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Mutua & Coniuncta.

Things shared and conjoined.

Ad Franciscum Robortellum.[1]

Woman in veil walking along a street with a shed with cross on the top and another large cross by one of the buildings.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Aerea quae turri auditur campana, monetque
Ad sacra conveniant vir mulierque Deūm,
Non ą se reboat, pistillo tacta sonabat,
Haec operam tradunt mutua, vimque sibi.
Quis sapiens dici poterit, si sensa voluntas
Exprimere, & docta nesciat arte loqui?
Dat sine mente sonum vacuo qui pectore verba
Fundit, & ingenium quod caret eloquio.
Nec minus exiguam studium sine divite vena
Fert laudem, unde quid contulit ingenium?
Haec tu praeclarč iungis, cum laude docesque:
Te schola miratur, te Venetique colunt.

The bronze bell which is heard from a high tower, and warns men and women to come together for the rites of the gods, does not echo by itself: the touch of the clapper made it sing: together these transfer work and power mutually. Who could be called wise, if he does not have the will to express what he sees, and how to speak with learned wit? He who pours forth words from an empty breast and a talent which lacks eloquence makes meaningless noise. Nor does application without a rich vein (for indeed, what talent could a man obtain from nothing?) win scanter praise. These two you, Francis, mingle marvellously well, and teach with praise: the school admires, and Venice worships you.

Notes:

1.  Francesco Robortello: Italian humanist, nicknamed Canis grammaticus (“the grammatical dog”) for his confrontational and demanding manner (d. 1567).

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