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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [F2v p44]

SANS ADVERSAIRES VERTU DE-
vient lasche, flestrie, & deffaillie.

TAndis que sans labeur les armes inutiles
S’engourdissent au croc, la rouylle les pourrit:
Car des outils de Mars l’emery se nourrit,
Par les exploits guerriers d’entreprises virilles.

Vertu, qui foulle au pieds les choses qui sont viles,
Sans contraire fameux languissante perit:
Et le morne sommeil oysivement tarit
La gloire, qui luy vient d’ouvrages difficiles.

Si le soc annuel embesongné n’ouvroit
L’ample flanc de la terre, elle ne produyroit
Oysive, à son fermier rien qui fust proffitable.

Vertu verroit ainsi de ses perfections
La louange, qui gist és belles actions,
Perdre, sans opposant, son lustre souhaitable.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [F3r p45]

Ad Veturium Leontium Hydruntinum.[1]

Sine adversario marcet virtus.[2]

Without opposition, Virtue withers

Figure sitting on throne, head on hand, foot on a book, sword and shield, armour and spears on the floor. Lute and vase with flowers sitting on a tomb with latin inscription, spider web behind.
[Click on image to enlarge]

DUm non exerces, scabrum rubigine ferrum
Redditur; ast usu spicula trita nitent:
Et languer positis (si fugerit hostis) in armis,
Et tanquam virtus victa sopore iacet.

If you do not exercise it, a weapon is made scabrous by rust; but burnished arrows gleam with use. Virtue languishes amidst arms which have been laid aside [if the enemy has taken flight] and lies as if overcome by sleep.

Notes:

1.  Veturius Leontius, from Otranto (in Calabria), a friend of Boissard’s who died during the plague of 1576.

2.  This image was printed upside-down. The inscription is inspired by Erasmus, Adagia, 4.5.77.

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