In the library of Cornell University, at Ithaca, N. Y., is a large collection of Spinoza manuscripts and printed books by the same author. The collection was left to the library, and is known as the “Strauss Collection.” In the collection is a manuscript copy of “La vie et l’esprit de M. Benoit de Spinosa,” which includes “Le traité des trois Imposteurs.”
This particular manuscript is much longer than any of the printed editions of Traité des Trois Imposteurs, and includes several more chapters than another manuscript which is in same library.
The printed editions usually contain six chapters, although the edition à Philadelphie, 1796, alluded to on pages 18–19, contains nine chapters. None of the printed editions that I have seen contains a chapter entitled Numa Pompilius.
The manuscript in Cornell library has six additional chapters more than our manuscript, 1716, which chapters are entitled: 1. Religions. 2. Of the Diversity of Religions. 3. Divisions of Christians. 4. The Superstitious,—of the superstition and credulity of the people. 5. Of the Origin of Monarchies. 6. Of Legislators and Politicians, and how they serve themselves with Religion.
These chapters being but an elaboration of the matters and ideas contained in our English translation.—A. N.
P. 8, paragraph 3, “Atheismus Triumphatus.” Atheism destroyed.
P. 10, paragraph 1, “Perini del Vago, Equitis de Malta, Epistolium ad Batavum in Brittania hospitem de tribus Impostoribus,” (3 Greek words omitted). Epistle to Batavus, a friend in Britain, about the Three Impostors (the Pamphleteers, Sycophants and so-called Doctors).
P. 12, line 2, “Ridiculum et imposturae in omni hominum religione, scriptio paradoxa, quam ex autographo gallico Victoris Amadeo Verimontii ob summam rei dignitatem in latinum sermonem transtulit.” What is ridiculous, and the impostures in every religion of mankind, a strange writing, which he translated into Latin from the original French of Victor Amadeus Verimontius, on account of the great worth of the subject matter.
P. 12, line 9, “Quaedam deficiunt s. fragmentum de libro de tribus impostoribus.” Certain things are missing. His fragment of the book about the three impostors.
P. 12, line 12, “De imposturis religionum breve. Compendium descriptum ab exemplari manuscripto quod in bibliotheca J. Fred. Mayeri, Berolini, publice distracta deprehensum et a Principe Eugenio de Sabaudio, 80 Imperialibus redemtum fuit.” An abstract about the impostures of religions. An abridgment copied from the original manuscript which, at the dispersal of the library of J. Fred. Mayer of Berlin, was discovered and repurchased by Prince Eugene de Sabaudio for 80 imperials.
P. 12, line 18, “Communes namque demonstrationes, quae publicantur, nec certae, nec evidentes, sunt, et res dubias per alias saepe magias dubias probant, adeo ut exemplo eorum, qui circulum currunt, ad terminum semper redeant, a quo currere inceperant. Finis.” For the ordinary arguments which are set forth, are not established, nor are they evident, and prove doubtful matters by others often much more doubtful, just like those who run in a circle, and always return to the starting point. End.
P. 12, last 7 lines, “Quamvis omnium hominem intersit nosse veritatem, rari tamen boni illi qui eam norunt,” etc. Although it is to the interest of all men to know the truth, nevertheless those few good men who know it, etc.
“Qui veritates amantes sunt, multum solatii inde capient, et hi sunt, quibus placere gestimus, nil curantes mancipia, quae prejudicia oraculorum—infallibilium loco venerantur.” Those who are lovers of the truth will derive much comfort from this, and those are the ones whom we are anxious to please, not caring for those servile persons who reverence prejudices as infallible oracles.
P. 13, paragraph 7, “De impostura religionum compendium s. liber de tribus impostoribus.” Treatise about the imposture of religions. His book about the three impostors.
P. 15, paragraph 2, “Homo sum, nihil humania me alienum puto.” I am a man, I consider nothing human alien to me.
Page 29, 4th paragraph. Latin orthography corrected:
“Quod de tribus famosissimis Nationum Deceptoribus in ordinem. Jussu. meo digessit Doctissimus ille vir, quocum Sermonem de illa re in Museo meo habuisti exscribi curavi atque codicem illum stilo aeque, vero ac puro scriptum ad te ut primum mitto, etenim ipsius perlegendi te accipio cupidissimum.”
This treatise about the three most famous impostors of the world, in accordance with my instructions was put in order by that scholar with whom you had the conversation concerning that matter in my library, I had it copied, and that MS. written in a style equally genuine and simple. I send you as soon as possible, for I am sure you are very eager to read it.
P. 29–30, last paragraph, (Latin orthography corrected), “I. liber de Nat. Deor. Qui Deos esse dixerunt tanta sunt in Varietate et dissentione constituti ut eorum molestum sit dinumerare sententias. Alterum fieri profecto potest ut eorum nulla, alterum certe non potest ut plus unum vera fit. Summi quos in Republica obtinuerat honores orator ille Romanus, eaque quam servare famam Studiote curabat, in causa fuere quod in Condone Deos non ausus sit negare quamquam in contesta Philosophorum, etc.”
I. Book about the nature of the Gods. “Those who have said that there are Gods, are characterized by such a variety of ideas and difference of belief, that it would be difficult to enumerate their opinions.
“On the one hand it might indeed happen that not one of their opinions was true, but on the other hand, certainly not more than one can be true.” The great honors which that famous Roman orator had gained in the state, and that reputation, which he took the most zealous care to maintain, were the reason why in a public speech he dared not deny the Gods, although in a discussion of philosophers, etc.
P. 35, last paragraph, “De poteste Imperiali,”—Of the Imperial power.
Did you ever attend a meeting of the society for the—perhaps I had better not mention the name of the society, lest I tread on your favorite Quixotism. Suffice it to say that it has a noble purpose. It aims at nothing less than the complete transformation of human society, by the use of means which, to say the least, seem quite inadequate. After the minutes of the last meeting have been read, and the objects of the society have been once more stated with much detail, there is an opportunity for discussion from the floor.
“Perhaps there is some one who may give some new suggestions, or who may desire to ask a question.”
You have observed what happens to the unfortunate questioner. What a sorry exhibition he makes of himself! No sooner does he open his mouth than every one recognizes his intellectual feebleness. He seems unable to grasp the simplest ideas. He stumbles at the first premise, and lies sprawling at the very threshold of the argument.
“If what I have taken for granted be true,” says the chairman, “do not all the fine things I have been telling you about follow necessarily?”
“But,” murmurs the questioner, “the things you take for granted are just what trouble me. They don’t correspond to my experience.”
“Poor, feeble minded questioner!” cry the members of the society, “to think that he is not able to take things for granted! And then to set up his experience against our constitution and by-laws!”
TREATISE.