Athanasius Kircher to King Christian V of Denmark, from Rome, 6 June 1675
(Rigsarkiv, Copenhagen, T.K.U.A. Alm. del., Breve fra laerde maend, Litra K., Pk 57, 6/6 1675)
holograph, translated by Noel Malcolm
Most serene and most powerful King,
I might perhaps seem rather bold, if I were to interrupt, presumptuously and with an importunate letter from an unknown man, your Royal Majesty, stretched as you are by the great burden of your kingdom. The Republic of Letters has recognized Ð indeed, it is already known to the world Ð how great is the splendour of virtue that shines from your Sacred Majesty; with how great a passion your Majesty embraces, fervently, the zeal for wisdom, by which kings rule; and how much glory accrues to your kingdom from the fact that your Majesty does not cease to promote, by your own example, the study of the arts and sciences by famous and very distinguished writers in your Royal Athenaeum. Goaded and urged on by these facts, as if by spurs, and filled with wonder at the great quantity of wisdom in your kingdom, I could not restrain myself from wanting to share with you my own writings, whatever their true rank may turn out to be Ð not because I hoped that I might thereby be able to approach even slightly the unapproachable splendour of your glory, but in order that I might at least express to your Majesty the most humble homage of my mind, by means of whatever symbols I could use. Not so long ago a new offspring of my feeble wit saw the light of day: its title is Arca Noe [NoahÕs Ark]. I lay it at your Royal MajestyÕs venerable feet, with all the feelings of humility and devotion of which I am capable; and indeed I persuade myself that your Majesty will accept it, not with an unfavourable attitude, but in accordance with the incomparable benevolence and clemency which your Majesty possesses Ð a miserable little gift of paper, indeed, though one packed with the divine oracles of Scripture. If I learn that it has not been unwelcome to your Royal Majesty, you will have applied new goads and spurs to make me bring out yet more works that are already prepared for the press. Farewell, most serene King, and live for many years, for the sake of God, the Republic of Letters, and yourself.
Your Royal MajestyÕs
Most humble and most devoted servant,
Athanasius Kircher
Rome, 6 June 1675
[Enclosed: a fragment of the cover-sheet, also in KircherÕs hand:
To my most merciful master,
The most serene and most powerful
KING OF DENMARK
with impress of seal: IHS surmounted by a cross, over three arrows]
Arca Noe] Kircher, Arca Noe (Amsterdam, 1675). The volume sent by Kircher unfortunately does not survive in the Danish National Library of Science and Medicine, nor in the Royal Library, Copenhagen.
ÔRegio suo AthenaeoÕ (Ôyour Royal AthenaeumÕ)] This refers to Copenhagen University; the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters was founded in 1742.