In Praise of Folly, also translated as The Praise of Folly (Latin: Stultitiae Laus or Moriae Encomium), is an essay written in Latin in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in June 1511. Inspired by previous works of the Italian humanist Faustino Perisauli [it]De Triumpho Stultitiae, it is a satirical attack on superstitions, various traditions of European society, and on the Latin Church.[1]
In Praise of Folly
Cover of a 1728 French edition, L'Éloge de la Folie
Erasmus revised and extended his work, which was originally written in the space of a week while sojourning with Sir Thomas More at More's house in Bucklersbury in the City of London.[2] The title Moriae Encomium had a punning second meaning as In Praise of More (in Greek moría translates into "folly").[3]In Praise of Folly is considered one of the most notable works of the Renaissance and played an important role in the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation.[4]
Hans Holbein's witty marginal drawing of Folly (1515), in a copy owned by Erasmus himself
In Praise of Folly begins with a satirical learned encomium, in which Folly praises herself, in the manner of the Greek satirist Lucian (2nd century AD), whose work Erasmus and Sir Thomas More had recently translated into Latin; it then takes a darker tone in a series of orations, as Folly praises self-deception and madness and moves to a satirical examination of pious but superstitious abuses of Catholic doctrine and corrupt practices in parts of the Roman Catholic Church—to which Erasmus was ever faithful—and the folly of pedants. Erasmus had recently returned disappointed from Rome, where he had turned down offers of advancement in the curia,[5]: xi and Folly increasingly takes on Erasmus' own chastising voice. The essay ends with a straightforward statement of Christian ideal: "No Man is wise at all Times, or is without his blind Side."
Erasmus was a good friend of More, with whom he shared a taste for dry humor and other intellectual pursuits. The title Moriae Encomium could also be read as meaning "In praise of More". The double or triple meanings go on throughout the text.
The essay is filled with classical allusions delivered in a style typical of the learned humanists of the Renaissance. Folly parades as a goddess, offspring of Plutus, the god of wealth and a nymph, Youth. She was nursed by two other nymphs, Inebriation and Ignorance. Her faithful companions include Philautia (self-love), Kolakia (flattery), Lethe (forgetfulness), Misoponia (laziness), Hedone (pleasure), Anoia (dementia), Tryphe (wantonness), and two gods, Komos (intemperance) and Nigretos Hypnos (heavy sleep). Folly praises herself endlessly, arguing that life would be dull and distasteful without her. Of earthly existence, Folly pompously states, "you'll find nothing frolic or fortunate that it owes not to me."
Receptionedit
Moriae Encomium was hugely popular, to Erasmus' astonishment and sometimes his dismay. Even Erasmus' close friends had been initially skeptical and warned him of possible dangers to himself from thus attacking the established religion. Even Pope Leo X and Cardinal Cisneros are said to have found it amusing.[6] Before Erasmus' death it had already passed into numerous editions and had been translated into Czech, French, and German. An English edition soon followed. It influenced the teaching of rhetoric during the later sixteenth century, and the art of adoxography or praise of worthless subjects became a popular exercise in Elizabethan grammar schools.[7] A copy of the Basel edition of 1515/16 was illustrated with pen and ink drawings by Hans Holbein the Younger.[8] These are the most famous illustrations of In Praise of Folly.
Its role in the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation[4] stems from its criticism of the practices of the Church and its political allies.[9]
Erasmus subsequently wrote that he almost regretted writing it, such had been the trouble it had caused him. But this trouble did not come from the satirized princes, popes, bishops, abbots, cardinals, famous scholars, courtiers, magistrates or wives, but from certain theologians.[10]
Notesedit
^Zweig, Stefan (1934). Erasmus And The Right To Heresy. pp. 51–52. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
^Bucklersbury was "A short street leading from the junction of Cheapside and Poultry to Walbrook. It barely exists today." source with map.
^Müller, Christian (2006). Hans Holbein the Younger: The Basel Years, 1515-1532. Prestel. p. 146. ISBN978-3-7913-3580-3.
^ abJanin, Hunt (2008). The University in Medieval Life, 1179–1499. McFarland. p. 160. ISBN9780786452019. "Although Erasmus himself would have denied it vehemently, later reformers found that In Praise of Folly had helped prepare the way for the Protestant Reformation."
^Collett, Stephen (1823). Relics of literature. Ludgate Hill, London: Thomas Boys.
^McDonald, Charles O. (1966). The Rhetoric of Tragedy: form in Stuart drama. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press.
^Wolf, Norbert (2004). Hans Holbein the Younger, 1497/98–1543: the German Raphael. Cologne: Taschen. p. 11. ISBN3822831670.
^Von Dehsen, Christian D.; Scott L. Harris, eds. (1999). Philosophers and Religious Leaders; Volume 2 of Lives and legacies. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 62. ISBN9781573561525.
^Erika Rummel, ed. (1990). "Letter to Dorp". The Erasmus Reader. University of Toronto Press. JSTOR 10.3138/j.ctt1287x95.12.
External linksedit
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
In Praise of Folly
Latin Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Moriae encomium
Wikiquote has quotations related to In Praise of Folly.
Praise of Folly, and Letter to Maarten Van Dorp, 1515. Translated by Betty Radice. Introduction and notes by A.H.T. Levi. Penguin, 1994.
The Praise of Folly. Translated from the Latin, with an Essay & Commentary, by Hoyt Hopewell Hudson.With a new foreword by Anthony Grafton. Princeton Classics, 1969.
The Praise of Folly, translated by John Wilson in 1668, at Project Gutenberg
Praise of Folly at Internet Archive (multiple translations)
In Praise of Folly, with portrait, life of Erasmus, and his Epistle to Sir Thomas More. Translator not stated. 1922.
The Praise of Folly, English audiobook recording at LibriVox. The Wilson translation.
In Praise of Folly from Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The Wilson translation.
October 27, 2023
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In Praise of More redirects here For the album by Engineers see In Praise of More album In Praise of Folly also translated as The Praise of Folly Latin Stultitiae Laus or Moriae Encomium is an essay written in Latin in 1509 by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and first printed in June 1511 Inspired by previous works of the Italian humanist Faustino Perisauli it De Triumpho Stultitiae it is a satirical attack on superstitions various traditions of European society and on the Latin Church 1 In Praise of FollyCover of a 1728 French edition L Eloge de la FolieAuthorDesiderius ErasmusOriginal titleMoriae encomiumTranslatorThomas ChalonerWhite KennettJames CopnerJohn WilsonHarry CarterBetty RadiceCountryFranceLanguageLatinGenreessay theologyPublisherGilles de GourmontPublication date1511 revised many times up to 1532Published in English1549Media typePrint hardbackDewey Decimal873 04LC ClassPA8514 E5Preceded byHandbook of a Christian Knight Followed byCopia Foundations of the Abundant Style Original textMoriae encomium at Latin WikisourceTranslationIn Praise of Folly at WikisourceErasmus revised and extended his work which was originally written in the space of a week while sojourning with Sir Thomas More at More s house in Bucklersbury in the City of London 2 The title Moriae Encomium had a punning second meaning as In Praise of More in Greek moria translates into folly 3 In Praise of Folly is considered one of the most notable works of the Renaissance and played an important role in the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation 4 Contents 1 Content 2 Reception 3 Notes 4 External linksContent edit nbsp Hans Holbein s witty marginal drawing of Folly 1515 in a copy owned by Erasmus himselfIn Praise of Folly begins with a satirical learned encomium in which Folly praises herself in the manner of the Greek satirist Lucian 2nd century AD whose work Erasmus and Sir Thomas More had recently translated into Latin it then takes a darker tone in a series of orations as Folly praises self deception and madness and moves to a satirical examination of pious but superstitious abuses of Catholic doctrine and corrupt practices in parts of the Roman Catholic Church to which Erasmus was ever faithful and the folly of pedants Erasmus had recently returned disappointed from Rome where he had turned down offers of advancement in the curia 5 xi and Folly increasingly takes on Erasmus own chastising voice The essay ends with a straightforward statement of Christian ideal No Man is wise at all Times or is without his blind Side Erasmus was a good friend of More with whom he shared a taste for dry humor and other intellectual pursuits The title Moriae Encomium could also be read as meaning In praise of More The double or triple meanings go on throughout the text The essay is filled with classical allusions delivered in a style typical of the learned humanists of the Renaissance Folly parades as a goddess offspring of Plutus the god of wealth and a nymph Youth She was nursed by two other nymphs Inebriation and Ignorance Her faithful companions include Philautia self love Kolakia flattery Lethe forgetfulness Misoponia laziness Hedone pleasure Anoia dementia Tryphe wantonness and two gods Komos intemperance and Nigretos Hypnos heavy sleep Folly praises herself endlessly arguing that life would be dull and distasteful without her Of earthly existence Folly pompously states you ll find nothing frolic or fortunate that it owes not to me Reception editMoriae Encomium was hugely popular to Erasmus astonishment and sometimes his dismay Even Erasmus close friends had been initially skeptical and warned him of possible dangers to himself from thus attacking the established religion Even Pope Leo X and Cardinal Cisneros are said to have found it amusing 6 Before Erasmus death it had already passed into numerous editions and had been translated into Czech French and German An English edition soon followed It influenced the teaching of rhetoric during the later sixteenth century and the art of adoxography or praise of worthless subjects became a popular exercise in Elizabethan grammar schools 7 A copy of the Basel edition of 1515 16 was illustrated with pen and ink drawings by Hans Holbein the Younger 8 These are the most famous illustrations of In Praise of Folly Its role in the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation 4 stems from its criticism of the practices of the Church and its political allies 9 Erasmus subsequently wrote that he almost regretted writing it such had been the trouble it had caused him But this trouble did not come from the satirized princes popes bishops abbots cardinals famous scholars courtiers magistrates or wives but from certain theologians 10 Notes edit Zweig Stefan 1934 Erasmus And The Right To Heresy pp 51 52 Retrieved November 22 2020 Bucklersbury was A short street leading from the junction of Cheapside and Poultry to Walbrook It barely exists today source with map Muller Christian 2006 Hans Holbein the Younger The Basel Years 1515 1532 Prestel p 146 ISBN 978 3 7913 3580 3 a b Janin Hunt 2008 The University in Medieval Life 1179 1499 McFarland p 160 ISBN 9780786452019 Although Erasmus himself would have denied it vehemently later reformers found that In Praise of Folly had helped prepare the way for the Protestant Reformation Levy A H T 1993 Introduction Praise of Folly Penguin ISBN 0140446087 Collett Stephen 1823 Relics of literature Ludgate Hill London Thomas Boys McDonald Charles O 1966 The Rhetoric of Tragedy form in Stuart drama Amherst University of Massachusetts Press Wolf Norbert 2004 Hans Holbein the Younger 1497 98 1543 the German Raphael Cologne Taschen p 11 ISBN 3822831670 Von Dehsen Christian D Scott L Harris eds 1999 Philosophers and Religious Leaders Volume 2 of Lives and legacies Greenwood Publishing Group p 62 ISBN 9781573561525 Erika Rummel ed 1990 Letter to Dorp The Erasmus Reader University of Toronto Press JSTOR 10 3138 j ctt1287x95 12 External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article In Praise of Folly nbsp Latin Wikisource has original text related to this article Moriae encomium nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to In Praise of Folly Praise of Folly and Letter to Maarten Van Dorp 1515 Translated by Betty Radice Introduction and notes by A H T Levi Penguin 1994 The Praise of Folly Translated from the Latin with an Essay amp Commentary by Hoyt Hopewell Hudson With a new foreword by Anthony Grafton Princeton Classics 1969 The Praise of Folly translated by John Wilson in 1668 at Project Gutenberg Praise of Folly at Internet Archive multiple translations In Praise of Folly with portrait life of Erasmus and his Epistle to Sir Thomas More Translator not stated 1922 The Praise of Folly English audiobook recording at LibriVox The Wilson translation In Praise of Folly from Christian Classics Ethereal Library The Wilson translation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title In Praise of Folly amp oldid 1174647361, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
