Author Information
Philosopher of Philosophers
Landulfo had an eagle’s nest
in Roccasecca fort,
His seven sons, they were the best
to fight with lance and sword.
But Lo! his last son was no good
. in battle and in fight,
Another goal the chap pursued,
than be the emperor’s knight.
He turned a great philosopher,
- we are in awe of him,
He was a big bulk of a man
that housed a seraphim.
Of noble and illustrious birth,
of Emperor’s lineage he
Would want to trod upon this earth
in want and poverty.
“He is a misfit spoke his dad,
as far as battle goes,
And lose in every tournament,
or get a bloodied nose”
“Let’s make a church man out of him,
who loathes lance and sword,
To serve as some Superior
or Abbot the good Lord.”
But lo! the youngster coveted,
a very different thing,
aimed at the frock of mendicant
and firmly to it cling.
To dissuade him from his goal,
his family did hold
The stuff-necked in a tower's jail
where it was moist and cold
But he escaped, and ran and ran
as quickly as he could
To reach the new-built friary
that by a cross road stood.
An Abbot or Superior
the chap wished not to be,
But humble friar mendicant
in an order's friary.
His kindred searched for him and found.
the beggar‘s frock not chic,
Unsuited for a relative
of Emperor Frederick,*
They robbed him of the friar’s frock
at once and beat him up.
But he defended it with fists,
with beggar sack and club.
A Hound of Heaven he was now
- a Canus Domini,
Philosopher/Theologian bright,
prolific, keen, but shy;
Behind the massive forehead stirred
his concepts high and great,
The world and Christendom would shake
by what was in his head.
The Prince of the Scholastics
and of all philosophy,
Attuned and wedded wisdom Greek
with Christianity,
And reconciled the two indeed
and saw that each was right,
And christianized the maxims high
of the pagan Stagirite**
At Paris University
some chaps with dainty locks
Poked fun at him for his big bulk
and dubbed him the “Dumb Ox“.
Albertus Magnus recognized
the genius prodigy:
“This Ox will bellow loud,
he said the true philosophy“.
Invited by the King of France,
- a court of chivalry,.
He went, - out of obedience,
- for obedient was he;
Among the bright illustrious guests
and armored knights gallant
Sat quietly, absorbed in thoughts,
the friar mendicant.
The High Noblesse danced merrily,
while court musician played,
The table with delicious food
was beautifully laid,
But he colossal friar sat,
absorbed in profound thoughts,
How to combat philosophers,
next morning after Lauds.
And suddenly the friar’s fist
came on the table down,
Plates crashed to shards, the dishes flew
and stained some lady’s gown,
Not noticing the friar sat,
a napkin in his knees,
And then spoke soberly and flat:
“This settles the Manichees”!
The Manichees, their heresies,-
no more came from his lips,
Then back to thoughts ,- while good King Luis
picked up some shards and chips.
But Thomas, ready for combat
with sophists from the East
Had found the words now to rebut
and could relax his fist.
He would prevail in argument
‘gainst Siger of Brabant,
And sophists from Arabia
and snobs from the Levant;
But would espouse, enbrace. endorse,
the Pagan Stagirite*
And would acknowledge that he was
the brightest Grecian light.
High up the Augustinian monks
all glowered down on him,
For they were Plato’s champions,
and thus a hostile team.
But Thomas spoke of Reason,
and upheld common sense,
And stressed all matter’s sacredness
and came to its defense.
If books of all philosophies
were in high fires burnt,
St. Thomas could replace them all
for the learned and the unlearned.
And make afresh philosophies
from humble stones and straw
This greatest of philosophers,
that keeps the world in awe.
St. Thomas won the great debate,
Oh what weighty a debate!
But humble Tomas left the hall
- he was for Vespers late.
And then he wrote, by Spirit taught,-
and obedient was he,
He wrote inspired the lofty thought-
of God’s Simplicity.
*Emperor Frederixck II
**Aristotle
© Elizabeth Dandy
They robbed him of the friar’s frock
at once and beat him up.
But he defended it with fists,
with beggar sack and club.
A Hound of Heaven he was now
- a Canus Domini,
Philosopher/Theologian bright,
prolific, keen, but shy;
Behind the massive forehead stirred
his concepts high and great,
The world and Christendom would shake
by what was in his head.
The Prince of the Scholastics
and of all philosophy,
Attuned and wedded wisdom Greek
with Christianity,
And reconciled the two indeed
and saw that each was right,
And christianized the maxims high
of the pagan Stagirite**
At Paris University
some chaps with dainty locks
Poked fun at him for his big bulk
and dubbed him the “Dumb Ox“.
Albertus Magnus recognized
the genius prodigy:
“This Ox will bellow loud,
he said the true philosophy“.
Invited by the King of France,
- a court of chivalry,.
He went, - out of obedience,
- for obedient was he;
Among the bright illustrious guests
and armored knights gallant
Sat quietly, absorbed in thoughts,
the friar mendicant.
The High Noblesse danced merrily,
while court musician played,
The table with delicious food
was beautifully laid,
But he colossal friar sat,
absorbed in profound thoughts,
How to combat philosophers,
next morning after Lauds.
And suddenly the friar’s fist
came on the table down,
Plates crashed to shards, the dishes flew
and stained some lady’s gown,
Not noticing the friar sat,
a napkin in his knees,
And then spoke soberly and flat:
“This settles the Manichees”!
The Manichees, their heresies,-
no more came from his lips,
Then back to thoughts ,- while good King Luis
picked up some shards and chips.
But Thomas, ready for combat
with sophists from the East
Had found the words now to rebut
and could relax his fist.
He would prevail in argument
‘gainst Siger of Brabant,
And sophists from Arabia
and snobs from the Levant;
But would espouse, enbrace. endorse,
the Pagan Stagirite*
And would acknowledge that he was
the brightest Grecian light.
High up the Augustinian monks
all glowered down on him,
For they were Plato’s champions,
and thus a hostile team.
But Thomas spoke of Reason,
and upheld common sense,
And stressed all matter’s sacredness
and came to its defense.
If books of all philosophies
were in high fires burnt,
St. Thomas could replace them all
for the learned and the unlearned.
And make afresh philosophies
from humble stones and straw
This greatest of philosophers,
that keeps the world in awe.
St. Thomas won the great debate,
Oh what weighty a debate!
But humble Tomas left the hall
- he was for Vespers late.
And then he wrote, by Spirit taught,-
and obedient was he,
He wrote inspired the lofty thought-
of God’s Simplicity.
*Emperor Frederixck II
**Aristotle
© Elizabeth Dandy
.
