In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Appendix 1 k Excerpt from Juan de Segovia, Repetitio de fide catholica Córdoba, Biblioteca de la Catedral, MS 128, fols. 192r A–192v A 232 5 10 15 Respondetur in multis esse difficile invalere argumentum asimili de secta machometi et de religione christi. Primum manifestum est legem machometi non esse contrariam legi nature que habet inclinare ad carnales delectationes ymo in hoc laxat frena carnalis concupiscencie dum multa precipit, consulit, aut impunita permittit que carnalibus desideriis conforma sunt. Similiter et felicitatem quam promittit in delectationibus carnalibus consistere dicit. Et quia propter nimis intensam inclinationem nature vix pauci reperiuntur qui perfecte secundum racionem virtutis a carnalibus delectationibus abstineant. Ymo licet in religione christiana quamcumque pro huiusmodi abstinencia premia eterna que tante sunt dignitatis ut nec occulis viderit nec auris audierit nec ascenderit in cor hominis promittuntur et contrarium facientibus eterni supplicii cominetur pena. De hoc etiam sunt nimium multiplicate prohibitiones et contrarium facientes in hoc mundo gravi per iurisdictionem ecclesiasticam temporalem torquntur supplicio et adhuc tamen christianorum multi has sequuntur delectationes carnales. It is responded that it is difficult to prove by argument that the sect of Muhammad and the Christian religion are similar. First, it is clear that the law of Muhammad is not contrary to the law of nature, which is inclined toward carnal delights; rather it loosens the reins of carnal concupiscence because it teaches, counsels, or permits with impunity many things that are aligned with carnal desires. Moreover, it says that the happiness that it promises consists in carnal pleasures. Due to nature’s very strong inclination, no one or hardly anyone is found who abstains from carnal pleasures to the extent demanded by perfect virtue.1 Nay, even though in the Christian religion eternal rewards are promised for abstinence of this type—[rewards] that are so worthy that neither eye has seen nor has ear heard nor has it arisen in the heart of man—and for those who do the contrary, a penalty of eternal punishment is threatened, and [even though] prohibitions also are multiplied and [even though] those who do the contrary are punished in this world with severe punishments through the church’s temporal jurisdiction, many Christians still pursue these carnal pleasures. Repetitio de fide catholica 233 1. The quia in this sentence makes no sense and in the interest of clarity has not been reflected here. Non igitur miraculis opus erat ad confirmandam illam doctrinam que carnales sequentibus delectationes promium promittit quas multi etiam cominato supplicio student summopere adimplere. Non sic autem de religione christiana que in multis, ut declaratum est, est legi nature contraria. Similiter non talia tradidit documenta que incredibilia apparent sed que mediocri pollens sciencia et ingenio comprehendere posset nec primo sapientissimos et omni polentes virtute ad eam sunt conversi, sed homines bestiales in desertis morantes, omnis doctrine divine prorsus ignari, per quorum multitudinem alios armorum violencia in suam legem. Et quemadmodum inicium [192 B] habuit per violenciam armorum ita precepit ut cum ultimo positi examini de veritate legis impeterentur non racionibus miraculis vel auctoritate sed gladio legem defenderent pro quo ut in multitudine vincere possint permisit ad libitum multitudinem uxorum accipere et filios procreare. Fuit etiam causa tam facilis conversionis ad sectam illam etenim quia romani propter nimiam eorum superbiam et avariciam sicut fuit semper eorum condicio orientales populos sicut subditas sibi alias naciones graviter depriment exactionibus et tributis tempore erachi imperatoris, scilicet anno vi sui imperii dedignatibus orientis gentibus vectigalia et tributa reddere romanis ceperunt pro viribus rebellare et tunc machometus, videns inter orientales et romanos ortam discoriam, surrexit fingens se a deo missum pro liberatione eorum a iugo romani imperii. Illi igitur cupientes se eripere a tiranica opressione romanorum, videntes quod libertatem eis promitteret, adheserunt ei ut ipsos eriperet maxime quia, ut dictum est, promittebat felicitatem sequentibus carnalem concupicenciam 234 Appendix 1 20 25 30 35 40 45 Therefore no miracles were needed to confirm that doctrine that promises a reward to those who pursue the carnal pleasures that many strive to the utmost to achieve even when punishment is threatened. Not so for the Christian religion, which, as has been said, is contrary to the law of nature in many things. Similarly, [Islam] has not passed down such teachings as might appear impossible to believe, but instead the sort that a person of moderate knowledge and intelligence can understand. At first it was not the wise and those rich in every virtue who were converted to the sect, but bestial men living in deserts...

Share