Posted by Sasha Volokh:
The dialogue of the Exchequer
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_01_14-2007_01_20.shtml#1169316327
is the name of a late 12th-century treatise on English treasury
procedures by Richard FitzNigel. The [1]first book begins as follows:
In the twenty-third year of the reign of King Henry II, while I was
sitting at the window of a tower next to the River Thames, a man
spoke to me impetuously, saying: "Master, hast thou not read that
there is no use in science or in a treasure that is hidden?"
When I replied to him, "I have read so."
Straightway he said: "Why, therefore, dost thou not teach others
the knowledge concerning the exchequer which is said to be thine to
such an extent, and commit it to writing lest it die with thee?"
I answered: "Lo, brother, thou hast now for a long time sat at the
exchequer, and nothing is hidden from thee, for thou art
painstaking. And the same is probably the case with the others who
have seats there."
But he, "Just as those who walk in darkness and grope with their
hands frequently stumble, so many sit there who seeing do not
perceive, and hearing do not understand."
Then I, "Thou speakest irreverently, for neither is the knowledge
so great nor does it concern such great things; but perchance those
who are occupied with important matters have hearts like the claws
of an eagle, which do not retain small things, but which great ones
do not escape."
And he, "So be it: but although eagles fly very high, nevertheless
they rest and refresh themselves in humble places; and therefore we
beg thee to explain humble things which will be of profit to the
eagles themselves."
Then I, "I have feared to put together a work concerning these
things because they lie open to the bodily senses and grow common
by daily [use]; nor is there, nor can there be in them a
description of subtile things, or a pleasing invention of the
imagination."
And he, "Those who rejoice in imaginings, who seek the flight of
subtile things, have Aristotle and the books of Plato; to them let
them listen. Do thou write not subtile but useful things."
Then I, "Of those things which thou demandest it is impossible to
speak except in common discourse and in ordinary words."
"But," said he, as if aroused to ire, -- for to a mind filled with
desire nothing goes quickly enough, -- "writers on arts, lest they
might seem to know too little about many things, and in order that
art might less easily become known, have sought to appropriate many
things, and have concealed them under unknown words: but thou dost
not undertake to write about an art, but about certain customs and
laws of the exchequer; and since these ought to be common, common
words must necessarily be employed, so that style may have relation
to the things of which we are speaking. Moreover, although it is
very often allowable to invent new words, I beg, nevertheless, if
it please thee that thou may'st not be ashamed to use the customary
names of the things themselves which readily occur to the mind, so
that no new difficulty from using unfamiliar words may arise to
disturb us."
Then I, "I see that thou art angry; but be calmer; I will do what
thou dost urge. Rise, therefore, and sit opposite to me; and ask me
concerning those things that occur to thee. But if thou shalt
propound something unheard of, I shall not blush to say 'I do not
know.' But let us both, like discreet beings come to an agreement."
And he, "Thou respondest to my wish. Moreover, although an
elementary old man is a disgraceful and ridiculous thing, I will
nevertheless begin with the very elements."
(Paragraph breaks and a few slight alterations, including some
capitalization, added.)
References
1. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/excheq1.html
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