106 GIORDANO BRUNO PART 



in the Causa (who has been thought to have suggested 

 Polonius in Hamlet), Mamphurio in the Candelato, 

 Prudentio in the Cena is one that for style loves 

 long words, learned phrases, irrespective of their con- 

 text ; who, under pretence of accuracy, delights in 

 trifling, subtle distinctions, sows broadcast mythological 

 or classical allusions without a hint of relevancy. His 

 favourite hunting-ground is, however, philosophy, and 

 it is to philosophy, according to Bruno, that the pedant 

 has done greatest injury. One of the most vigorous 

 descriptions of him which Bruno gives is in the Causa, 1 

 where, no doubt, some of the actual writers of the time 

 are satirised. Curiously, Ramus and Patrizzi, both 

 reformers of philosophy, are mentioned as " arch- 

 pedants"; but men have always criticised most bitterly 

 those who stood nearest to themselves. 



Bruno regarded words as the servants of his pen, 

 claimed, and indeed exercised almost too freely, the 

 right of inventing new words for new things. Use 

 and wont, he knew, determined the fate of words as of 

 other things ; some which had fallen into decay would 

 rise again, others now honoured would lapse from use. 

 For the teaching of the philosophers of old their own 

 old words were the clearest mirror, but for new theories 

 new words might be sought from the readiest source : 

 " grammarians are the servants of words, words are 

 our servants ; it is for them to study the use to which 

 we put our words." 2 



1 Lag. 223. 14 ff., cf. 242. 35, and De Minima, bk. iii. I. 

 2 De Minima, Op. Lat. i. 3, 135. 



