Ermolao Barbaro's On Celibacy 3 and 4 and On the Duty of the Ambassador (Bloomsbury Neo-Latin Series: Early Modern Texts and Anthologies)

This book offers the first annotated translation in English of two works of the eminent Venetian humanist, Ermolao Barbaro (1454-93). Books 3 and 4 of On Celibacy seek to justify a contemplative existence at a far remove from the active life and career-path expected of a figure of Barbaro’s standing within the Venetian patriciate; Books 1 and 2 of On Celibacy are presented in the companion piece to this second volume. The second work presented here is Barbaro’s short treatise On the Duty of Ambassador (likely written in mid- to late-1489): based on Barbaro’s own practical experience as a Venetian envoy abroad, this treatise outlines the conduct expected of the dedicated career diplomat. Viewed against each other, Barbaro’s On Celibacy and On the Duty of the Ambassador offer contrasting perspectives on the wider 15th-century debate about the claims of the reflective as opposed to the active life – a debate that extends all the way back to Greco-Roman antiquity. In On Celibacy the young Barbaro is committed to a life that proudly renounces civic engagement in the name of self-discovery and inner fulfilment. Yet a different Barbaro asserts himself in On the Duty of the Ambassador : he now presents himself as a committed public servant in a work that is ahead if its time in theorizing the nature of ‘modern’ Renaissance diplomacy. On a personal level, these two works capture the profound dichotomy in Barbaro’s life between his humanist devotion to scholarship on the one hand and, on the other, his burden of duty to the Republic of Venice. This book offers the first annotated translation into English of two works of the eminent Venetian humanist, Ermolao Barbaro (1454–93). Books 3 and 4 of On Celibacy seek to justify a contemplative existence at a far remove from the active life and career-path expected of a figure of Barbaro's standing within the Venetian patriciate; Books 1 and 2 of On Celibacy are presented in the companion-piece to this second volume. The second work presented here is Barbaro's short treatise On the Duty of Ambassador (1488): based on Barbaro's own practical experience as a Venetian envoy abroad, this treatise outlines the conduct expected of the dedicated career diplomat. Viewed against each other, Barbaro's On Celibacy and On the Duty of the Ambassador offer contrasting perspectives on the wider 15th-century debate about the claims of the reflective as opposed to the active life – a debate that extends all the way back to Greco-Roman antiquity. In On Celibacy the young Barbaro is committed to a life that proudly renounces civic engagement in the name of self-discovery and inner fulfilment. Yet a different Barbaro asserts himself in On the Duty of the Ambassador: he now presents himself as a committed public servant in a work that is ahead if its time in theorizing the nature of'modern'Renaissance diplomacy. On a personal level, these two works capture the profound dichotomy in Barbaro's life between his humanist devotion to scholarship on the one hand and, on the other, his call of duty to the Republic of Venice. Cover Halftitle page BLOOMSBURY NEO-LATIN SERIES Title page Copyright page Contents Illustration Preface Abbreviations Introduction Notes Note on the Texts and Translations Book Three Book Four Tertius liber qui de offitio caelibis pertractabit [1] Prologus. Book Three, which will treat the duty of the celibate [1] Prologue [2] Epilogus dictorum. [2] A summary of what has been said [3] Quid sit caste vivere in coniugio. [3] What it is to live chastely in marriage. [4] Quid sit caste vivere extra coniugium [4] What it is to live chastely outside marriage. [5] Praecepta ad caste vivendum in coelibatu [5] Principles for living chastely in celibacy [6] [79v] De iis quae adhibenda sunt ad pudicitiam in coelibatu conservandam remedia. [6] On the treatments to be applied to preserve sexual purity in celibacy. Quae sit definitio contemplationis quaeque res subiectae sint speculari volentibus. Liber IIII On the definition of contemplation, and the topics in the purview of those wanting to engage in mental speculation. Book IIII. [2] Quarum disciplinarum esse studiosus debeat coelebs contemplator. [2] The branches of learning to which the celibate contemplative should be devoted.57 Introduction to On the Duty of the Ambassador I: To Milan II: The text: its history, completeness and content III: The originality of De officio legati IV: Behind the mask Notes De Officio Legati On the Duty of the Ambassador Bibliography Index of Passages General Index Index of Latin Words Index of Greek Words