PREFACE
We are urged by the persistent requests of teachers to draw together in a brief space some certain points about the principles of letter writing. But we ask that the expert should not laugh, that the spiteful tooth of the envious should not bite, and that the unskilled in the art should not back away--for after all, even if the fullness of the moon is wanting, this undertaking is not on that account useless in every part. Therefore let honest men hear honestly what is here honestly set forth, and by hearing understand, and lock what they understand securely in the treasure box of the heart. And even let those who are advanced in this art add in some other points, just as grain is thrown by the handful on the threshing floor for the sake of separating it out.
II
WHAT A WRITTEN COMPOSITION
SHOULD BE
A written composition is a setting-forth of some matter in writing, proceeding in a suitable order. Or, a written composition is a suitable and fitting treatment of some matter, adapted to the matter itself. Or a written composition is a suitable and fitting written statement about something, either memorized or declared by speech or in writing.
Now, some written compositions are metrical, others rhythmic, others prosaic.
A metrical composition is a written presentation which is properly distinguished by prescribed measures of feet and duration.
A rhythmic composition is one which is bound together syllabically according to a fixed numerical rule.
But since it is our intention to treat only prose composition, let us describe more carefully what it is and how it should be written.
A prose composition is a written
presentation ignoring the measures of meter, and proceeding in a continuous and
suitable order. Now, here let us describe the proper meaning of this first term,
for, in Greek, proson is said to be "continuous." Then, we say that a
written statement is "suitable" in which we treat the subject under discussion
in words ordered according to the grammatical rules for prose or poetry.
Let us now examine particularly how to fashion this kind of composition, either in an approved and basic format or in accordance with circumstances.
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III
THE DEFINITION OF A
LETTER
An epistle or letter, then, is a suitable arrangement of words set forth to express the intended meaning of its sender. Or in other words, a letter is a discourse composed of coherent yet distinct parts signifying fully the sentiments of its sender.
IV
THE PARTS OF A
LETTER
There are, in fact, five parts of a letter: the Salutation, the Securing of Good-will, the Narration, the Petition, and the Conclusion.
V WHAT THE
SALUTATION IS
The Salutation is an expression of greeting conveying a friendly sentiment not inconsistent with the social rank of the persons involved.
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What Should be Included in a Salutation
Next, we must consider carefully how somewhere in the Salutation we want some additions to be made to the names of the recipients; above all, these additions should be selected so that they point to some aspect of the recipient's renown and good character.
Now, if we want to add something to the names of the senders, let it at least be made suitable, since it should be chosen to indicate humility and certainly not pride. It is therefore necessary for us to be guided by the ranks of the persons involved in such a way that, as often as names of ecclesiastical ranks or professional status are joined with the names of the senders, they will be qualified by added phrases so that through them no pride whatsoever is displayed; for example, if it is a clerk or someone of ecclesiastical status, he should always be titled thus: "Johannes, clerk" or "deacon" or "bishop" or "abbot," . . . "although unworthy" or "undeserving" or "sinful." In secular positions or offices, of course, it is not necessary for it to be done in this way, if we say for instance: "N_, friend of the Tuscans," or "N_, Duke of Venice," or "Marshall of Tusca" and the like.''
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Next, let us show briefly what is proper in salutations sent to all sorts of persons.
Of course, among all people some are outstanding; others are inferior, and still others just in between. Now, people are said to be "outstanding' to whom no superiors are found, like the Pope or the Emperor.
Therefore, when a letter-writer (dictator) undertakes to write, and the difference between the ranks of the persons involved is known, he must take into consideration from the first whether the purpose is for one man to write to one other man, or for one to write to several, or several to one, or several to several; and whether equal is writing to equal, inferior to superior, or superior to inferior.
Next, the kind of subject must be considered, so that the writer may fashion the salutation with words suitable and prescribed according to it.
Next, the writer should know what is fitting to be attached to the names of the persons involved, as for instance the proper ending of any salutation.
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The Salutations of a Ruler to the Pope, and of
every Subject to the Prelates.
Furthermore, if the salutation is ever directed to the Pope from the Emperor himself, or from some man of ecclesiastical rank, it is best for it to be sent in the following form or one like it: "To the venerable in the Lord and Christ N_, by the grace of God highest and universal Bishop of all the Holy Church, N_by the grace of God august ruler of the Romans," or "N_, priest of the Ravenna church, although unworthy, expresses due reverence in Christ," or "steadfastness of due obedience," "stewardship of due reverence," "allegiance of due servitude" or "obedience of due allegiance."
Now, these salutations or ones similar to them are fittingly sent among
ecclesiastics, at least from subordinates to prelates, and "in Christ" or "in
the Lord Jesus Christ" must always be added.
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The Emperor's Salutations to All Men
"N_, august emperor of the Romans by the grace of God, expresses friendship and good wishes to the Bishop of Faventia," or "to the Earl of Pictava," or "to the people of Pisa."
But when any bishop or duke or people of any city writes to the emperor, the following things or ones like them should be added in conjunction with the name of the ruler: "To the renowned, most excellent, most invincible, most eminent conqueror and always august emperor of the Romans, C_, N_, archbishop of Pisa, though unworthy, expresses his due obedience in Christ," or something similar to the forms above.
Salutations of Ecclesiastical Among
Themselves
"N_, by the grace of God bishop of the holy church of Bologna, although
unworthy, sends unceasing good wishes in Christ," or "greeting in Christ
eternal," "fraternal greetings and prayers in the Lord," "desires an increase of
fraternal good-will and love," "expresses a feeling of brotherly affection," or
"sends greetings and heartfelt prayers in the Lord."
Now, it may happen that prelates have reverend persons under their authority to whom not "blessings" but "greetings and an increase of true" or "sincere" or "pure piety" should be written.
Salutations of Close Friends or Associates
"To N_, the closest of friends," or "the most beloved of comrades,"
or "the dearest of favorites," or "bound to one another by a mutual union of
affection," or "linked together by an indissoluble chain of affection," or
"N_, devoted to the study of letters, sends greetings and a feeling of warm
affection," "the affection of warm feeling with unceasing good-wishes,"
"steadfastness of personal fellowship," "the sweetness of the dearest
friendship," "the constancy of sincere good-will," or "the sweetness of
imperishable love."
Another example of uniting in friendship: "Guido, already bound by a sincere bond of affection, N_, follower of the profession of logician, wishes to be bound further to him by a mutual chain of affection and to be disturbed by no hostility, wishes him to live forever and to abound in all good things, to live always honorably and never to cease in his affection, to possess always wisely a happy life, and to hold always more firmly to the rightful ways."
These salutations are also sent appropriately to comrades or close friends, since the different ranks of these persons can be indicated by a rather easy variation. For where "Guido, already bound by a sincere bond of affection" is written, "friendship" or "fellowship" or "brotherhood" could be written where "of affection" is written, in whichever way the truth of the matter will require.
Salutations of Subjects to their Secular Lords
When secular subordinates write a salutation to their lords, they should not
under any circumstances say "veneration" or "allegiance," but should say instead
"service," "compliance," "servitude," "loyalty" "subordination," and the like.
"To his most beloved lord" or else "to his most pre-eminently esteemed and most worthy excellency," "N_, his loyal servant" or "his devoted follower" or "subject to him in all things," "declares his loyal servitude," "earnestness in the highest loyalty," "obedience of due servitude," "servanthood of due obedience," "loyalty and all manner of servitude," "servitude in the warmest loyalty," and the like.
Salutations of These Same Lords to their Subordinates
"N_, son of Guido, N_, loyal servant" or "devoted follower,"
"sends greetings and good-will," "greetings and enduring good wishes,"
"good-will and every support," "unceasing assistance, with greetings," and the
like.
Salutations of Lords to Blamable and Offending Subordinates
"N_, bishop of Faventia although unworthy, to John, presbyter of the church of Holy Mary, sends greetings and pardon according to merit," "greetings as they have been deserved," "pardon insofar as it is considered deserved," or "greetings proportionate to his iniquity" and the like.
The Salutation of a Teacher to his Pupil
"N_, promoter of the scholastic profession, wishes N_, his most dear
friend and companion, to acquire the teachings of all literature, to possess
fully all the diligence of the philosophical profession, to pursue not folly but
the wisdom of Socrates and Plato."
The Salutation of a Pupil to his Teacher
"To N_, by divine grace resplendent in Ciceronian charm, N_, inferior to his devoted learning, expresses the servitude of a
sincere heart," or "always obedient
honorable service," or some other phrase corresponding to those suitable to be
sent from subordinates to prelates.
Salutations of Parents to their Sons
"Peter the father and Mary the mother, to John their most beloved son, send
parental blessings with their greetings," or "fresh greetings and eternal
blessings."
Salutations of Sons to their Parents
On the other hand, a salutation of a son to his parents should by all means
be one which is described above as appropriate to be sent to superiors by
subordinates, as for example, "filial veneration with love," "servitude of
filial veneration," and the like.
Salutations of Delinquent Sons to the Same Parents
"To Peter and Mary his parents, N_, once their son but now deprived of filial affection," "once dear to them but now without cause become worthless, does whatever he can though he seems to be able to do nothing."
Another example: "To N_, most beloved lord," or "dearest father" or
"relation" or "brother" or "comrade," "N_, shackled by iron chains" or
"subjected to the harshest confinement of prison" or "tied by heavy bonds,"
"sends wishes for all manner of good fortune which he himself utterly lacks,"
"sends wishes with his greetings for all the prosperity he does not have," and
the like.
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VI
THE SECURING OF GOOD WILL
Now that these things have been explained, especially the varieties of
salutations, let us turn to the Securing of Goodwill. The Securing of Goodwill
(benivolentiae captatio) in a letter is a certain fit ordering of words
effectively influencing the mind of the recipient.
Now this may be secured in a letter in five ways: from the person sending the letter, or from the person receiving it, or by both at once, or from the effect of circumstances, or from the matter at hand.
Goodwil1 will be secured by the person sending the letter if he mentions humbly
something about his achievements or his duties or his motives.
On the other hand, it will be secured according to the person receiving the
letter when not only the humility of the sender but also the praises of the
recipient are duly indicated.
Goodwill will be secured also from the effect of circumstances if something is
added which would be appropriate to both persons involved, or which would be in
the purpose of things, or could be suitably or reasonably connected to goodwill,
such as "intimacy," "affection," "fellowship," "familiarity," "lordship and
service," "fatherly feeling and filial feeling," and the like.
In any case, goodwill will be secured from the matter at hand if the extent of
its future importance is openly set forth. That kind of securing of goodwill is
also used in the conclusion of a letter.
If however the situation arises for a combative letter to be written, that is,
for enemies or opponents, the goodwill could in fact be sought in it according
to the persons of the adversaries, namely in that fashion which Cicero
introduces in his Books of Rhetoric, this method should be used, by all
means, if we would lead our opponents into hatred, jealousy, or contention. If
the matter at hand is honorable, or if the auditor is known to be friendly, we
should seek goodwill immediately and clearly; if it is not honorable, we should
use indirection and dissimulation. As a matter of fact, opponents are led into
hatred if their disgraceful deeds are cited with cruel pride; into jealousy if
their bearing is said to be insolent and insupportable; and into contention if
their cowardice or debauchery is exposed.
Besides, very often the largest part of the securing of goodwill is in the
course of the salutation itself. For that reason we should devise our letters in
such a way that whenever the humility of the sender or the merits of the
recipient are advanced at large in the salutation, we should either begin the
rest of the letter immediately with the narration or with the petition, or we
should point out our own goodwill rather briefly and modestly.