Foedera.

Alliances.

Hanc citharam, à lembi quae forma halieutica[1] fertur,
Vendicat & propriam Musa Latina sibi,
Accipe Dux, placeat nostrum hoc tibi tempore munus,
Quo nova cum sociis foedera inire paras.
  Link to an image of this page  [a5v p10] Difficile est, nisi docto homini, tot tendere chordas:
Unaque si fuerit non bene tenta fides.
Ruptave (quod facile est) perit omnis gratia conchae,
Illeque praecellens cantus, ineptus erit.
Sic Itali coëunt proceres in foedera: concors,
Nil est quod timeas, si tibi constet amor.
At si aliquis desciscat (uti plerunque videmus)
In nihilum illa omnis solvitur harmonia.

This lute, which from its boat shape is called “halieutica”, my Latin Muse now claims for her own service. Receive it, O Duke. May this offering of mine be pleasing to you at this moment when you are preparing to enter into fresh agreements with your allies. It is difficult, except for a man of skill, to tune so many strings, and if one string is out of tune or broken, which so easily happens, all the music of the instrument is lost and its lovely song disjointed. In like manner the leaders of Italy are now forming alliances. There is nothing for you to fear if affection lasts for you and stays in concord. But if any one should slide away, which we often see, that harmony is all dissolved into nothing.

Quoniam Dux Mediolanensis nova foe-
dera cum quibusdam inire constituerat. Assi-
gnat sibi Autor Citharam quae ab aliis Lutina
vocatur, musicale instrumentum undecim fi-
dibus, cuius forma est lembi, id est, Naviculae
parvulae piscatorum, ut dicitur in halieutica,
quod est in libris de piscibus & arte piscato-
ria tractantibus, de quibus Plinius lib. 32. cap. 2.
Et à simili, quemadmodum difficile est (nisi pe
rito Musico) tot chordas ad iucundam & per-
fectam consonantiam construere: si enim illa-
rum una saltem non rectè coaptata ruptave
fuerit, mox omnis sonus aliàs dulcissimus &
suavissimus perit omnino, fitque ineptus & auditui
molestus. Sic etiam qui coëunt in foedera do
nec erunt concordes & unanimes, nihil illis
timendum. Caeterùm si eorum aliquis à vero
illo & syncero amore declinaverit (sicut ple-
runque fit) tota confertim harmonia, id est,
suavis ille concentus, corruet.

FOEDERA ITALORUM.[1]

The Italians’ Alliances.

Hanc cytharam à lembo [=lembi] , quae forma halieutica[2] fertur.
Vendicat, & propriam musa latina sibi.
Accipe Dux, placeat nostrum hoc tibi tempore munus
Quo nova cum sociis foedera inire paras.
Difficile est nisi docto homini tot tendere chordas,
Unaque si fuerit non bene tenta fides.
  Link to an image of this page  [A3r]Ruptave (quôd facile est) perit omnis gratia conchae,
Illeque praecellens cantus ineptus erit.
Sic Itali coëunt proceres in foedera, concors,
Nil est quod timeas, si tibi constet amor.
At si aliquis desciscat (uti plerunque videmus)
In nihilum illa omnis solvitur harmonia.

This lute, which from its boat shape is called “halieutica”, my Latin Muse now claims for her own service. Receive it, O Duke. May this offering of mine be pleasing to you at this moment when you are preparing to enter into fresh agreements with your allies. It is difficult, except for a man of skill, to tune so many strings, and if one string is out of tune or broken, which so easily happens, all the music of the instrument is lost and its lovely song disjointed. In like manner the leaders of Italy are now forming alliances. There is nothing for you to fear if affection lasts for you and stays in concord. But if any one should slide away, which we often see, that harmony is all dissolved into nothing.