21.
De arca Noe
Concerning Noah’s ark
Arca dat ecclesiae, baptismatis unda figuram.
The ark gives a form to the church, the water gives a form to baptism.
22.
Quod melius est, ut scribaris rex in ferro quam servus in auro.
It is better that you be written as a king in iron than a slave in gold.
Elige rex ferro quam scribi servus in auro;
Clarior in casula rex est quam servus in aula.
King, choose that you be written with an iron pen rather than as a slave with a gold.
A king is more well-known in a hut, than a slave in a palace.
23.
De illo qui prius donat et postea repetit
Concerning that one who first gives and afterwards asks for it again
Foedus amicitiae violat
sua dona reposcens;
Unca manus retrahit,
quod prius ampla dedit.
Qui repetit donum, merito mox perdit amicum,
Munere de vestro gaudia digna fero.
He violates the contract of friendship by repossessing his gift;
His curved hand drags back what he first gave fully.
He who asks back the gift, by that deed he soon loses his friend,
By your gift I carry worthy joys.
24.
Quam vana huius mundi sint bona
How empty are the good things of this world
Cum cineres regum videamus et ossa potentum
Arida pulvifluis congesta iacere sepulcris,
Quo libeat carni vigor aut possessio menti?
When we see that the ashes of a king and the bones of a powerful people
Lie in dry collections of powdery graves,
How can the vigor of the flesh or the possession of the mind please?
25.
Domnus papa sine me rem incipiebat et cum complere volebat sicque mecum dicebat: “Sicut erat in principio”, cum mecum non dixisset: “Gloria Patri”
The Lord pope was beginning the matter without me and when he was wishing to finish and was speaking with me in this way: “As it was in the beginning,” when he had not said with me: “Glory to the Father”
“Sicut erat” damno, quia numquam “Gloria “ canto;
Qui caput abrosit, caudam quoque iure morabit;
Ossibus ora terat, qui sorbuit ante medullas.
I disapprove of the “as it was” because I haven’t sung “Gloria” yet;
Whoever has gnawed off the head, it is right that he also devours the tail;
Let the one who first sucked the pulp cleanse his mouth with the bones.
26.
Illis hoc dicitur, qui falsam pacem faciunt
This thing is said to those who make a false treaty
Ut valeant oris, iungantur et oscula cordis.
Pax dirimit litem, capiunt cum iurgia finem.
In order to be able to treat, he joins what he says to what is in his heart.
[In order for the kisses of his mouth to be able, he joins (them) to his heart.]
Peace can only begin when quarreling ceases.
[Peace composes a starting point, when quarrels take an end.]
27.
Quod saepe amicus videtur irasci et inimicus fraudulenter blandiri
That a friend often appears to be angry and an enemy to flatter falsely
Saevit amor iusti, livor blanditur iniqui.
Est amor immitis, dulcis furor, ira fidelis.
Sunt etiam blandi (sub ovina pelle) tyranni.
Sic et amica patres reddit censura feroces.
The love of the just may be angry, the unjust flatter with malice.
Love may be bitter, sweetness may rage, faithfulness be angry.
Even tyrants may flatter under the hide of sheep.
In this way even fathers may be fierce with loving censure.
28.
Ad papam ne avaritiae studeat
To the pope that he might not engage in greed
Sedis apostolicae qui vult retinere vigorem,
Aequa libret rigidae pondera iustitiae.
luris enim pariles nescit suspendere lances,
Quem favor inflectit, spes vel avara trahit.
Muneribus plenae cui laxat ora crumenae,
Iustitia vacuam perdit inops animam.
Caeli Roma seras tenet et regit orbis habenas;
His si plura velit, Tartara sola petit.
Whoever wishes to retain the vigor of the apostolic seat.
May he balance equal weights of severity and justice.
He cannot know how to balance equally the pans of the law
Who favor bends, or greedy hope draws.
For he who opens the mouth of purses to gifts of plenty,
Weak justice destroys his empty soul.
Rome holds the keys of heaven and rules the reins of the earth;
If he would want more things than these, he is headed for hell alone.
29.
Hoc servus Dei facere debet
A servant of God must do this
Multa quidem tollo sed fratribus omnia trado.
Aufero divitibus, praebeo pauperibus.
Indeed I carry many things, but I hand over everything to the monks, my brothers.
I take from the rich, I give to the poor.
30.
Pransuri dicimus: “Edent pauperes”; silentium solventes dici¬mus: “Pretiosa in conspectu Domini”
About to take breakfast we say: “Thee poor will eat”; relaxing the silence we say: “Precious in the sight of the Lord”
Sicut “Edent” mensas, reddit “Pretiosa” loquelas.
Just as “They will eat” directs us to eat, “Precious” returns us to conversation.
