Renaissance Stories

The Seven Liberal Arts

Art by Pesellino

Poetry by Nicholas F.

From afar I could see them
The arts themselves
Who brought about our knowledge.

Arismetrica. She’s wise, with numbers on her right hand. She wields them like weapons. She doesn’t obey law, instead she makes it. Universal law that can be applied to any set of numerical symbols. She chose the decimal system, for the value it would have to the other arts. She will always be useful, in expanding scientific knowledge. Arithmetic.

Geometria. Though wise, she’s nothing without her sister. She measures everything in the entire universe. With the rules of Arismetrica, she can craft anything imaginable. Her power maybe be unlimited, but proven by Arismetrica, there are different levels of unlimited. So many rules she follows, yet so much she accomplishes. Geometry.

Mvsica. The sound of the universe. Everything you hear is put into your ear by her. You could hear nothing without her. Though her powers are great, she can be exploited in such a miraculous fashion. You can hear her magic in every instrument, from every animal. The hummingbird cannot live without her extreme influence. Music.

Astrologia. Here lies the end of the quadrivium, as well as the end of the universe. All religions look up to the sky for worship, and see her. She may not be a goddess, but she is an art. One may look in a telescope and see her in every star. You can see her creativity in every supernova. You can see her destructive nature in every black hole. Astronomy.

Logica. Essential to a every tongue, one cannot create a language without taking advantage of her. Your words must be understandable. You must have a consistent way of speech. Though essential to language, her power extends far beyond that. One couldn’t code a computer without her, for that is simply a different type of language. Logic.

Rethorica. A sister of Logica, her purpose is to exploit. If used correctly, she can swiftly manipulate an entire nation. Without her in every human brain, politics would be a game won only be legends. For the good of the people, or not, she is here to stay. She will continue to be manipulated, for the purpose of manipulating humans. Rhetoric.

Grammatica. Also a sister of Logica and Rethorica, the three unite to create the trivium. Written language would simply be impossible without the combination of these three, but grammar is the glue that sticks these three together. She is a set of rules for writing. Those who are hypocritical, correct others -- but not themselves. Grammar.

Behold the arts,
Behold their knowledge,
Behold your fellow humans, as we use them.

Hard Times

Art by Leonardo

Story by Whit P.

This whole idea started out a while ago -- just me and some friends. We were making the best of the times, Ma and I were not doing very well though.

The tax man would come around asking for money, and if we couldn’t pay we would hang. Eventually all we had was the fields, and after some time we lost those too.

But we weren't alone. There were others trapped in a cage of despair too, and those who lived untouched by the king were just a bunch of sycophants. They were seeking for help, so much so that they would give up their dignity.

I, on the other hand, would never do that. I’m Tommy and this is a story about how my friends and I stole the Mona Lisa.

So like I was saying -- we weren’t in the best of times. Actually let me rephrase that: we were in the worst of times. But for every grey cloud there is a silver lining, and my silver lining was Jake. 

Jake was my only friend. For a long time, it was just me and him. We would scamper around taking apples and pushing over the miller’s trading post. Jake and I were like a lock and a key, best of friends. Then one day Jake had an idea.

“Hey Tommy wanna steal the Mona Lisa?” ...

The Trick

Art by Piero di Cosimo

Story by Harrison

Once upon time in an old faraway kingdom, humans and nature lived in harmony and all was Peaceful. Men did not fear each other and there was no crime -- until one day a passing demon looked down on earth, saw all this peace and spit in disgust, "Why those harmonious fools, all that goodness makes me sick." 

So he decided to play a trick on earth. He crept down to earth one night and whispered into the ear of two kings, telling each that the other was planning to attack. Now when each king awoke he believed the spirit of earth herself had spoken to him, and they started preparing for battle right away. 

They had never fought so they had almost no idea how to fight, but with the constant whisperings of the demon, they soon created terrible weapons of war. The two kings each accumulated huge armies, for even though the demon whispered to many young men and women, thousands more joined, some because they wanted fame, some for power, and some just for the adventure. 

The two armies began to march, and the demon rubbed his hands in glee. 

Then he spied a third king, "Well, well, well" he said to himself, "a third army would make this even more fun", so he flew down and corrupted the third king. The third king was more powerful than the other two, and his army was even more terrifying. 

The three kings met in a terrible battle, and the demon watched from overhead. Now the demon put the final part of his plan into action. He made a terrible curse that with every death he would gain part of a beast, and could finally have a living solid form ...