Lipisius-De Constantia
De Constantia: a dramatic dialogue
Setting: the storm (paralleling the political and religious storm in the Low Countries, the subject of the dialogue), then a walk through the gardens and a discussion in the shed at the back of the garden
Characters: the philosopher (Langius) and the disciple (Lipsius)
Plot: the young disciple wants to leave a country divided by wars between sects
Starting point: Socrate’s saying that we are taking ourselves with us wherever we go
Purpose: to facilitate a change in the way we look at or evaluate life; a passage from the human to the natural perspective.
What is interesting is that unlike other consolation writings, De Constantia introduces a couple of themes leading towards the uses of natural philosophy and natural theology for the construction of the self. These natural philosophical (and natural theological) parts come to supplement the more introductory moral/ethical themes. Thus, true learning is pictured as involving not only self-knowledge, but a more extended form of knowledge where the self is put in relation to God and the world. The dialogue focuses upon the understanding of Divine providence and the chain of causes underlying the unity of nature.
It is the mind that is wounded, and all this external imbecility, despair, and languishing, spring from this fountain, that the mind is thus prostrated and cast down. The principal and sovereign part has let the sceptre fall and has become so vile and abject that it willingly serves its own servants. (Stradling, 34)
As an emptie ship without balasse is tossed and trembled on the sea with the least blast of winde; Even so is it with a light wandering minde, not kept steddie and poised with the balasse of reason (p. 13).