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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C8v]

CUM LARVIS NON LUCTAN-
DUM.[1]

Do not wrestle with the dead

Hares gathered round a dead lion
[Click on image to enlarge]

Aeacide[2] moriens percussu cuspidis Hector[3],
Qui toties hosteis vicerat antè suos.
Comprimere haud potuit vocem insultantibus illis,
Dum curru & pedibus nectere vincla parant.
Distrahite ut libitum est sic cassi luce leonis,
Convellunt barbam vel timidi lepores.[4]

When he was dying from the wound dealt by the spear of Aeacus’ descendant, Hector, who had so often before defeated his own enemies, could not keep silent as they triumphed over him, while preparing to tie the ropes to chariot and feet. Tear me as you will, he said; when the lion is deprived of the light of life, even cowardly hares pluck his beard.

Notes:

1.  Cf. Erasmus, Adagia 153, Cum larvis luctari.

2.  ‘of Aeacus’ descendant’, i.e. ‘of Achilles’. Textual variant: Aeacidae.

3.  Hector was the greatest warrior on the Trojan side in the Trojan War, killed in single combat by Achilles, the Greek champion. See Homer, Iliad 22.367ff. and 24.14ff. for Achilles’ desecration of Hector’s body, dragging it, tied by the feet behind his chariot, round the tomb of Patroclus.

4.  The last two lines are a translation of the two-line epigram Anthologia graeca 16.4, where, in Planudes’ text, the words are attributed to Hector in the heading.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [F1r p81]

Non luicter contre un mort.[1]

LVII.

Hector jusqu’à la mort blessé
Fut par les Grecs ses haineux pris:[2]
Et tantost de cordes troussé:

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [F1v p82]

Three hares pull at the mane of a dead lion.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Lors dit à ceux qui l’ont surpris:
Faites comme avez entrepris:
Ores je vois vray le proverbe,
Qu’au Lion ja de mort espris,
Les Lievres vont tirer la barbe.[3]

commentaires.

Hector, fils du Roy Priam, & le plus fort de tous
les Troyens, apres avoir plusieurs fois vaincu ses enne-
mis, faict prendre la fuite à tous les Grecs, & garen-
ti sa patrie contre tous leurs efforts, en fin, sans qu’il
y prinst garde, fut percé d’outre en outre par la lance
d’Achilles, lequel l’ayant faict attacher au derriere
de son chariot, le traina à l’entour des murailles de
Troye. Or comme les Grecs virent Hector porté par
terre demi mort, ils se jecterent sur luy, & luy firent
mil insolences & vituperes. Mais il leur dit, Trainez
moy: tormentez moy selon vos passions desreiglees:
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [F2r p83] ainsi souvent les timides lievres osent arracher la bar-
be au lion, lors qu’ils le voyent mort, & avoir les
yeux fermés. Ciceron soustient qu’Hector estoit du
tout mort, quand il fut attaché au chariot d’Achil-
les. Or est-ce une chose honteuse, ridicule, & du tout
indigne d’un coeur genereux & vaillant, de braver
& combattre ceux qui sont desja privés de vie, les-
quels, s’ils vivoyent, à grand’ peine oseroit on regar-
der entre deux yeux. Mais les morts ne mordent
plus.

Notes:

1.  Cf. Erasmus, Adagia 153, Cum larvis luctari.

2.  Hector was the greatest warrior on the Trojan side in the Trojan War, killed in single combat by Achilles, the Greek champion. See Homer, Iliad 22.367ff. and 24.14ff. for Achilles’ desecration of Hector’s body, dragging it, tied by the feet behind his chariot, round the tomb of Patroclus.

3.  The last two lines are a translation of the two-line epigram Anthologia graeca 16.4, where, in Planudes’ text, the words are attributed to Hector in the heading.

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