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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C2v p20]

LA FIN COURONNE L’OEUVRE.

NOus avons tous au monde une commune entrée:
Nature meine au jour par un mesme sentier
Et la race des Rois, & l’enfant du potier,
Autant entre nos murs qu’en estrange contrée.

Mais quand en aage meur la jouvence est entrée,
Un passage doublé fourche son train premier:
Et en ce carre-four se perdre est coustumier,
Qui pour l’estroicte voye, a l’ample rencontrée.

Le chemin en est beau, large, doux, & plaisant
Qui rid au passager: mais le sortit nuisant
Jette l’ame, & le corps au feu qui les devore.

L’estroit est de vertu le sentier espineux,
Qui couronne de vie en fin le vertueux:
C’est ce que considere en ce lieu Pythahore.[1]

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C3r p21]

Ad Nicolaum Reusnerum Leorinum.[2]

Finis coronat opus.

The end crowns the work

Old man sitting on ornate chair under a tree pointing a wand at a large figure Y, one arm of which is entwined with flowers , its end in flames, the other entwined with thorns with a garland on top. Figure climbing mountain in the background.
[Click on image to enlarge]

ARcta per augustum quae ducit semita callem
Difficili, at pulchro fine coronat opus.
Latior, & spatiams per amoena rosaria, suevit,
Digna voluptatis praemia, ferre crucem.

The narrow path which leads through the straits of the mountain track crowns the work with a difficult but beautiful end. The wider and broad one through the pleasing rose gardens is accustomed to bear a cross [suffering], the fitting rewards of voluptas.

Notes:

1.  The Pythagorean symbol Y (cf. Erasmus, Adagia, 1.1.2), can also be compared with the Christian choice as in Matthew 7:13-14. See also Coustau, ‘Sur l’Ypsilon de Pythagoras’ ([FCPa105]).

2.  Nicolas Reusner, from Löwenberg in Silesia, poet and emblematist (d. 1602), a lawyer and polyhistor, held a chair in Strasburg.

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