historical writings 898 rhetoric accommodating it all for the use of the present time, and particularly, for the Polish nation, and clarifying this illustrious and queenly method of rhetoric through the use of my own examples and those of others.203 In addition, [I wrote] The ScholasticCivil Orator, The Student of Rhetoric, a comprehensive volume of speeches and epigrams, eulogies, odes, departing in nothing from the rules presented to me in writing. I am not mentioning the other [writings]. Although they perhaps do not please everybody (for who has ever attained or will attain this?), they will nevertheless be useful to many. 204 52. I sent the Messenger of the Queen of the Arts,205 taken from the greater whole [from The Queen of the Arts,] to print before the other [writings]. When I prepared it for publication, how many obstacles I faced, how many difficulties I had to overcome! How many insults I had to bear! I pass over in silence the thunderbolts thrown at me as soon as it appeared [in print], perhaps by the instigators who lived in that same house.206 In proper order, Messenger ought to have followed The Queen.207 But was even an hour given to me to work on it? Was any promised copyist given to me? Neither goodwill nor help [were given to me] in publishing [the book]. Indeed, those who like owls or bats who fear the light, refusing [light] to others, in all manners ensured that [the book] would never appear in the light. Having the intention to give The Crucified Orator for common use, I asked Fr. General three times 203 The manuscript of The Queen of the Arts (Regina Artium) is no longer extant. Cf. Positio, pp. 58-59 (Doc. IV, intr. A, 1, a); p. 582 (Doc. XV, art. II, B, a, II, 4). 204 None of the manuscripts of the rhetorical works listed here are extant today. Cf. SH, p. 69, n. 163. 205 This work, written in Latin under the title Prodromus Reginae Artium, was first published in 1663; three more editions followed shortly thereafter. Cf. Positio, pp. 576-577 (Doc. XV, art. II, A, a, I, 1); pp. 591-592 (ibid, art. III, 1). 206 It is not known why this work, in which Fr. Papczyński taught “artem tam bene dicendi, quam bene vivendi” ("the art both of speaking well and of living well"), was met with such strong opposition. Perhaps it was what he said in one of his orations against liberum veto. Cf. SH, p. 70, n. 165. 207 Father Papczyński hoped that soon after the publication of Messenger, he would be able to publish The Queen of the Arts as well. The word itself expressed hope, since a messenger/herald (prodromus) is a person that precedes another. Cf. Prodromus, wyd. I, “Candido Lectori”; ed. IV, “Amice Lector.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==