Castiglione: The courtier as Adviser

The humanist belief that the close relation between good education and good governance led to the writing of educational treatises that explained the type of training in the studia humanitatis that was to be imparted to prospective princes.notable amongst these were “On Education” by Juan Luis Vives and “The Right Education of Boys” by Jacopo Sadoleto.Later,Roger Ascham,the tutor to the future Queen Elizabeth,wrote his celebrated “The Scholemaster” that established a pattern of instruction and ideal of conduct.These books paved the way for a new genre,that saw the humanists addressing not only the princes,but also their courtiers,nobles and councillors.Book two of the “Dial of Princes” by Antonio de Guevara clearly states that his advice is intended for the great lords as well as the princes.The other notable book of this type was named ‘The Governor” by Sir Thomas Elyot.Both these books show their indebtdedness to the seminal text named “The Book of the Courtier” by Baldassare Castiglione.

Drafted between 1513 and 1518,and published ten year later,the book is influenced by Ciceros “De Oratore” due to its form and gives us the classic formulation of the definition of the perfect courtier.Although not on the exact same theme,Stefano Guazzo’s “Civil Conversations” resembles it due to its dialogic form spread over four books.

Castiglione writes about the world he knew, speaking in the name of his own acquaintances, and expressing the ideals that inspired his own career, both as humanist and as diplomat.He provides for his dialogues,a specific historical setting-the palace of the Duke of Urbino,and the spekers were prominent personalities of his times.The discussions held on the fourth evening gives the framework of the formation of the perfect courtier.

Signor Ottaviano Fregoso,in the beginning of his speech,describes the courtier to be good and virtuous,not “simply in himself,but in regard to the end to which he is directed”.It is this “end” that Ottaviano goes on to speak about in detail-the sole vocation of the courtier is to win the “mind and favour” of the prince,thereby creating the premise of telling him the truth about matters expediently,without managing to displease him.For Ottaviano,and Castiglione,the perfect courtier must be the one who can oppose the prince if he chooses the path of evil and bring him to the path of virtue.

In order to drive home their views,courtiers must be charming,quick witted,prudent and scholarly,thus successfully imparting the ideal of justice,liberality and magnanimity in the prince.Curiously,though Ottaviano speaks disparagingly about singing,dancing and playing games,terming these as “vain and frivolous”,he later goes on to approve of festivities as “the flower of courtiership”only if it secures the “virtuous end” for the prince.

As the evening discussions unfold,Ottaviano astutely recognizes ignorance and conceit as the primary pitfalls of princes.He wants no flatterer,liar or slanderer in the kings entourage.Ottaviano is specially mindful of what is distinctly identified in Elyot’s “The governor” as “the mortal poison of flattery”.Ottaviano wants the savant courtier to “tell them(the princes) the truth and remind them of what is right”.The true courtier must not be averse to offering a trenchant criticism of the prince,unlike his friends who refrain from doing so fearing the princes wrath.In this context,Bacon too,reveals his reservations about “friends” in his advice to the Earl of Rutland-“your lordship hath many friends who have more leisure to think and more sufficiency to counsel than myself;yet doth my love to you dedicate these few free hours to study of you and your intended course;in which study if I find out nothing but that which you have from others,yet I shall perhaps confirm the opinion of wiser than myself”.

Ottaviano gives a sinister picture of the state deprived of the sage advice of the courtier-the prince,unaccustomed to hearing the truth,would wield unrestrained power,simultaneously retiring to pleasure seeking and amusements,thereby making the cardinal mistake of “believing that it is very easy to know how to rule and that successful government require no art or training”.This ignorance gives rise to serious lacunae in governance,causing so much destruction and ruination that it may be called “the deadliest plague of all”.

It is here,that the courtier’s role assumes its somber significance.He must teach the prince the values of continence,fortitude,justice and temperance.But the process of educating the prince is a shrewd art-the courtier must be ready offer a bitter pill under a “cloak of pleasure” to ensure that his stern diktat is followed by the recalcitrant prince.

This art becomes important if we keep in mind More’s “Utopia” where Raphael hythlodaeus speaks of the men,who,offering beneficial measures to the king found themselves “banished or treated with ridicule”. The predicament recurs in Starkey’s “Dialogue” where men speaking for the good of the state were “put to cruel and shameful death”.

In this difficult task,the three qualities that serve the courtier in good stead are- grazia,mediocrita and sprezzatura.Grazia,or innate grace and grace of action ensures that the courtier remains the dominant personality in the court.Mediocrita,or the ability to take the moderate path is of primary importance in the political agenda of the state.However,it is sprezzatura,or the ability of the courtier to display “an easy facility in accomplishing difficult actions which hides the conscious effort that went into them” ,that is perhaps the most important of his art.

It is Ottaviano’s faith in the courtier and his guidance of the prince that makes him declare that the single rule of a good prince is the noblest form of government.This idea is echoed by Guevara in his “Dial of Princes”,whre he states that the ruler furnished with sound advice ensures that the common wealth is ruled not merely by just laws,but also by a just king.Ottaviano goes on to say that such a prince would acquire the “heroic virtue that will raise him above human limitations” : the vir virtutis-the end that is reached with generous help from the courtier.

Towards the end of the discourse.Ottaviano answers various questions from his audience.Signor Gaspare asks about the mode of instruction of the prince by the courtier,to which Ottaviano replies that he prefers practice,followed by intellectual exercise,conforming with the renaissance thought of the idea of praxis.Magnifico Giuliano finds it unacceptable,that “the courtier whose instruction is to make the prince so excellent,must be more excellent than the prince himself”.To this Ottaviano replies that “although the courtier teaches the prince,it can not be said to follow that he is of greater dignity than the prince”.Ottaviano goes on to compare the courtier to a whetstone which “is used to sharpen iron,though it cuts nothing itself”.The Magnifico Giuliano also wonders whether any difference in the age of the prince and the courtier,could spoil the otherwise excellent arrangement but Ottaviano rejects the apprehension. He also does not mind Cesare Gonzaga’s claim that the venerable courtier that he has constructed should be called a schoolmaster,and ranks him with the likes of Phoenix,Aristotle and Plato.

To conclude,one may consider the life of Castiglione to find that the Perfect Courtier was Castiglione himself-his life made memorable with splendid events and momentous issues. He was a close friend of Raphael and Bembo,served great princes, two Dukes of Urbino, the Marquis of Mantua and Clement VII. He visited England on a mission to the Order of the Garter,was trusted and well beloved by Charles V and he ended his life in Spain as Papal nuncio.“The Book of the Courtier” is remarkable for its treatment of moral, ethical and political issues with use of metaphors and references.The importance of the book far outstrips the context of time and place as Spenser is said to have been influenced by it.In English literature,one finds the Earl of Kent to be a stock character,a well meaning subject in ‘King Lear” and in “Edward the second”,whose advice is ignored by the respective kings,who go on to suffer in the end. Indian history too, tells us about the formidable Chanakya, whose formulations on political,social and military affairs as well as the economy of the state secured for Chandragupta a large and prosperous empire.One understands,that the courtier’s art-of grazia,mediocrita and sprezzatura,will continue to intrigue modern day courtiers-bureaucrats and diplomats,alike;even in the wake of the changing face of world politics.

Shiladitya Banerjee.