Notes on The Monk

Hey, guys; Ken here. Notes:

Celia presented the monk

The Monk
-manly man, older, somewhat strict
-considered higher up in nobility, shown in weight and garments

Tale
-exemplum- moral anecdote used to illustrate a point
-outlines tragedies of 17 people

Lucifer- member of Angelic Heaven
-his sin cast him to Hell (the uprising)

Adam- created by God's hand
-ruled all of Eden save for the tree of knowledge
-went after the tree of knowledge even though he wasn't supposed to
-got kicked out of Eden for it

Samson- first story in greater length
-birth celebrated by angels
-noble, strong, champion without weapons
-told women his secret knowledge
-almost got killed, but prayed for god to spare him
-he lived and took over Gaza
-Delilah cut all his hair (the source of his power) off and betrayed him
-Samson was captured

Hercules- kinda like Samson
-Deianira made a poisoned gold shirt that melted his skin off
-those who live only for fortune are brought down by it

Nebuchadnezzar
-king of Jerusalem twice
-took fairest children of royal blood and made them a part of his own group
-God changed him into a beast
-after many years, God gave him his sense
-Nebby finally realized God's greatness

Balthazzar- son of Nebby
-didn't want to suffer like his father
-proud of heart and array
-worshiped idols
-saw a hand write "Mene mene tekel" (hence the saying "The writing in the wall")
-Daniel told him that God turned Nebby into a beast
-God's wrath was incurred on Bal for his worshiping of false idols
-The arm was sent by God to tell Bal that he was no longer worth anything
-His kingdom was divided among the Medes and the Persians
-Fortune betrays people

Zenobia- queen of Palmyra
-mighty as men, fast enough to kill beasts
-would never yield hand in marriage because she thought she was too good
-friends made her marry Odenathus
-She finally married
-they lived happily for awhile
-they had two sons
-went on to conquer kingdoms until Odenathus died, which was followed by Zenobia's defeat

Pedro, King of Spain
-held highly by fortune and majesty
-brother told him to flee Spain
-brother betrayed and killed him

Peter, King of Cyprus
-defeated by Alexander the Great
-his lords killed him out of jealousy
-fortune brings happiness and sorrow

Bernabo of Lombary
-climbed in ranks in Italy
-newphew and son conspired to kill him
-monk does not know what happened

Ugolino
-supposed to be imprisoned in tower of Pisa for his entire life
-3 children with him
-Ugolino was unjustly imprisoned
-Ugolino thought he would starve to death
-one of his sons starved to death
-Ugolino started gnawing at his own arms
-His other children offered themselves to him
-Ugolino refused, his kids died, he had nothing to live for, the end

Nero, emperor of Rome
-in love with himself
-Seneca was his master, taught him everything he knew
-Nero kills Seneca
-Fortune makes Nero fall
-People revolted, Nero got killed

Holoferes
-Fortune made him wealthy
-held in high esteem
-forced people to renounce old laws
-made them worship Nebuchadnezzar
-He got drunk and was killed in Bethulia

Antiochus Epiphanes
-Great King
-Fortune enhanced his pride
-he killed those he did not like
--thought God would be okay with it
-Nic (something, can't remember full name) and Tim (something, didn't have time to write full name) were vanquished by the Jews
-the Jews killed Antiochus

Alex the Great (not much detail, it was assumed that all royalty knew something of him)
-all the world was in dread of him
-Fortune made him heir the honor
-reigned over all the world for 12 years
-Lived in false fortune

Caesar
-rose to royal majesty of Rome
-Fortune came to be his adversary
-fled, one soldier killed himself to win Caesar's favor (at least that's what it sounded like)
-Caesar took back the head of the soldier as a sign of triumph
-Brutus and Cassius killed Caesar
-No man can trust fortune for long

Croesus
-Lydian King
-supposed to be burned at pyre, but it rains on the day of his scheduled execution
-thought he was supposed to live
-that night (vision), he saw Jupiter, Phoebes, and his daughter, all saying he should be hanged
-with unwarned stroke, those ones who are proud when they trust fortune most, shall fall

I'm not too good with writing down really fast notes. Ask Celia for assistance if you need any.

~Ken