HERE IT IS TOLD HOW SOME LEARNED ASTROLOGERS DISPUTED ABOUT THE
EMPYREAN
Some very learned men at a school in Paris were disputing about the
Empyrean [56], and spoke of it with great longing and how it was above
the other heavens.
They spoke of the heaven where Jupiter is and Saturn and Mars, and that
of the Sun and of Mercury and the Moon. And how that above all was the
Empyrean. And above that is God the Father in all His majesty.
As they were thus conversing, there came to them a fool who said to
them: gentlemen, what is there over the head of that gentleman? [57]
One of the learned men answered jestingly: There is a hat. And the fool
went away, and the wise men remained. One of them said: you think you
have given the fool a rebuff, but it is we who have suffered it [58].
Now let us say: what is there overhead? [59] They put all their science
to a test, but could find no answer. Then they said: a fool is he who
is so bold as to put his mind outside the circle. [60] And still more
foolish and rash is he who toils and meditates to discover his own
origin [61].
And quite without sense is he who would know God’s profoundest
thoughts.