26 4 GIORDANO BRUNO PART 



who raises the dead and heals the sick, they more than 

 all others on the earth are maimers of the sound, and 

 slayers of the living, not so much with fire and sword, 

 as with the tongue of malice. 1 



The scales. Under the Scales, Bruno describes some of the 

 reforms he believes necessary : in courts, offices and 

 honours are for the future to go by merit ; "in 

 republics, the just are to preside, the wealthy to con- 

 tribute, the learned to teach, the prudent to guide, the 

 brave to fight, those that have judgment to counsel, those 

 that have authority to command ; in states, the scales 

 represent the keeping of contracts of peace, confedera- 

 tions, leagues, the careful weighing of action before- 

 hand ; in individuals the weighing of what each wishes 

 with what he knows, of what he knows with what he 

 can, of what he wishes, knows, and can with what he 

 ought ; of what he wishes, knows, can, and ought, 

 with what he is, does, has, and expects." 2 



Underlying this cult of humanity one cannot but 

 feel the robust naturalism of the Renaissance, which in 

 Bruno's mind is apart altogether from the mystical 

 exclusive intellectualism of his more characteristic 

 philosophy. It is with man as a natural being, living 

 out his earthly life, and gathering such fruits as may be 

 of kindliness and love from his fellow-creatures, that 

 the practical philosophy is concerned. The religion 

 attacked was one that struck at the root of this human 

 love, and made of earth a purgatory for the sake of the 

 uncertain life to come. Hence the emphasis laid on 



sincerity, sincerity, faithfulness, or truthfulness, as high among the 

 virtues. " Without it every contract is uncertain and 

 doubtful, all intercourse is dissolved, all social life at 

 an end." Bruno is as rigid as Kant in regard to the 



i Lag. pp. 465, 466. 2 P. 527- 



