Laudator Temporis Acti

Dante, Paradiso 11.1-9 (tr. John D. Sinclair, with his note):

O insensate care of mortals,
how defective are those syllogisms
which make thee downward beat thy wings!

One was going after the Laws, and one after the Aphorisms,¹
and one following the priesthood,        5
and one to reign by force or by sophisms,

and one to rob, and one to civic business;
one, involved in pleasure of the flesh,
was wearying himself, and one was giving himself to idleness...

1. The Aphorisms of Hippocrates was much used as a medical text-book.

O insensata cura de' mortali,
quanto son difettivi sillogismi
quei che ti fanno in basso batter l'ali!

Chi dietro a iura, e chi ad aforismi
sen giva, e chi seguendo sacerdozio,        5
e chi regnar per forza o per sofismi,

e chi rubare, e chi civil negozio;
chi nel diletto de la carne involto
s'affaticava, e chi si dava a l'ozio...

Commentators compare Dante, Convivio 3.11.10 (tr. Richard Lansing):

Nor should we give the name of true philosopher to anyone who is a friend of wisdom for the sake of utility, as are jurists, physicians, and almost all those belonging to religious orders, who study not in order to gain knowledge but to secure financial rewards or high office; and if anyone were to give them what they seek to gain, they would not persevere in their study.

Né si dee chiamare vero filosofo colui che è amico di sapienza per utilitade, sì come sono li legisti, medici e quasi tutti religiosi, che non per sapere studiano ma per acquistare moneta o dignitade; e chi desse loro quello che acquistare intendono, non sovrastarebbero allo studio.