The Book of the City of Ladies

by Christine Pizan

  39. About the maiden Arachne, who invented the arts of dyeing wool and of weaving fine tapestries, as well as the art of growing flax and making it into cloth.

  ‘Truth to tell, God chose to provide the world with endless useful and important techniques through the efforts of these women and of many others, too. One such example is an Asian maiden named Arachne, daughter of Idmonius of Colophon. Being extraordinarily resourceful and clever, this Arachne was the first person to create the arts of dyeing wool in different colours and of producing what we would call fine tapestries from weaving pictures on cloth to make them look like paintings. Indeed, she mastered every aspect of the art of weaving. There was even a fable about Arachne which tells how she was turned into a spider by the goddess Pallas whom she had dared to challenge.

  ‘Arachne also invented another notable art, for it was she who discovered how to use flax and hemp; from growing, harvesting and stripping the plants, to soaking and combing out the fibres in order to spin them on a distaff and make cloth from them. These techniques have all benefited humankind enormously, despite the fact that some men scorn women for performing such activities. Arachne was also responsible for developing the art of making nets, traps and snares with which to catch fish and fowl. She similarly invented the whole art of fishing and of trapping fierce, wild animals in nets as well as rabbits, hares and birds. All of these skills were unknown before she came along. In my view, this woman did no small service to humanity, which has since derived great pleasure and profit from her inventions.

  ‘Even so, certain writers, including Boccaccio, who is our source on these matters, maintain that the world was a better place before human beings learnt more sophisticated ways and simply lived off acorns and holly berries and dressed in animal skins. With all due respect to him and to those other authors who claim that the world has been harmed by these inventions which enable people to live more comfortable lives and eat a healthier diet, I would say that in fact we are all the more beholden to God for having bestowed these great gifts and favours upon us. If human beings misuse the inventions which the Creator enjoined them to use properly and which He made for the benefit of men and women alike, this is not because the things in themselves are not good and invaluable when used correctly and wisely. Rather, it is because those who misuse them are wicked and perverse in the first place. The life of Jesus Christ himself proves my point, for he used bread, fish, wine, linen and dyed cloth, along with many other indispensable things, which he never would have done if it had been better to live off acorns and holly berries. Moreover, he conferred a great honour on Ceres for her invention of bread by choosing to present his noble body to men and women for them to eat in the form of bread according to the rite of Holy Communion.’

  40. About Pamphile, who discovered the art of gathering silk from worms, dyeing the thread and making it into cloth.

  ‘On the subject of great sciences invented by women which are extremely beneficial to humanity, we should not forget the one invented by the noble Pamphile, who came from Greece. This lady was highly skilled in various arts and took such delight in experimenting and discovering new things that it was she who first invented the art of creating silk. Using her great ingenuity and perceptiveness, she noticed that the worms which lived on the branches of the local trees naturally produced silk. Picking the lovely cocoons that she had watched the worms making and pulling the threads together, she tried dyeing them various different colours to see if they would take. After she had thoroughly tested this process and seen how good the results were, she took the dyed thread and wove it into silken cloth. The science brought into the world by this lady has proved to be a most wonderful and useful invention, one which has spread to all countries. In order to serve and glorify God, silk is used to make all manner of robes and vestments worn by prelates during divine service. It is also used by emperors, kings and princes, and even by the whole population of certain countries where they have no wool but an abundance of silkworms.’

  41. About Thamaris, who was a supremely gifted painter, as well as another great artist called Irene, and Marcia the Roman.

  ‘What more can I say to prove to you that women are just as capable of learning arts and sciences as they are of inventing new ones? Believe me when I tell you that once they have learnt something, women are very quick to put their knowledge into action and to achieve great things. This is certainly true in the case of a woman called Thamaris, whose mastery of the art of painting was such that there was none to touch her while she was alive. Boccaccio says about her that she was the daughter of the painter Micon, and that she was born at the time of the ninetieth Olympiad. This was the name given to a feast day on which various games took place: whoever won was allowed to ask for whatever they wanted, within reason. These games and festivities were held in honour of the god Jupiter every sixth year, with four complete years in between each set of games. It was Hercules who first organized the event and they calculated their calendar from the first year that it was inaugurated, just as Christians do from the birth of Jesus Christ.

  ‘This Thamaris put aside all usual womanly tasks and devoted herself to learning her father’s craft. She applied herself so well that, during the reign of Archelaos over the Macedonians, the Ephesians commissioned Thamaris to paint a picture of the goddess Diana whom they worshipped. For a long time afterwards, this picture was held in very high esteem, as befitted a work of such great artistry, and was only displayed on feast days in honour of Diana. It was preserved for many years as a marvellous testament to this lady’s skill and has ensured that even today her brilliance has not been forgotten.

  ‘Irene was another woman from Greece, who excelled herself in the art of painting to the point of surpassing all others of her time. She was a pupil of a painter called Cratinus, who was a master in his field, yet she became such a great expert that she completely outshone her teacher. Her contemporaries were amazed by her achievement and chose to commemorate Irene by dedicating a statue to her of a girl in the act of painting. They reserved an honourable place for this statue in a gallery of other figures which depicted the greatest past masters in a variety of disciplines. This was in accordance with a custom which the ancients had of revering those who outdid all others in a particular domain, be it in wisdom, strength, beauty or some other attribute, preserving their names for posterity by erecting statues to them in prominent places.

  ‘Marcia the Roman was a virgin who lived an exemplary life full of great virtue and morality. She too was another fine craftswoman in the art of painting, achieving such excellence in her field that she outstripped all men, including Dionysius and Sopolis who were thought to be the best artists in the world at that time. To put it briefly, she attained the very pinnacle of perfection in her field, according to the most authoritative sources. In order to leave behind her an indelible record of her expertise, one of this Marcia’s most notable works was a brilliantly executed self-portrait done with the aid of a mirror which was so lifelike that anyone who saw it thought it was real. For many years, this picture was greatly treasured and pointed out to other craftsmen as a supreme specimen of their art.’

  I then said to Reason: ‘My lady, it is clear from these examples that those who were wise were held in much higher esteem in the past than nowadays and that the sciences themselves were much more highly thought of then than they are now. However, to go back to what you were saying about women who excelled in the art of painting, I know a woman called Anastasia working today who is so good at painting decorative borders and background landscapes for miniatures that there is no craftsman who can match her in the whole of Paris, even though that’s where the finest in the world can be found. Only Anastasia can execute such delicate floral motifs and tiny details and she is so well regarded that she is entrusted with finishing off even the most expensive and priceless of books. I know all this from my own experience as she has done some work for me which has been ranked amongst the finest creations of the greatest masters.’<
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  Reason replied, ‘I can well believe it, my dear Christine. Anyone who wanted could cite plentiful examples of exceptional women in the world today: it’s simply a matter of looking for them. Whilst we’re on this subject, I’ll tell you about another Roman woman.’

  42. About Sempronia of Rome.

  ‘This Sempronia of Rome was a remarkably beautiful woman. Yet, not only did she eclipse all other women in the loveliness of her face and body, she also outclassed all others in the brilliance of her mind. Her phenomenal intelligence meant there was no discipline, no matter how difficult it was either intellectually or practically, that she couldn’t immediately pick up and master. Thanks to her great dexterity, she could perform any practical task and her excellent memory allowed her to repeat anything she ever heard, even the lengthiest of stories. Sempronia knew both Latin and Greek, which she could write so beautifully that it was a marvel to read.

  ‘Likewise, her speech, her way of expressing herself and her bearing were delightfully elegant and engaging, and she could use her words and gestures to persuade anyone to do her bidding. She took great pleasure in being able to change others’ moods at will, making the most downcast of people feel joyful and happy or, conversely, causing others to feel sad, tearful or angry. Sempronia was also capable of exhorting men to perform all types of deeds which needed either tremendous courage or physical strength. If she wished, she could make all who heard her follow her there and then. On top of all this, she spoke in such sweet tones and conducted herself in such a courtly manner that those around her never tired of looking at her or of listening to her. She had an exquisite singing voice and could play any stringed instrument perfectly, winning all competitions. In short, in all activities that the human mind has ever invented, she was highly skilled and supremely competent.’

  43. Christine asks Reason if women are naturally endowed with good judgement, and Reason replies to her question.

  I, Christine, came back to Reason, saying: ‘My lady, it is now clear to me that God has truly made women’s minds sharp enough to learn, understand and retain any form of knowledge. Praise be to Him for this! However, I’m always surprised at how many people you see whose minds are very quick to pick up and grasp all that they are shown and who are mentally agile and clever enough to master any discipline they please, attaining great learning through their dedication to their studies, but yet seem to lack judgement when it comes to their personal morals and public behaviour. This is true even of some of the most famous and erudite scholars. There’s no doubt that knowledge of the sciences should help inculcate moral values. So, if you please, my lady, I’d be keen to know whether women’s minds, which both you and my own experience have proved to me to be capable of understanding the most complex matters in sciences and other disciplines, are just as proficient at learning the lessons which good judgement teaches us. In other words, can women distinguish between what is the right and the wrong thing to do? Can they modify their current behaviour on the basis of past experience? Can they use the example of the present to anticipate how they should conduct themselves in the future? In my view, this is what good judgement consists of.’

  Reason replied: ‘You’re quite right, my dear girl. Yet don’t forget that this faculty that you’re talking about is inherent in both men and women, and that some are more generously endowed with it than others. Note too that good judgement does not come from learning, though learning can help perfect it in those who are naturally that way inclined, since, as you know, two forces moving in the same direction are stronger and more powerful than a single force moving on its own. Therefore, in my opinion, anyone who has naturally good judgement or good sense and who also manages to attain learning is thoroughly deserving of praise. But, as you yourself have pointed out, some have one but not the other: one is a gift from God and is an innate quality, whereas the other is only acquired after much study. Both, however, are good.

  ‘There are those who would maintain that it is better to have good judgement and no learning than to have great learning but bad judgement. This is a highly controversial proposition that raises all sorts of questions. You could say that the best person is the one who contributes most to the common good. In that case, it’s undeniable that learned individuals help others most by sharing their knowledge with them, no matter how much good judgement they might possess. This is because individuals’ faculty of judgement only lasts as long as their lifetime: when they die, it does, too. On the other hand, learning which has been acquired endures for ever, in that the good reputation of those who possess it never dies and they can teach their knowledge to others as well as pass it on in books for future generations to discover. Their learning does not therefore die with them, as I can prove to you by the example of Aristotle and all the others who first brought the sciences into the world. This type of acquired knowledge has been more beneficial to humankind than all the good judgement shown by those figures of the past who had no learning, even though many of them used their good sense to govern and administer their empires and kingdoms most wisely. The fact is, these deeds are transient and vanish with time, whereas learning is indestructible.

  ‘However, I’m going to set these matters aside for others to resolve since they are not strictly relevant to our task of building the city. Instead, let’s go back to what you originally asked me about whether women naturally have good judgement. On this question, I can give you a firm “yes”. You should be able to gather this not just from what I’ve already told you but also from observing the way in which women generally go about doing their traditionally female duties. If you care to look closely, you’ll discover that for the most part women prove themselves to be extremely attentive, diligent and meticulous in running a household and seeing to everything as best they can. Sometimes, those women who have lazy husbands annoy them by giving the impression that they are nagging them, telling them what to do and trying to be the voice of authority in the house; though husbands like this are just putting a bad slant on what most wives do with all good intentions. The next part of what I have to say will be largely derived from the “Epistle of Solomon”18 which talks about good wives such as these.’

  44. The ‘Epistle of Solomon’ from the Book of Proverbs.

  ‘Whoever finds a valiant woman, one of sound judgement, will be a husband who lacks for nothing. Her fame spreads far and wide and her husband puts his faith in her for she brings him nothing but good and prosperity at all times. She looks for and acquires wool, in other words she sets her maid servants a worthy task to keep them gainfully employed and her household well stocked, and she herself lends a hand. She is like the ship of a merchant which brings all good things to shore and provides the bread. She rewards those who deserve it and they are her intimate friends. In her house, there is plenty to eat, even for the servants. She weighs up the price of a piece of land before buying it and she uses her good sense to plant the vines which will keep the household in wine. Full of courage and resolve, she girds her loins with strength and toughens up her arms with continuous hard work. Even in the dark of night, the light of her labours still shines through. She toils at the heavy tasks yet doesn’t neglect women’s work either, for she does her fair share. She extends a helping hand to the poor and brings them comfort in their suffering. By her efforts, the house is protected against the cold and the snow and her servants’ clothing is lined. She dresses herself in silk and purple: that is, in integrity and splendour. Her husband too cuts an honourable figure when he is seated in the top ranks with the most venerable people in the land. She makes fine linen cloth, which she sells, and wraps herself in strength and glory. For this, she will have everlasting joy. Words of wisdom spring from her lips and her tongue is ruled by gentleness. She makes sure that the household is fully provided for and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children’s behaviour shows that she is their mother and their actions reveal her tender care. Her husband’s fine appearance does her credit. She governs her daughters in all matter
s, even when they are fully grown. She despises the trappings of glory and the transience of beauty. Such a woman will fear the Lord and be praised, and He will reward her for her labours as they attest to her virtue far and wide.’

  45. About Gaia Cirilla.

  ‘On the subject of what the “Epistle of Solomon” says about women of good judgement, we should not forget that noble queen, Gaia Cirilla. This lady, who was from Rome or Tuscany, married Tarquin, king of the Romans. She was both very prudent in her behaviour and extremely virtuous, being endowed with great good sense, loyalty and kindness. Gaia was esteemed above all women for managing her household well and seeing attentively to everything. Even though she was a queen and thus had no need to work with her hands, she delighted in always using her time profitably on some task or other. She hated being idle and thus would keep herself constantly occupied, making the ladies and girls who served her at court do likewise. She knew how to distinguish between the different qualities of wool and how to make both fine and coarse cloth, spending her days at what was regarded as a most honourable occupation at that time. For this reason, the noble lady was praised throughout the world: she was held in the highest regard and her reputation was greatly enhanced. In order to preserve glorious Gaia’s memory for posterity, the Romans, whose power increased enormously after her lifetime, established and long maintained a certain custom at their daughters’ weddings. According to this custom, when the bride first crossed the threshold of the bridegroom’s house, she was asked what she wanted her name to be and she would reply “Gaia”, to signify that she would do her very best to emulate this lady in her actions and deeds.’