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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [L8v p176]

ἀντέρως, id est, amor virtutis.[1]

Anteros, that is, love of virtue

LXXXI.

Dic ubi sunt incurvi arcus? ubi tela Cupido?
Mollia queis iuvenum figere corda soles.[2]
Fax ubi tristis? ubi pennae? tres unde corollas
Fert manus? unde aliam tempora cincta gerunt?
Haud mihi vulgari est hospes cum Cypride quicquam,
Ulla voluptatis nos neque forma tulit.
Sed puris hominum succendo mentibus ignes
Disciplinae, animos astraque ad alta traho.
Quatuor eque ipsa texo virtute corollas,[3]
Quarum quae Sophiae est, tempora prima tegit.

Tell me, where are your arching bows, where your arrows, Cupid, the shafts which you use to pierce the tender hearts of the young? Where is your hurtful torch, where your wings? Why does your hand hold three garlands? Why do your temples wear a fourth? - Stranger, I have nothing to do with common Venus, nor did any pleasurable shape bring me forth. I light the fires of learning in the pure minds of men and draw their thoughts to the stars on high. I weave four garlands out of virtue’s self and the chief of these, the garland of Wisdom, wreathes my temples.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M1r p177]

Amour de vertus.

LXXXI.

Cupido, ou est l’arc & flesches dont tu tires?
Ta torche ardent, tes esles dou vient que les retires?
Et que as quatre chappeaux, ung au chef, au bras trois?
Vecy pourquoy: Venus n’a rien en mes destrois,
De doctrine fais feu, es gens de scavoir chaulx:
Et eslieve leurs sens jusques vers les cieulx haulx.
De vertus ay dressé les chappeaux que je tiens,
Moral, & naturel, que en Logique retiens.
Sapience est sur tous, que plus de soulas preste:
Qu’est notée au chappeau que j’ay dessus la teste.

Notes:

1.  In the first Wechel edition in 1534, the figure of Anteros wrongly had wings which were subsequently removed.

2.  This is a translation of Anthologia graeca 16.201.

3.  ‘I weave four garlands out of virtue’s self’, a reference to the four cardinal virtues, justice, temperance, courage and wisdom.


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