The Book of the Lover and the Beloved: Translated from the Catalan of Ramón Lull with an Introductory Essay by E. Allison PeersLlull, Ramon
Religion
The Book of the Lover and the Beloved: Translated from the Catalan of Ramón Lull with an Introductory Essay by E. Allison Peers
Llull, Ramon
Mysticism -- Spain -- Early works to 1800
For a short time he remained at Miramar, teaching Arabic and the
_Art General_. But before long we find him lecturing on the _Art_ in
Montpellier, which was part of the Majorcan kingdom. Then he is at
Rome, where his enterprise is sanctioned by the Pope, and a School
of Oriental Languages founded. He spends two years lecturing in the
University of Paris, learning all the time as well as teaching. A
college is founded in Navarre through King Philip of France. Lull goes
farther afield--to Palestine, Egypt, Ethiopia and Morocco. In 1282 we
read of his being back in France again, at Perpignan. Success continues
to attend him, but not in a measure that can satisfy his ardent
soul. Ever burning for more triumphs, he resolves at last to put the
lukewarmness of Europe to shame, and to go himself to Africa as an
Apostle of the Faith.
After some delay (the chronology of this period is very uncertain[2])
he set sail from Genoa, and landed in Tunis about 1291. Professing only
a desire to learn the truth--to convert or be converted as events might
prove--he began to debate in public with the Moslems, following his
own logical method. He was only too successful. Many of the infidels,
attracted by his reasoning, embraced Christianity; but the monarch
began to fear for his throne, and before long Lull found himself in
prison. Condemned to death for his preaching, he was reprieved by the
intercession of a Saracen of influence, and banished from Africa,
leaving Tunis amid insults and blows, on pain of being stoned to death
should he ever return. For a time he evaded his enemies and remained in
the country, but a year of this life showed him its futility, and he
returned to Naples. Here he remained writing and teaching for a time;
then he went to Rome (_c._ 1296), attempting unsuccessfully to obtain
sanction for new missionary projects; again we find him in Genoa, next
in Paris (1297-8), back in Majorca, once more in Genoa (1300), then
on a new campaign in Cyprus and Armenia (1300-2), back _via_ Rhodes
and Malta, where he made stays, to Genoa and Paris (1303), Palma,
Barcelona, Lyon and Montpellier (1305).[3] Here he saw both the King
and Pope Clement V. With the former he planned a crusade for the Holy
Land, but the latter, much occupied in other affairs, gave him no
support.
Everywhere and always evangelisation filled his thoughts. No difficulty
or objection, as the records of these years show, could curb his zeal;
the thought of imprisonment or torture made no difference to his plans,
while to die a martyr’s death when his work should be done was his
great ambition. ‘Foolish Lover,’ says an imaginary opponent to him
in his little classic, ‘why dost thou weary the body, throw away thy
wealth and leave the joys of this world, and go about as an outcast of
the people?’ And his reply is the simplest imaginable. ‘To honour my
Beloved’s Name, for He is hated and dishonoured by more men than honour
and love Him.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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