How do people distort courage?
How do people distort courage?
When narratives mislead the masses.
The Fulcrum of Courage, Part 3
Stories told from memory change with each retelling.
Very little was known about Gerbert of Aurillac, personally, by the vast crowd before him at the end of 999. Everything they knew was learned through the grapevine.
As rumors about Gerbert spread, they morphed into captivating tales of good and evil. By the time he stood before the crowd on New Year's Eve, it was generally believed he was a sorcerer who summoned the Devil.
The story went Gerbert had a book of spells that once belonged to an Arab who lived in Barcelona. He first heard about it while studying in Catalonia.
Gerbert was intrigued. He went to Barcelona and found the Arab.
The Arab refused to let Gerbert see the book and would not accept anything in trade. It provided him with treasure and luxuries, so he guarded it carefully and slept with it under his pillow.
The Arab had a daughter. Gerbert seduced her and got her to show him the book.
When he touched it, he no longer just wanted it. He craved it.
The book was rumored to contain spells for inducing catalepsy, causing hallucinations, and summoning demons. The owner could even call upon the Devil – except it would cost his soul.
Gerbert refused to leave empty-handed. He took the book for himself – but the Arab found out and chased after him.
While running through a forest to escape, Gerbert came to a wooden bridge.
He used a spell from the book to become invisible, but it would only work if he did not touch water or stone. He hung from the arch with his feet in the air.
The Arab passed by without seeing him, and Gerbert got away.
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Everyone in the crowd knew of a rumor that Gerbert cast spells from the book during a drunken party, following the death of Pope Charles V.
They believed he had too much wine and got reckless. Demons tricked him, he lost his soul, and doomed the faithful to Hell trying to get it back.
As far as they knew, the Apocalypse was foretold. Gerbert’s life story was evidence it was going to begin that very night.
A terrifying cosmic battle between good and evil was about to descend upon them because of his fascination with sorcery, and his lust for power.
Gerbert was aware the crowd believed he was a sorcerer who had damned them all.
From where he stood, more than 60,000 ashen faces could be seen in the torchlight.
Watching him.
Waiting.
Next: Is courage rational? How notions seem wise even when they are foolish.