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From The Commentaries of Pope Pius II on the Memorable Events of His Times, Translation by Florence Alden Gragg, with Historical Introduction and Notes by Leona C. Gabel, Smith College Studies in History, Vol. XXII, Nos. 1-2, October, 1936-January, 1937, Northampton, Mass., Department of History of Smith College, 1936-1937; pp. 7-10
PREFACE I
If the soul dies with the body, as Epicurus wrongly supposed, fame can advantage it nothing. If on the other hand the soul lives on after it is released from this corporeal frame, as Christians and the noblest philosophers tell us, it either suffers a wretched lot or joins the company of happy spirits. Now in wretchedness is no pleasure even from renowna and the prefect felicity of the blest is neither increased by the praise of mortals nor lessened by their blame. Why then do we so strive for the glory of a fair name? Do souls in Purgatory perhaps taste some sweetness from the reputation they left on earth? But let the argumentative think what they please about the dead, provided they do not deny that while men live they take pleasure in the glory of the present, which they hope will continue after death. It is this which sustains the most brilliant intellects and even more than the hope of a celestial life, which once begun shall never end, cheers and refreshes the heart of man. This is especially true of the Pope of Rome, whom almost all men abuse while he lives among them but praise when he is dead.b We ourselves have seen Martin V, Eugenius IV, Nicholas V, and Calixtus III condemned by the populace while they lived and extolled to the skies when they were dead. His vicars follow in the footsteps of their Lord. Men said of Christ, our Saviour, while He lived, that He had an evil spirit, but when He hung upon the cross, they acknowledged Him to be the Son of God. The servant is not greater than his master and the treacherous tongue that has not spared so many of Christ’s vicars or Christ Himself will not spare Pope Pius II. He is accused and censured while lives among us. When he is dead, he will be praised; and men will desire him when they can no longer have him. After his death Envy will be still and when those passions which warp the judgment are no more, true report will rise again and numberc Pius among the illustrious popes.
[10]Meantime we purpose to write the history of his pontificate and it will not be out of place to set down very briefly by way of introduction a few facts about the origin of his family and the doings before he became pope, that after-generations may understand how he who had before been called Aeneas Sylvius came to sit in St. Peter’s chair and to assume the name of Pius II. You who may sometime read these pages, be gracious to them, but show no mercy if they lie.
a no pleasure or any solace of renown.
b Instead of this sentence: Surely it greatly behoves a good prince to be concerned about his reputation, seeing that, while he lives on earth, since Envy is the familiar companion of human happiness, almost all men abuse him and at his death they praise him, since Envy ends with life. And this is especially true of the Pope of Rome, who is set in the highest place and is judged by all in accordance with their own jealous hearts.
c will praise
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