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Le peuplier blanc.

XLI.

Ce que du peuplier blanc le chef d’Hercule est ceinct,[1]
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [N5v p202] Celà du jour & nuict l’entresuite nous peind.[2]

Commentaires.

Le peuplier blanc est consacré à Hercule, Il a la
feuille tremblante, blanchissant’ par le haut, & ver-
de par le bas. Celà nous enseigne le continuel mouve-
ment du temps, distribué en clair jour, & en nuict
obscure. Mais le peuplier blanc a encor cecy de confor-
me avec le temps, qu’apres le solstice ses feuilles se tour-
nent de l’autre costé: & n’y a rien en terre, qui puis-
se plus certainement tesmoigner le solstice, que ceste
conversion. On dit que quand Hercule descendit aux
enfers, il portoit une couronne de peuplier, le dehors de
laquelle fut obscurci par la suye du feu d’enfer: mais
ce qui touchoit sa peau ou ses cheveux, fut blanchi
par sa sueur.

Notes:

1.  The white poplar was dedicated to Hercules. According to Pausanias, Periegesis, 5.14.2, Hercules introduced it to Greece. According to another story, Hercules on his way back from the Underworld garlanded his head with stems from a white poplar growing beside the Acheron, a memorial of the nymph Leuke (White) carried off by Pluto.

2.  ’night and day’, a reference to the dark green surface and white underside of the white poplar leaf. According to Pliny, Natural History, 16.36.87, the leaves of the white poplar turn over at the summer solstice. Hercules was equated with the sun: Macrobius, Saturnalia, 1.20.6 and 10.

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    EMBLEMA CCX [=205] .

    Populus alba.

    The white poplar

    Herculeos crines bicolor quòd populus ornet,[1]
    Temporis alternat noxque diesque vices.[2]

    The two-coloured poplar wreathes the locks of Hercules - and so its dark and light show time’s alternating changes.

    Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [S5v f128v]

    Das CCX [=205] .

    Bellenbaum.

    Das deß Bellen zweiferbig blat
    Deß Herculis har zieret glat
    Also verendert sich die zeit
    In Tag und Nacht zu aller seit.

    Notes:

    1.  The white poplar was dedicated to Hercules. According to Pausanias, Periegesis, 5.14.2, Hercules introduced it to Greece. According to another story, Hercules on his way back from the Underworld garlanded his head with stems from a white poplar growing beside the Acheron, a memorial of the nymph Leuke (White) carried off by Pluto.

    2.  noxque diesque, ‘its dark and light’ (lit. night and day), a reference to the dark green surface and white underside of the white poplar leaf. According to Pliny, Natural History, 16.36.87, the leaves of the white poplar turn over at the summer solstice. Hercules was equated with the sun: Macrobius, Saturnalia, 1.20.6 and 10.

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