Dante. An essay Part 21

And now, methinks, I have reached the goal which I set before me. I have unravelled the truth of the questions which I asked: whether the office of Monarchy was necessary to the welfare of the world; whether it was by right that the Roman people a.s.sumed to themselves the office of Monarchy; and, further, that last question, whether the authority of the Monarch springs immediately from G.o.d, or from some other. Yet the truth of this latter question must not be received so narrowly as to deny that in certain matters the Roman Prince is subject to the Roman Pontiff. For that happiness, which is subject to mortality, in a sense is ordered with a view to the happiness which shall not taste of death. Let, therefore, Caesar be reverent to Peter, as the first-born son should be reverent to his father, that he may be illuminated with the light of his father's grace, and so may be stronger to lighten the world over which he has been placed by Him alone, who is the ruler of all things spiritual as well as temporal.

THE END.

CONTENTS

OF

DE MONARCHIA.

BOOK I.

WHETHER A TEMPORAL MONARCHY IS NECESSARY FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE WORLD?

CHAP. PAGE

I.--Introduction 177

II.--What is the end of the civil order of mankind? 178

III.--It is to cause the whole power of the human intellect to act in speculation and operation 180

IV.--To attain this end, mankind needs universal peace 184

V.--When several means are ordained to gain an end, one of them must be supreme over the others 185

VI.--The order which is found in the parts of mankind ought to be found in mankind as a whole 188

VII.--Kingdoms and nations ought to stand in the same relation to the monarch as mankind to G.o.d 189

VIII.--Men were made in the image of G.o.d; but G.o.d is one _ib._

IX.--Men are the children of Heaven, and they ought to imitate the footprints of Heaven 190

X.--There is need of a Supreme Judge for the decision of all quarrels 191

XI.--The world is best ordered when justice is strongest therein 192

XII.--Men are at their best in freedom 198

XIII.--He who is best qualified to rule can best order others 201

XIV.--When it is possible, it is better to gain an end by one agent than by many 203

XV.--That which is most one is everywhere best 206

XVI.--Christ willed to be born in the fulness of time, when Augustus was monarch 209

BOOK II.

WHETHER THE ROMAN PEOPLE a.s.sUMED TO ITSELF BY RIGHT THE DIGNITY OF EMPIRE?

CHAP. PAGE

I.--Introduction 211

II.--That which G.o.d wills in human society is to be held as Right 213

III.--It was fitting for the Romans, as being the n.o.blest nation, to be preferred before all others 216

IV.--The Roman Empire was helped by miracles, and therefore was willed by G.o.d 220

V.--The Romans, in bringing the world into subjection, aimed at the good of the state, and therefore at the end of Right 223

VI.--All men, who aim at Right, walk according to Right 229

VII.--The Romans were ordained for empire by Nature 232

VIII.--The judgment of G.o.d showed that empire fell to the lot of the Romans 235

IX.--The Romans prevailed when all nations were striving for empire 239

X.--What is acquired by single combat is acquired as of Right 243

XI.--The single combats of Rome 247

XII.--Christ, by being born, proves to us that the authority of the Roman Empire was just 250

XIII.--Christ, by dying, confirmed the jurisdiction of the Roman Empire over all mankind 253

BOOK III.

WHETHER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MONARCH COMES DIRECTLY FROM G.o.d, OR FROM SOME VICAR OF G.o.d?

CHAP. PAGE

I.--Introduction 256

II.--G.o.d wills not that which is repugnant to the intention of Nature 257

III.--Of the three cla.s.ses of our opponents, and of the too great authority which many ascribe to tradition 259

IV.--The argument drawn by our opponents from the sun and the moon 264