Prollogo
The King's Purpose
King Dom Eduarte introduces his treatise, written at the Queen's request to provide moral guidance and virtuous instruction.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, with His grace, and of His most Holy Mother, our Lady Saint Mary, let the treatise called Leal Conselheiro begin; which was made by Dom Eduarte, by the grace of God, King of Portugal and the Algarve and Lord of Ceuta, at the request of the most excellent Queen Dona Leonor, his wife. Most esteemed and beloved Queen Lady, you have requested me to send you some things that I had written according to the good guidance of our consciences and wills; and I know, thanks to our Lord, that I have a very thorough understanding with virtuous intention, satisfying your desire, I thought it would be better to make it in the form of a single treatise with some additions; and so I did it to please you, and to avoid making any unnecessary space with a reasonable passage of time. And because I feel that, thinking about how I should write, I would know more about this moral and virtuous knowledge, which would help me guard against doing wrong things, since they would be contrary to what I write, even if it is a work that is of little relevance for me to do, since it is necessary for all states to know how they should follow virtues, guarding themselves from sins and other failings; and thus, from this small reading, they may be able to benefit, adding to their goodness with the alleviation of many errors; because from brief and simple works, of not great understanding and little knowledge, they learn better than from subtle and highly written ones. And our Lord God would have great mercy, if from my life, deeds, and words, many would yield beneficial teaching, and never the contrary, for it is written: "He who makes the sinner turn from his evil way will save his soul, and he will be covered and raised from a great multitude of sins." And our Lord says that whoever keeps His commandments and teaches them will be called great in His Kingdom. However, even though my burden is more to show through work and word, I wish to claim some merit from those who engage in readings of good and virtuous teachings, so that by living well, through His mercy, in that account they may truly be counted. Because understanding is our most principal virtue, I wrote a brief division of it, and I joined the rest together as best I could. And because some things have been written about themselves for some time, they do not take such form as if all were ordered together for this purpose. Even though some reasons may seem convoluted, I hope to be excused because I want to express everything as clearly as possible, having in this reading a minor difficulty in clarifying them, where it seems appropriate to be concise in writing; thus, since this was my first writing, taking things from outside and incorporating them, I didn’t guard myself too much, focusing more on showing the substance of what I was writing than on the beautiful and careful way of describing it.
A Loyal Counselor's Framework
The author defines the scope of his 'loyal counsel,' focusing on the ABCs of human passions, virtues, and the correction of sins.
If you please, call me a loyal counselor, because even though I don't dare to claim that I have good advice in all matters, I know that this writing is sincere, as far as my limited knowledge allows, constrained by the general principles of justice, counsel, and all other provisions of my kingdoms and lordship, to present such a work briefly in writing; because some things can be reasoned that are not suitable for writing. And I write this for a certain A B C of loyalty, as it is primarily made for lords and people of their households, who should be counted in the theory of such deeds in relation to those knowledgeable ones, especially the young. Furthermore, through 'A' we can understand our own powers and passions; through 'B', the great good achieved by those who pursue virtue; and through 'C', the evils and sins that require our correction. Because of these three parts mixed together, and not in order, my purpose is to discuss them with due seriousness, leaving everything to the correction of those to whom it belongs, as I write more about what I feel and see in the way of our living than from the study of books or the teaching of learned men; and I could say about loyalty, as it pertains to the rightful knowledge of our power, understanding, will, memory, and the virtues we follow and possess, as well as the sins and other failings, with correction advising us, if we maintain our Lord God and the people we should guard. And because at present, by His grace, this virtue is granted in these kingdoms, among lords and servants, husbands and wives, so perfectly that others do not know or hear of more and better than they do, of whom He, by His good grace, has granted me the principal governance, I feel greatly obliged to always maintain and guard it for all, and for you as well, out of obligation from great reasons and the requirement of my good will; however, I am pleased to be named in such a way that the name of this my writing agrees with the manner in which, by the grace of the Lord God, I strive to live always.
The Fruit of Diligent Reading
The author offers advice on how to read the work, urging readers to emulate the bee by seeking wisdom rather than finding fault.
To better understand, read everything from the beginning, step by step, and a little at a time, well pointed out, while being in a reasonable state of mind, those who read and listen; for reading in another way, I believe, will seem simpler to the learned, while others may not understand it as well, because such readings are more for those who do not have good knowledge of similar things, serving more to be taught than to spend time or become bored with the book of stories, in which understanding works little to comprehend or remember. And although at first it may seem that they gain no benefit from seeing or hearing, they should know that reading good books and engaging in good conversation increases knowledge and virtues, just as the body grows, which is never recognized except through time: from being small, it is found to be large, and the slender becomes robust; and likewise, with the grace of the Lord, good study, undertaken with good intention, makes one wise, who does not live well, temperate and virtuous. From such reading, we gain three benefits: first, we spend our time doing good; second, we increase in wisdom; and third, when we are idle, we have the remembrance of what we have read to keep us from occupying ourselves with bad thoughts, allowing us instead to return to what we have learned and grow in knowledge and virtues. I hope the readers of this work will be like the bee, which passes over branches and leaves to land on the flowers, gathering part of its sustenance from them; and I hope they won't be like those creatures that ignore everything clean to find their sustenance in the filthiest places. And this is said because some, seeing any people or reading in books those things, think they can gain good examples, teachings, and advice, and that they will find and see benefits, passing through them while always regarding what is most profitable and worthy of praise. And such reading should be appropriate for those who, finding something in what I write that pleases them, will consider the substance and good teaching more than mere knowledge or reasoning, because guarding against the folly of people in their state, understanding and subtlety, I desire that it may reasonably benefit those who see and receive some good counsel, reminder, or advice, I decided to present this order in a general manner of our speech. But I know well that some readings do not please everyone equally, for there is as much difference in taste as in food, and listening to sounds; and what displeases some because it seems obscure, others judge as simply made; and those who speak against their purpose and way of life are little content with it. Even if many do not find this pleasing, it is enough that Our Lord knows my intention and that it is done according to our pleasure. It seems to me that this work should primarily belong to people at court who have some knowledge of these matters and desire to live virtuously, as I suspect others won't find much pleasure in reading or listening to it. And just as they make free of wild features, and those who do not rein in the others are well attached to them; so it is done in moral teachings, among which this should be counted, and that many, for some reason or something obscure, do not find pleasing, it may be that some, through the teachings and advice that, God willing, will be written in this work, will refrain from wrongdoing, and to live virtuously will be led; which hope greatly increases my desire to bring it to a beneficial perfection. On the other hand, many are like those creatures that, leaving behind all good and well-made things, only seek out what they can devour or scavenge, as they consider this their sustenance. And I would be pleased if these were read, knowing that they could find enough to use from their own bad habits. And since I write this, as I have said, to fulfill your wishes with my pleasure and ease, wanting to benefit some and not hinder anyone from reading and hearing it, it would be good if they were excused, because it is certain that they see few things or works that please them, nor do they receive any beneficial teaching; and similarly, most of us do in our failings, where many are brought low, and in the virtues that they do not practice well; however, their judgments about such readings should not be naive.
Wisdom from Other Sources
The King explains his use of translated excerpts from other authors to enrich the treatise and provide greater clarity.
I translated a few chapters from other books because I thought they would clarify and assist with what I was writing. And at the beginning of them, it shows where each one has drawn from, taking as an example that author of the book of the lover, who wrote certain stories in it, from which great good advice and warnings can be drawn. And knowing that my knowledge is not sufficient for this, I am not embarrassed to be helped by such sayings, and to have them thoroughly translated here, even though their very good and beautiful reasoning does not diminish by any poor writing, because I want to benefit those who will see it and cover this sad way of my writing.
Read the original Latin
Em nome de nosso Senhor Jhu Xpo, com sua graça, e de sua muy Sancta Madre nossa Senhora Santa Maria, começasse o trautado que se chama Leal Conselheiro; o qual fez Dom Eduarte, pella graça de Deos Rey de Portugal e do Algarve e Senhor de Cepta, a requerimento da muyto excellente Raynha Dona Leonor sua molher.
Muyto prezada e amada Raynha Senhora, vos me requerestes que juntamente vos mandasse screver algũas cousas que avia scriptas per boo regimento de nossas conciencias e vontades; e posto que saiba, graças a nosso Senhor, que de todo avees muy comprido conhecymento com virtuosa husança, satisfazendo a vosso desejo, consiirei que seria melhor feicto em forma de hũu soo tractado com algũus adimentos; e assi o fiz por vos complazer, e filhar em no fazendo algũu spaço de cuidados com razoado passamento de tempo. E desi por sentir que, pensando como sobresto ey de screver, saberia mais desta moral e virtuosa sciencia, o que me fara guardar de fazer cousas malfeitas, por seerem contrairas do que screvo, ainda que seja obra pera eu fazer pouco perteecente, posto que a todos estados seja necessario saber como devem seguir virtudes, guardandosse de pecados e outros falicimentos; e desi por algũus desta pequena leitura se poderem prestar, acrecentando em suas bondades com leixamento de muytos erros; porque das obras breves e simprezes, de nom grande entender e pouco saber, melhor aprendem que das sotil e altamente scriptas. E a nosso Senhor Deos em grande mercee teria, se de minha vida, feitos e dictos, muytos filhassem proveitosa ensinança, e nunca o contrairo, ca scripto he: Aquele, que faz o pecador em seu viver de maao caminho tornar, guãaça sua alma, e seerlheham cubertos e relevados gram multidom de pecados. E diz nosso Senhor daquel que guardar seus mandamentos, e os ensinar, que sera chamado grande no seu Reyno. Porem ainda que o meu carrego mais seja mostrar per obra e pallavra, alguma parte desejo cobrar de merecimento dos que fazem leituras de boas e virtuosas ensynanças, portal que bem vivendo, per sua mercee, naquella conta podesse verdadeiramente ser contado. E porque o entendimento he nossa virtude muy principal, screvi del hũa breve repartiçom, e o mais fuy ajuntando segundo melhor pude fazer. E por seerem algũas cousas sobre si tempo ha scriptas, nom levam tal forma como se todas juntamente sobreste proposito forom ordenadas.
Ainda que algũas rezoões vão dobradas, serame relevado, porque o faço querendo todo melhor declarar, avendo em tal leitura por menor falicimento dobralas, que onde convem seer minguado no screver; desi porque de minha maão foy todo primeiro scripto, tirando as cousas de fora em el traladadas, dello tanto me nom guardey, tendo mais tençom de bem mostrar a sustancia do que screvia que a fremosa e guardada maneira descrever.
Podelloees, se vos praz, chamar leal conselheiro, porque ainda que me nom atreva certificar que da em todos boos conselhos, sey que lealmente he todo scripto, quanto meu pequeno saber, embargado em todo geeral regimento de justiça, conselhos, e todas outras proveenças de meus Reynos e Senhorio, pode percalçar para poer tal obra assi brevemente em scripto; porque algũas cousas se podem razoar que nom som taaes para screver.
E filhayo por hũu A B C de lealdade, ca he feito principalmente para senhores e gente de suas casas, que na theoria de taaes feitos em respeito dos sabedores por moços devemos seer contados, para os quaaes A B C he sua propria ensinança. E mais por o A se podem entender os poderes e payxoões que cada hũu de nos ha; e por o B o grande bem que percalçom os seguidores das virtudes e bondades; e por ho C dos males e pecados nosso corregimento. Porque destas tres partes mesturadamente, e nom assi per ordem, he meu proposito de mais trautar com devida protestaçom, leixando todo ao corregimento daquelles a quem perteecer, ca sobrello mais screvo por o que sinto e vejo na maneira de nosso viver que por studo de livros, nem ensino de leterados; e podesse dizer de lealdade, ca per dereito conhecimento de nosso poder, saber, querer, memoria, entender, voõtade, seguindo e possuindo virtudes, e dos pecados e outros falicimentos com emenda nos avisando, se mantem a nosso Senhor Deos, e aas pessoas que se deve guardar. E porque ao presente de sua mercee tem esta virtude outorgada em estes Reynos, antre senhores e servidores, maridos e molheres, tam perfeitamente que outros nom sey nem ouço que mais e melhor della husem, dos quaaes pois elle de sa boa graça me outorgou principal regimento, me sinto muyto obrigado de a sempre manter e guardar a todos, e a vos mais por obrigaçom de grandes razoões, e requerimento de minha boa vontade; porem me praz assi della seer nomeado, por tal que o nome deste meu scripto concorde com a maneira em que por mercee do Senhor Deos me trabalho sempre viver.
Compre, para se melhor entender, de se leer todo de começo, passo, e pouco de cada hũa vez, bem apontado, estando em razoado tempo bem despostos os que leerem e ouvirem, ca lendosse doutra guisa, entendo que aos leterados parecera mais symprezmente feito, e aos outros nom tam boo dentender, porque taaes leituras aos que de semelhantes nom teem boo conhecimento mais som para serem ensinados que para despender tempo ou se desenfadar com o livro destorias, em que o entendimento pouco trabalha por entender ou se nembrar. E posto que aa primeira pareça nom sentirem proveito de o veer nem ouvir, saibbam que o leer dos boos livros, e boa conversaçom faz acrecentar o saber e virtudes, como crece o corpo, que nunca se conhece, senom passando per tempo: de pequeno que era se acha grande, e o delgado fornido; e assy com a graça do Senhor o boo studo, filhado com boa tençom, de simprez faz sabedor, do que bem nom vive, temperado e virtuoso. E de tal leer avemos tres proveitos: primeiro, despender aquel tempo em bem fazer; segundo, acrecentar em boa sabedoria; terceiro, por o cuidado, quando estever occioso, avendo lembrança do que leeo nom se occupar em algũus nom boos pensamentos, ante retornando ao que aprender acrecentar em boo saber e virtudes.
Prazermia que os leedores deste trautado tevessem a maneira da abelha, que passando per ramos e folhas, nas flores mais costuma de pousar, e dally filha parte de seu mantimento; e nom sejam taaes como aquelles bichos que, leixando todas cousas limpas, nas mais cujas filham toda sua governança. E esto se diz porquanto algũus vendo quaaesquer pessoas, ou leendo per livro aquellas cousas, consiiram em que possam aver boo exemplo, ensino e avisamento, e que achem e vejam falicimentos, passom per elles sempre reguardando no mais proveitoso e digno de louvor. E aquestes aa abelha devem seer apropriados, os quaaes, por acharem em esto que screvo algũa cousa que lhes praza, mais consiirem aa substancia e boa leençom que ao muyto saber nem forma de razoar, porque resguardando ao desvairo das pessoas em estado, entender e sotilleza, com desejo que razoadamente prouvesse aos mais que o vissem e recebessem algũu boo conselho, lembrança ou avisamento, accordei de levar esta ordem descrever na geeral maneira de nosso fallar. Porem bem sey que algũa leitura nom pode a todos igualmente prazer, ca teem sobrello tanta diferença como no gosto das viandas, e ouvir dos soõs; e a que despraz a algũus por lhe parecer scura, outros a julgam por simprezmente feita; e aos que falia contra seu proposito e maneira de viver pouco dello se contentom. E posto que a muytos esto nom praza, abastame que Nosso Senhor sabe mynha tençom, e que seja feito a nosso prazer. E tal trautado me parece que principalmente deve perteecer para homees da corte, que algũa cousa saibbam de semilhante sciencia, e desejem viver virtuosamente, porque aos outros bem penso que nom muyto lhees praza de o ler, nem de o ouvir. E assy como se fazem freos de feições desvairadas, e os que hũas bestas nom enfream as outras som em elles bem aderençadas; semelhante se faz nas moraaes ensynanças, antre as quaes esta deve seer contada, e que a muytos por chãa ou algũa cousa scura nom praza, podera seer que algũus por os ensinos e avisamentos, que, Deos querendo, em este trautado seram scriptos, de malfazer se refrearam, e para viver virtuosamente seram enduzidos; a qual sperança nom pouco me acrecenta boo desejo de o trazer a proveitosa perfeiçom.
Da outra parte muytos som taaes como aquelles bichos que leixando toda cousa boa e bem feita, al nom consiiram senom onde acharom que prasmem ou de que scarneçam, ca esto filham por seu mantiimento. E aquestes bem me prazeria que o nom leessem, conhecendo que neelle assaz poderom achar para usar de seus maaos costumes. E porquanto esto screvo, como dito he, por comprir vossa võotade com meu prazer e desenfadamento, querendo a algũus aproveitar, e a nenguem empeecer de o leer e ouvir, bem seria que fossem scusados, porque som certo que veem poucas cousas nem obras de que lhe praza, nem recebam proveitosa ensynança; e semelhante fazem os mais de todos nos falecimentos em que muytos som derribados, e nas virtudes de que bem nom husam; porem seus juizos sobre taaes leituras nom devem seer creudos.
Fiz tralladar em el algũus capitullos doutros livros, por me parecer que fariam declaraçom e ajuda no que screvia. E no começo delles se mostra donde cada hũu he tirado, filhando em esto exemplo daquel autor do livro do amante, que certas estorias em elle screveo, de que se filham grandes boos conselhos e avisamentos. E conhecendo meu saber para esto nom suficiente nom ey por empacho seer ajudado de taaes ditos, e seerem assy compridamente aquy tralladados, posto que o seu muy boo e fremoso razoar, no por ruym scripto faça grande abatimento, porque mais quero aproveitar aos que o virem ca encobrir esta mynguada maneira de meu screver.
The Loyal Counselor — Opening companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit