Chapter LXVI: French

Sous les antiques edifices _Vestaux_,
Non esloignez d’_Aqueduct_ ruiné,
De Sol & Lune sont les luissans metaux,
Ardente Lampe _Trajan_ d’or buriné.

English.

Under the ancient edifices of the _Vestals_,
Not far from an _Aqueduct_ ruinated,
Are the bright mettals of Sun and Moon,
A burning Lamp of _Trajan_ of ingraven gold.

ANNOT.

Monsieur _Catel_ in his second Book of _Languedoc_ Chap. V. saith, that there was a famous _Aqueduct_, which the _Romans_ builded from the River _Gar_ to the Town of _Nismes_, which at present is ruinated.

Secondly, Near the Town there was a famous Temple dedicated to _Diana_, where there is a Spring of water so great, that it seemeth rather a Lake then a Fountain.

Thirdly, I find that the Emperour _Adrian_ caused a Temple to be built in the honour of _Plotina_ _Trajan_’s wife.

Fourthly, He relateth that _Jean Poldo_ found in the Town of _Aix_ a Marble with this inscription: _~Plotina~ ~Trajanis~ uxor, summa honestate & integritate fulgens, sterilitatis defectu sine prole fecit conjugem, qui ejus opera ~Adrianum~ adoptatum in Imperio Successorem habuit, a quo in beneficii memoriam Nemausi æde sacra maximo Sumptu, sublimique structura, ac Hymnorum cantu decorata, post mortem donata est_: That is to say, _Plotina_, _Trajans_ wife, famous for her honesty and integrity, was barren and left no Children to her Husband, which she perceiving, intreated the Emperour to adopt _Adrian_ for his Son, and to make him his Successor in the Empire, which being come to pass, the new Emperour in acknowledgement of such a benefit, did build her a Temple of a magnificent Structure, and caused it to be Consecrated with Musick after her death.

Fifthly, The said Author saith, that this Marble was taken out of that Temple, when the River of _Gardon_ did so overflow, as we have said.

By all this we see, that there was a Temple of _Vestals_ at _Nismes_, _Diana_ the Maid being their chief Patroness, which is made now a Nunnery, called _la Fontaine_. There is also to be seen the Temple of _Plotina_, _Trajans_ wife, built by _Adrian_ his Successor. And as it was the manner of the Ancients to put some of those inextinguishable Lamps in their Graves; it is very likely, there was one of them in this Temple, and because it should be known whose Grave it was, he caused _Trajans_ name to be Engraven in the foot of the said Lamp.

Let us explain now the Stanza: _Under the Ancient Vestal buildings of the Temple of ~Diana~, not far from the ruined Aqueduct_, which carrieth the water from the River _Gar_ to _Nismes_, _shall be found shining mettals of ~Sol~ and ~Luna~_, that is, Meddals of gold and silver, with _a burning Lamp of gold_, wherein the name of _Trajan_ was Engraven. Histories make mention of several burning Lamps in this manner, that have been found still burning in the ground, and not consumed, though they had been there above 500 years; certainly the Oil of it must have been incombustible, and could be extracted out of nothing but gold, _quia nil dat quod non habet_.

LXVII.

French.

Quand Chef _Perouse_ n’osera sa Tunique,
Sens au convert tout nud s’expolier:
Seront prins sept faict Aristocratique,
Le Pere & Fils morts par poine te au collier.

English.

When the Chief of _Perouse_ shall not dare without a Tunick,
To expose himself naked in the dark,
Seven shall be taken for setting up Aristocracy,
The Father and the Son shall die by pricks in the Collar.

ANNOT.

_Perouse_ is a City in _Italy_; the rest is plain.

LXVIII.

French.

Dans le _Danube_ & le _Rhine_ viendra boire,
Le grand Chameau, ne sen repentira:
Trembler le _Rhosne_ & plus fort ceux de _Loire_,
Et pres des _Alpes_ Coq le ruinera.

English.

In _Danubius_ and the _Rhine_ shall come to drink,
The great Camel, and shall not repent;
The _Rhosne_ shall tremble, and more those of _Loire_,
And near the _Alpes_ the Cock shall ruine him.

ANNOT.

This foretelleth a great incursion of the _Turks_ into _Germany_, insomuch that they shall water their Camels in the Rivers of _Danubius_, and of the _Rhyne_, to the great terrour of _France_, wherein those Rivers of _Rhosne_ and _Loire_ are.

But the last Verse, saith the Cock; that is, the _French_, shall overcome and ruine the _Turks_, near the Mountains of the _Alpes_.

LXIX.

French.

Plus ne sera le grand en saux sommeil,
L’Inquietude viendra prendre repos,
Dresser Phalange d’Or, Azur, & vermeil,
Subjuguer _Affrique_ & ronger jusqu’aux os.

English.

The great one shall be no more in a false sleep,
The restlessness shall take rest,
He shall raise an Army of Gold and Azure,
He shall conquer _Affrica_ and gnaw it to the bones.

ANNOT.

This is concerning some great Prince, who shall raise a powerful Army, and conquer _Affrica_ with it.

LXX.

French.

Les Regions subietes a la _Balance_,
Feront trembler les Monts par grande Guerre,
Captifs tout sexe, avec toute _Bizance_,
Qu’on criera a l’Aube Terre a Terre.

English.

The Regions under the sign of _Libra_,
Shall make the Mountains quake with great War,
Slaves of all sexes, with all _Bizance_,
So that in the dawning of the day, they shall cry to Land to Land.

ANNOT.

This foretelleth the destruction of _Constantinople_, anciently called _Byzantium_, by those that live under the Sign of _Libra_, that is, the _Europeans_, and chiefly the _French_.

LXXI.

French.

Par la fureur d’un qui attendra l’eau,
Par la grand rage tout l’exercite esmeu,
Charge des Nobles a dixsept Bateaux,
Au long du _Rhosne_ tard Messager venud.

English.

By the fury of one staying for the Water,
By his great rage the whole Army shall be troubled,
There shall be seventeen Boats full of Noblemen
Along the _Rhosne_, the Messenger shall come too late.

ANNOT.

The words and sense are plain.

LXXII.

French.

Pour le plaisir d’Edict voluptueux,
On meslera la poison dans la Loy,
_Venus_ sera en cours si vertueux,
Qu’obfusquera du Soleil tout alloy.

English.

By the pleasure of a voluptuous proclamation,
The poison shall be mixed in the Law,
_Venus_ shall be in so great request,
That it shall darken all the allay of the Sun.

ANNOT.

By a Proclamation, favouring or promoting Licentiousness, poison shall be mixed in the Law, and leachery so much countenanced, as it shall obscurate the allay of the Sun, that is, piety so much commended in the Gospel, to all those that will fight under Christs Banner.