PETRARCH THE AUTHOR 



rather inclines us to think that the comedy may have 

 been really entertaining. This work is once more the 

 Secretum. It is in dialogue form, consisting of a collo- 

 quy between the author and St. Augustine; but nothing 

 less resembles comedy than the opening words. 



A. — What are you doing, pitiable creature ? Of what 

 are you dreaming ? What do you expect ? Do 

 you not remember that you are mortal ? 



P. — I do remember, and the thought never comes to 

 me without making me shudder. 



What is comic in its way is the severity and ill-concealed 

 contempt with which St. Augustine treats Petrarch. 

 It reminds one of the way in which Virgil addresses 

 Fulgentius. Try as hard as he may to escape the 

 probing of Augustine, the latter ruthlessly pins him 

 down: 



A. — We should ever remember that we are mortal. 



P. — Unless I am mistaken, no one thinks of this more 



than I do. 

 A. — There is another bit of dodging. 

 P. — What ? Am I lying again ? 

 A. — I should prefer to speak more politely. 

 P. — But you mean that, don't you ? 

 A. — Yes, nothing else. 



Sometimes Petrarch grows tired of wrigghng, and, 

 being harassed, turns on his tormentor. For instance, 

 he says in one place: " What do you want me to do ? 

 Despair ? '' Augustine replies: " Try everything else 

 first. Here in two words is the best advice I can give 



34 



