71.
Quibus benedictio de coclearibus mittitur
By which a blessing is sent concerning spoons
Marmoribus latomi, fabri dant signa metallis;
Sandapilas inopes compingunt vispiliones,
Nec nos signa ferimus sed ligna calonum.
Stonecutters give form to marble, workmen give impressions to metals;
Gravediggers make by cheap coffins for poor folk,
We do not wear nice clothes, but shoes of wood.
72.
Quod melius sit agricolae laboranti quam domino proelianti
How much better it is to be a farm worker than a battling lord
Bella ciet dominus, proscindit rura colonus;
Ille patet iaculis, hic frugum gaudet acervis.
The lord stirs war, the country tiller ploughs;
The one is exposed to spears, the other rejoices in a heap of produce.
73.
De his qui non se sed alios carpunt
Concerning these who do not blame themselves, but blame others
Polypus haerenti de se non foetet olenti.
Sunt, sua qui palpant, aliena piacula damnant.
The octopus, emitting a clinging smell, does not smell bad to himself.
There are those, those who touch softly own sins, (who) condemn the sins of others.
74.
Damiano1 exhortato, ut monachus fiat
An exhortation to Damian, so that he may become a monk
Omnipotens agamus docet, ut quod fecit agamus.
Desunt iura tori, teritur si semita Christi.
Iam pater es, suboli spatium largire sequenti,
Ut tua contiguis pateant vestigia plantis,
Et seges erumpat, dum non quod protulit obstat.
Subdita maternis torpent vitulamina ramis.
Praesto fluunt veteres ad florum germina frondes,
Herbaque sectricem vocat orto semine falcem.
Incipiens igitur terreno caespite velli,
Transplantare polo, spes hinc animata virescat;
Sic radix cordis caeli se transferat arvis,
Et non lapsurus prorumpat in arbore fructus.
The almighty teaches so that we may do as he has done.
The rules of the (nuptial) bed are absent, if rubbed away by the narrow path of Christ.
You are now (already) a father, give generously of space to the following generations,
So that your footsteps may be open to those close to you,
And a cornfield bursts forth, while it does not obstruct what is (already) produced.
The sprigs set under the roots of the mother are numb.
Distinguished old leaves will flow over buds of flowers,
And the grass, having come from seed, requires a curved knife (sickle).
Begin therefore to be uprooted from the turf of the earth,
To remove to the heaven, where hope having been animated it grows green;
In this way the root of the heart of the fields of the heavens carries itself across,
And no fruit about to fall breaks out on the tree.
75.
Quod esuriens et sitiens vile quodlibet libenter sumit
He who is hungry and thirsty willingly consumes anything cheap
Faucibus atra fames herbas commendat agrestes;
Hausibilem densam reddit sitis ignea vappam;
Esuriens comedit, vacuo satur ore ligurrit.
The hungry one makes agreeable to his throat the dark field grass;
The fire of thirst makes even thick tasteless wine drinkable;
A hungry man eats, the sated man with an empty mouth nibbles.
76.
De illo qui gloriatur in altitudine vocis
Concerning that one who prides himself on a high pitched voice
Voce satis celsa vocalis rudit asella;
Dulce melos placidis format vox cignea bombis.
A speaking she-ass bellows with a high enough voice
A swan’s voice humming shapes a sweet pleasing song.
77.
De his qui loricas induunt ad carnem
Concerning those who dress in mail (breastplate, armor) toward flesh
Hamatae vestes2 praebent inamabile tegmen;
Vestes hamatae gemina sunt peste perosae:
Ossa premit pondus, constringit viscera frigus.
The clothing of hooks (armor) offers unlovely cover;
The clothing of hooks are twin with disgusting disease:
The weight presses the bones, the cold binds the guts.
78.
De Hildeprando qui parvae quidem staturae sed magnae videtur esse prudentiae
Concerning Hildebrand who (is) indeed of small stature, but seems to be (a man) of great prudence.
Parva tigris missas aequat properando sagittas;
Vile quidem ferrum tamen edomat omne metallum,
Sed trahit hoc validus sua post vestigia magnes.
Hunc, qui cuncta domat, Sisyphi mensura coartat,
Quemque tremunt multi, nolens mihi subditur uni.
A small tiger makes itself equal to arrows shot at it by being as fast as the arrows;
Iron is cheap indeed, but nevertheless subdues all metals,
But a strong magnet draws it in its footsteps.
This man, who dominates all, shortens tall Sisyphus,
And many tremble before him, he is not subdued by any but myself.
79.
De papa et Hildeprando
Concerning the Pope and Hildebrand
Papam rite colo sed te prostratus adoro;
Tu facis hunc dominum, te facit iste deum.
I care for the Pope with due observance, but I venerate you prostrate;
You make him a Lord while that Lord makes you a god.
80.
Romano archidiacono qui mihi medium piscem misit
To the Roman archdeacon who sent me half a fish
Non mirum, Petrus si sit mihi semper egenus,
Cum generent medios flumina pisciculos.
It is not a surprise if Peter always places me in need,
When rivers create little half fishes.
1 There is some controversy as to whether this poem is addressed to Peter Damian’s brother or to his nephew. Given the line “Iam pater es…” it probably is the brother who is exhorted here.
2 Lokrantz and Facchini relate these ‘garments with hooks’ to hairshirts, penitential garments designed to punish the flesh. That certainly agrees with Peter Damian’s support of the discipline and other means of inflicting discomfort to pursue a spiritual rather than a corporeal life. They cannot be related to decorative ‘dress hooks’ as these were not seen until the 14th century. They may relate to the armor of warriors which often had hooks for hanging daggers, swords, and other weapons.
