Chapter 1

Know, then, that I am come from a certain town which was built on the way into lesser Brittany, distant some eight miles, as I think, eastward from the city of Nantes, and in its own tongue called Palets. Such is the nature of that country, or, it may be, of them who dwell there—for in truth they are quick in fancy—that my mind bent itself easily to the study of letters. Yet more, I had a father who had won some smattering of letters before he had girded on the soldier's belt. And so it came about that long afterwards his love thereof was so strong that he saw to it that each son of his should be taught in letters even earlier than in the management of arms. Thus indeed did it come to pass. And because I was his first born, and for that reason the more dear to him, he sought with double diligence to have me wisely taught. For my part, the more I went forward in the study of letters, and ever more easily, the greater became the ardour of my devotion to them, until in truth I was so enthralled by my passion for learning that, gladly leaving to my brothers the pomp of glory in arms, the right of heritage and all the honours that should have been mine as the eldest born, I fled utterly from the court of Mars that I might win learning in the bosom of Minerva. And since I found the armory of logical reasoning more to my liking than the other forms of philosophy, I exchanged all other weapons for these, and to the prizes of victory in war I preferred the battle of minds in disputation. Thenceforth, journeying through many provinces, and debating as I went, going whithersoever I heard that the study of my chosen art most flourished, I became such an one as the Peripatetics.

I come from a town on the road into lesser Brittany. It lies, I think, about eight miles east of the city of Nantes. In its own language it is called Palets. Perhaps it was the nature of the country that made learning come easily to me. Or perhaps it was the nature of its people, for they are indeed quick in imagination. My father, too, had gained a little learning before becoming a soldier. Even long afterward, his love of learning was so strong that he made sure all his sons learned their letters before they learned to handle weapons. And so we did. Because I was his firstborn, and therefore dearer to him, he took extra care to see that I was well educated. The further I progressed in my studies, and the more easily I learned, the more devoted I became to them. My passion for learning so enthralled me that I gladly left my brothers the glory of arms, my inheritance, and all the honors due to me as the eldest son. I abandoned the court of Mars entirely so that I might gain learning in the bosom of Minerva. I preferred the weapons of logical reasoning to the other branches of philosophy. So I exchanged all other weapons for these, and preferred the battle of minds in debate to the rewards of victory in war. From then on, I traveled through many provinces, debating as I went. I went wherever I heard that the study of my chosen art was flourishing most. In this way, I became like the Peripatetics.