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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [O8r p223]

Les Antiquitez sont controuvées.

APOLOGIE. DIALOGISME.

D. Vieillard Proteu[1], qui has forme muable:
Homme par fois, puys beste dissemblable:
Quelle raison toute espece en toy mue:
Tant que tu n’has figure de tenue?
R. Je repraesente antique Poësie
De qui chescun songe à sa phantasie.

Des choses anciennes, & mises hors de toute
memoire: chescun, en songe & en divine à sa
phantasie: tellement que les aucteurs ne s’ac
cordans, font une monstrueuse histoire ou
fable de variables formes, tel que les Poëtes
faignent estre Proteus dieu marin, fort vieulx,
& muable en toutes formes.

Notes:

1.  Proteus was ‘the Old Man of the Sea’, who evaded capture by constantly changing his shape. See e.g. Homer, Odyssey, 4.400ff.; Vergil, Georgics, 4. 405-10, 440-2; Erasmus, Adagia, 1174 (Proteo mutabilior). Vergil (Georgics, 4.391) describes him living near the headland of Pallene (on the Macedonian coast). The idea of Proteus as a gifted actor or mime-artist is taken from Lucian, Saltatio, 19.

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    Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [m8r p191]

    Gratiae.

    The Graces

    VI.

    Tres Charites Veneri assistunt, dominamque sequuntur.
    Hincque voluptates, atque alimenta parant.
    Laetitiam Euphrosyne, speciosum Aglaia nitorem.
    Suadela est Pithus, blandus & ore lepos.[1]
    Cur nudae? mentis quoniam candore venustas
    Constat, & eximia simplicitate placet.
    An quia nihil referunt ingrati atque arcula inanis,[2]
    Est Charitum? qui dat munera, nudus eget.
    Addita cur nuper pedibus talaria? bis dat
    Qui cito dat,[3] minimi gratia tarda pretii est.
    Implicitis ulnis cur vertitur altera? gratus
    Foenerat, huic remanent una abeunte duae.[4]
    Iuppiter iis genitor, coeli de semine divas
    Omnibus acceptas edidit Eurynome.

    The three Graces are attendant on Venus and follow their mistress. So they provide pleasures and pleasure’s nourishment. Euphrosyne brings gladness, Aglaia bright beauty; persuasion belongs to Peitho with winsome charm in speech. Why are they naked? Because loveliness consists in innocence of mind and commends itself by great simplicity. Or is it because the ungrateful make no return and the Graces’ treasure-chest is empty? He who gives gifts is stripped and needy. Why are there wings newly fastened to their feet? He gives twice who gives quickly. A favour granted late is of little value. Why does the second one link arms but turn her back to us? The man who shows gratitude gets more than he lays out; as one goes, two remain for him. Jupiter was their begetter; and Eurynome bore them, the divine offspring of the heavenly seed, goddesses loved by all mankind.

    Notes:

    1.  The Latin words laetitia (gladness), nitor (beauty) and suadela (persuasion) are translations of the Greek names of the Graces, Euphrosyne, Aglaia and Peitho.

    2.  arcula inanis, ‘treasure-chest is empty’. See Erasmus, Adagia, 1812 (Simonidis cantilenae).

    3.  bis dat / Qui cito dat ‘He gives twice who gives quickly’. See Erasmus, Adagia, 791 (Bis dat qui cito dat).

    4.  Lines 9-12 express common sentiments, found e.g. in Seneca, De Beneficiis, passim. For the Graces especially, see Ibid., 1.3-4. See also Erasmus, Adagia, 1650 (Nudae Gratiae), where Erasmus associates the Graces with both friendship and ingratitude.

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