Hillarius. Thereby you may know that the Poets have had more wit and reason and better colour so to do then the Priests. For they have considered the nature of the sins, and of the sinners together, as a good Physician 1doth behold the completion of those that are sick, for to give unto every one a convenient and sit remedy for his disease.
For they have regard that mans body was made of the four Elements, and that the completion and the affections ⟨p. 32⟩of man do follow the temperateness of the body, and the nature of the elements, of which they were made. Forasmuch then as the body is the house and habitation of the soul, & that the soul hath been holden within that earthly body as in a prison, and dark dungeon, it is impossible, but that it is corrupted and defiled with the filthiness of that infectious body, as he which shall depart out of an infectious and stinking prison. And therefore Plato and the other Philosophers and Poets, which followed his opinion, have thought, that the souls had need of some purgation, after that they were separated from the body, because that after their departing, it was impossible but that they should carry with them and keep some filthiness of that corrupt flesh, because of the conjunction, conversation and familiarity, that they had together. Nevertheless because that the bodies are not all of one complexion, but according to the disposition and temperateness of the elements, of which they are made, some are more earthly and other some more heavenly, & according to the doctrine that they have received, and the exercise that they have had in virtue, some more vicious or virtuous then the others: Even so have they esteemed and thought that the souls did differ, according to the difference of the bodies from which they came out. They have then considered that there are some sins that are more thin, easy & lighter then others, holding more of the nature of the air, and of the wind, then of the earth. And therefore they must purge them by the element, which approacheth nearest to their nature, and which seemeth for them the best remedy.
The others that are more heavy and weighty, as the water is more heavier and weightier then the air and wind, are washed in the water: For they do hold most of the nature of the water.
Hillarius. Thereby you maye knowe that the Poets haue had more witte and reason and better colour so to do then the Priestes. For they haue considered the nature of the sinnes, and of the sinners together, as a good Phisition 1doth behold the completion of those that are sicke, for to giue vnto euery one a conuenient and sit remedy for his disease.
For they haue regarde that mans bodye was made of the foure Elements, and that the completion and the affections ⟨p. 32⟩of man doe follow the temperatnesse of the body, and the nature of the elements, of which they were made. Forasmuch then as the body is the house and habitacion of the soule, & that the soule hath bene holden within that earthly body as in a prison, and darke dungeon, it is impossible, but that it is corrupted and defiled with the filthinesse of that infectious body, as he which shall depart out of an infectious and stincking prison. And therefore Plato and the other Philosophers and Poets, which followed his opinion, haue thought, that the soules had néede of some purgation, after that they were seperated from the body, bicause that after their departing, it was impossible but that they should carry with them and kéepe some filthinesse of that corrupt flesh, bicause of the coniunction, conuersation and familiaritie, that they had together. Neuerthelesse bicause that the bodyes are not all of one complexion, but according to the disposition and temperatenesse of the elements, of which they are made, some are more earthely and other some more heauenly, & according to the doctrine that they haue receiued, and the exercise that they haue had in vertue, some more vicious or vertuous then the others: Euen so haue they estéemed and thought that the soules did differ, according to the difference of the bodies from which they came out. They haue then considered that there are some sinnes that are more thin, easie & lighter then others, holding more of the nature of the ayre, and of the winde, then of the earth. And therefore they must purge them by the element, which approcheth néerest to their nature, and which séemeth for them the best remedie.
The others that are more heauy and wayghtie, as the water is more heauyer and wayghtyer then the ayre and winde, are washed in the water: For they doe holde most of the nature of the water.
- 1The Physicians of the soul.The Phisicions of the soule.
