ABSTRACT

“Born of supernal Jove, Pallas manifests her greatest worth on high, while down here she distributes it wherever and as much as she wills. With sincere love and perpetual honor she holds Jove in reverence as a benign and worthy father–teaching us down here how we must leave all other anxious cares and ascend to his realm for eternal peace. Indeed she confers more grace through her diligence than all that is acquired in flight from the Stygian rivers, where all good is silent; accordingly she teaches how down here each man must overcane all desire of false goods and pursue virtue for his own good. Provinces enjoy prosperity through her, kings reign, and her just laws give remedy to all arising circumstances. She generously summons all mortals to her gifts with a strong voice, provided that those summoned are eager for the partaking. She recalls past and present matters with clear sight, and discerns the future with just reason. With the eternal beauties of her countenance, more beautiful to contemplate than any other ever seen among the celestial beings, she tries to cleanse all fog from worldly hearts with her results–if the afflicted will let her work–making intellects as healthy and eager for the perpetual blessings as they were once for the vain. Indeed she makes her subjects glorious among others, pleasant, genteel, and well spoken, solicitous, benign, and gracious. Oh, how saintly are such effects, and how blessed among the others are those who desire them, even though they are few, and many are the dazzled.”