promotes happy leisure and more favorable results with peace and tranquility.[8]
Second Tractate
In the first chapter, Petrarch discusses two types of people. One is the city dweller who awakens in the middle of the night thinking of his clients with falsehoods. He thinks how he may be able to drive a corrupt bargain with ill-gotten profit gains or betraying his friends or his seductions for his neighbor's wife to tempt her away from her loyalty. He looks for whatever mischief he can create. He begins before dawn on his quest to corruption. Contrast this to the retired man, a man of leisure that is fully rested and happy when he arises. He praises God for the gifts he has received, which can not be matched by the luxury items of the busy man. He immediately engages in an honest task or an agreeable lesson. He then waits for sunrise with calmness of mind. He has a happy heart and peace of mind with good intentions for his upcoming daily activities.[9]
In the second chapter, he talks of the daily sunrise. Each man, businessman and
Book 2
First Tractate
In the first chapter, Petrarch states that philosophers, holy men and poets always sought for themselves solitude for contemplation. He explains in detail how they achieved higher levels of understanding through solitude.[11]
Second Tractate
In the second chapter, Petrarch talks of Adam, parent of the human race. He explains that while Adam was alone he lived in peace and happiness with much joy. As soon as he received a companion, however, he lived in labor and sorrow. Alone he was immortal, with a woman he was mortal. By this he shows what posterity can hope for from the accompaniment of a woman.[12]
Editions
There are over 120 manuscript copies that still exist of De vita solitaria, which demonstrates its popularity through the centuries.[13]
- ISBN 0-88355-594-8. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- (Original 1926 review of this English translation available here on the JSTOR website.)
- Petrarca, Francesco (1879). La Vita solitaria [The Solitary Life] (in Italian). Ceruti, Antonio (tr.). Bologna: Presso Gaetano Romagnoli. p. 250. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
Footnotes
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 15
- ^ a b c d e Meng-hu (2004). "Petrarch's The Life of Solitude". Hermitary: resources and reflections on hermits and solitude. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 42
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 31–32
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 134–137
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 105–106
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 106–107
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 107–108
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 109–110
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 111–112
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 187–194
- ^ Petrarch 1978: 195–196
- ^ Julia Conaway Bondanella. "Petrarch's Rereading of Otium in De vita solitaria". Comparative Literature: The Official Journal of the American Comparative Literature Association. University of Oregon. Retrieved 30 October 2011.[permanent dead link]