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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [G4v p56]

TANT MIEUX SE TAIRE ON SCAIT,
plus on est vertueus.

LOuable est la vertu qui fait taire en saison:
Le silence est divin: & celuy qui modere
Sa langue par compas, s’eslongne plus de terre
Que plus semble du ciel, qu’humaine sa raison.

Deux Poëtes, Octave, amis de ta maison
Sont punis, pour n’avoir à propos sceu se taire.
L’un tournant contre soy son propre cimeterre:
L’autre exilé souffrant une ouverte prison.[1]

Ainsi de trop parler la personne pollue,
Souvent contre soy-mesme a la poincte esmoluë;
Qui sa perte traça, sa ruyne, & sa mort.

Au contraire jamais le beau don de Saturne,[2]
Le modeste propos, le penser taciturne,
Ne produit à personne aucun triste remord.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [H1r p57]

Ad Henricum Magnerum Orgeletanum.[3]

Proximus ille deo.

He is close to God.

Two soldiers sitting on a step in front of a row of statues having a discussion. Greek inscriptions.
[Click on image to enlarge]

PRoximus ille Deo, qui tuta silentia novit
Servasse, & linguae fraena dedisse suae.
Nulli unquam nocuit tacuisse: sed esse locutum
Exitium multis attulit, atque necem.

He is close to God who has known how to preserve safe silence and to bridle his tongue. Keeping silent never harmed anyone; but speaking brought destruction/exile and [even] death to many.

Notes:

1.  The Emperor Augustus (Octavian) sent Ovid into exile and caused Gallus to commit suicide, for not keeping quiet.

2.  le don de Saturne: traditionally taciturnity, deemed to be a characteristic of those born under the astrological sign of Saturn.

3.  Henri Meynier, from Orgelet (Franche-Comté), Prior of the Abbey of St-Vincent in Besancon, friend of Boissard.

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