The

of Walter of Wimborne

A.G. Rigg, The Poems of Walter of Wimborne, Toronto, 1978.

Multi mortalium in mundi stadio

certatim cursitant, sed casso studio,

nunquam videlicet potiti bravio,

dum vie nescii vadunt in avio.

Many mortals race competitively in the stadium of

the world, but when they lose their eagerness,

they never receive the prize, while they travel

ignorantly through the desert of life.

Multi multimodis intendunt artibus,

isti mechanicis, hii liberalibus,

ut tandem prosperis fortune flatibus

ymaginariis breviter artibus.

Many men study many kinds of arts, some the

mechanical, others the liberal, so that, with

Fortune's winds blowing favorably, briefly by

visual arts...?

Multi mortalium per mundi maria

solent Mercurii mercari precia,

sed perdunt operam, sed perdunt studia,

dum lucris congrua non habent recia.

Many mortals are accustomed to sell Mercury's

goods throughout the seas of the world, but they

lose their efforts and energies, because they do

not have nets that fit their profits.

Hinc ergo rapido gressuque celeri

venite, paupers, venite miseri,

quicunque divites studetis fieri,

nam artem subito ditantem repperi.

Come hither quickly, with swift and rapid step,

poor men, wretched men, whoever is eager to be

rich, for I have found the way to get rich

quickly.

Hec ars gregarios solet erigere

et inter segreges in alto ponere;

abiectum pauperem levans ex pulvere

levatum collocat in regis latere.

This art raises up common people and places them

in high, privileged positions, raising the abject

pauper from the dust, setting him next to the

king.

Hac ars felicitat lato dominio,

armentis, prediis, suggestu regio,

argento copiat et aurilgio

plusquam alkimie vana tradicio.

This art gives pleasure by supplying extensive

property, cattle, plunder, royal favor; it offers

more silver and gold than the empty teachings of

alchemy can produce.

Nam hec ars trabeam et vestes sericas,

equos et phaleras et doxas aulicas;

vincit alkimiam et artes Atticas,

cautelas superat Aristotilicas.

This art gives robes and silken clothing, horses

and decorations, and honor at court; it beats

alchemy and the Attic arts, and is superior to

Aristotelian tricks.

Per Aristotilis cautelas fallere

indoctos possumus verbisque capere,

sed nullam potuit cautelam tradere

que possit miseros beare propere.

We can deceive and imprison the uneducated by

Aristotelian tricks, but teaching tricks has not

been able to make the wretched swiftly happy.

At ars quam tetigi fortunat subito,

incultis regium dat cultum concito,

in hora temporis ponit in edito --

ob hoc ars arcium vocanda merito!

But the art which I have touched upon makes one

wealthy quickly, and gives royal splendor quickly

to the ignorant, placing them in lofty positions

within moments. For this reason it should rightly

be called the art of arts.

Sed iam sufficiat hec commendacio,

iam calcem congruit dare principio;

non enim convenit meo iudicio

parvo tractavi longa prefacio.

But now let this recommending suffice, now is the

time to begin; in my opinion it is not right for a

short tract to have a long preface.

Ad calcem igitur ducto prohemio,

in ipso breviter tractatus hostio,

in ipsis foribus et frontispicio

quod nomen habeat hec ars apperio:

Therefore, having brought this prologue to an end,

stopping briefly at the door, at the edge of the

entrance itself, I reveal the name of this art:

Ars de qua tocies est facta mencio

ab aula prodiit, et adulacio

vocari meruit, ut appellacio

in prolem transeat de matris gremio.

The art which has been mentioned so often comes

from the court, and deserves to be called

adulation, as the name passes from the mother's

bosom to the child.

In domo Cesaris ars ista nascitur,

in cuius curia fovetur, alitur,

unde gnatonicus ad aulam graditur --

sic proles parvula parentem sequitur.

This art was born in Caesar's home, in whose court

it was fostered, fed, whence the parasite moved

into the palace -- thus the little child follows

the parent.

Ars ista prodiit de regis camera,

hunc fetum curie fuderunt viscera,

unde gnatonicus ut proles tenera

tenella sequitur nutricis ubera.

This art proceeds from the king's chamber, the

bowels of the court produced this offspring,

whence the parasite, like a delicate child,

follows the breasts of the nurse.

Hec ars in regiis orta penatibus

nunquam a patriis discedit laribus,

unde gnatonici se iungunt regibus

et scate aulicis aula palponibus.

This art, which originates in the royal household,

never departs from the paternal hearth, whence

parasites cling to kings, and the court swarms

with courtly flatterers.

Palpo palacii frequentat limina,

ut verbis poliat potentum crimina;

sic inter curie coruscat lumina

per delinifica promotus famina.

The flatterer frequents the thresholds of the

palace, so that he may decorate his crimes with

the words of the powerful; thus he shines among

the lights of the court, having made his way

through smooth talk.

Palpones principum commendant opera

et cuncta Cesaris collaudant scelera;

hoc magna munio merentur munera

et inter curie clarere sydera.

Flatterers praise the works of princes, and

applaud all the evil that Caesar does; by

performing this function they earn rewards and

shine among the stars of the court.

Palpo veneficus quem nullus abicit,

officiosior quo magis officit,

venator glorie, tanto plus proficit

quanto frontosius mentiri didicit.

The poisonous flatterer whom no one expels, the more obliging the

more harm he does, the hunter after glory, becomes more

successful the more he learns to lie more shamefully.

Palpones principum sunt digni gracia,

qui norunt sculpere grata mendacia;

palpones munera merentur regia --

fugat veridicos et odit curia.

Flatters of princes are worthy of grace, since

they know how to fabricate pleasing lies;

flatterers deserve royal rewards -- the court

drives out and hates those who speak the truth.

Non placet principi nisi gnatonicus,

nisi blandiloquus, nisi nugidicus;

qui verum loquitur est hostis publicus,

baburrus, stolidus, immo freneticus.

Only the parasite, the man who speaks smoothly

about nothing, pleases the prince; the man who

speaks the truth is a public enemy, foolish, rude,

mad.

Felix qui didicit loqui sophistica,

qui linit principes arte gnatonica,

nam fetet veritas acerba pontica

et eo gravius quo mage pistica.

Happy the man who has learned sophistical speech,

who massages princes with the art of the parasite,

for bitter truth stinks pontica than a real

magician.

Si studes animum placare regium,

verbis dulcissapis indulca labium;

qui vera loquitur et pungit vicium

fex et perispsima censetur omnium.

If you are eager to please the royal mind, sweeten

your lip with sweet tasting words; the man who

speaks the truth and attacks vice is considered to

be the dregs and filth of all men.

Felix qui didicit loqui placencia,

regis accomodans errori labia;

qui verum loquitur meretur odia,

notatur digito, 'laborat mania.'

Happy the man who has learned to say what is

pleasing, fitting his lips to the king's error;

the man who speaks the truth deserves to be hated,

is pointed at, "is crazy."

Si regi studeas placere, cogita

hec tantum dicere que nosti placita,

nam placet falsitas melle circumlita --

severa veritas sit longe posita!

If you are eager to please the king, think only of

saying what you know has been pleasing, for lies

coated with honey are pleasing -- stay far away

from the harsh truth!

Qui palpo fuerit, ille pacificus

illeque dicitur esse probaticus;

qui vera loquitur est melancolicus,

immo satiricus, immo phanaticus.

The flatterer is said to be calm and judicious,

while he who speaks the truth is melancholic,

satiric, even mad.

Quod placet principi, pellax pellaciter

palpo justificat laudatque fortiter;

cum placet aliud vel forsan aliter,

id idem tropicus laudabit arbiter.

The deceitful flatter deceitfully justifies and

strongly praises what pleases the prince; when

something else or some other way pleases the

prince, he will judge that praiseworthy also.

Placet principibus palpo vertibilis,

in dolo stabilis, in verbo mobilis;

qui vera loquitur est execrabilis

et gravis omnibus et importabilis.

The spinning flatterer, steady in trickery,

changeable in work, pleases princes; the man who

speaks the truth is execrable, a burden to

everyone, and insupportable.

Hic laudat fortiter quicquid laudaveris,

mutat sentenciam si tu mutaveris,

in risus solvitur in quos te solveris,

et pluit lacrimas cum ipse plueris.

He praises strongly whatever you may praise, he

changes his mind if you change yours, dissolves in

laughter at the things that you laugh at, and

weeps tears when you weep.

Hic tuum leniter dum pectit vicium,

pede vel cubito contingit socium;

te dignum laqueo facit innoxium,

sed pede garrulo dicit contrarium.

(1)

Then, while he is combing the blemish, fault, (?)

he touches his comrade with his foot or elbow; he

makes you harmless worthy with a trick ? but with

his chattering foot, he is saying the opposite.

Hic tuum libitum adequat licito,

sed morsu cubiti detrectat tacito;

quod laudat publice, culpat in abdito;

quod ore predicat, hoc mordet cubito.

He equates your pleasure with what is allowed, but

but with the silent sharpness of his elbow he says

otherwise; what he praises publically he blames

privately; what he praises with his mouth he

blames with his elbow.

Hic equis viribus et telis paribus

scit in contrariis pungnare partibus,

et tibi militat et tuis hostibus;

hic hostis omnium dat dextras omnibus.

He knows how to fight on both sides with equal

strength and weapons, fighting against both you

and your enemies; everyone's enemy, he aids

everyone.

Palpo virosior et peior aspide,

qui vulpem operit sub agni clamide,

ne ledat aliquem loquendo rigide

se blandiloquii tuetur casside.

More poisonous and worse than a viper, the

flatterer, who hides the wolf under sheep's cloak,

protects himself with the helmet of

smooth-talking, lest he harm anyone by speaking

sternly.

Palpo palacii dulce prodigium,

oris anccipitis bisulcum labium

duplex accomodat in ministerium,

in laudem scilicet et vituperium.

The flatterer, sweet monster of the palace,

duplicitously accomodates the forked-tongue of his

two headed face for his work, that is, for praise

and blame.

Hic toto studio tua flagicia,

dum tecum loquitur, dealbat omnia

tuaque superis equat preconia,

sed a clamdestina cave ciconia!

While he speaks with you he white-washes all your

shameful deeds, equating your worth with that of

the Gods, but in secret beware the stork (Persius

I. 58)

Hic letis oculis multisque plausibus

ministrat fomitem tuis erroribus;

laxat immodicis habenam laudibus,

clam aures asini depingens manibus.

With happy eyes and much applause he supplies

tinder for your faults; he heaps up unrestrained

praises, secretly painting with his hands the ears

of an ass.

Hic suplam exuens naturam hominum

transit in simie portentum geminum,

nam altis vocibus te vocat dominum

sed palme motibus ostendit fatuum.

Outwardly stripping the shape of men, he changes

into the twin monster of a monkey, since aloud he

calls you master, but with hand motions he

indicates that you are a fool.

Qui vendit oleum vadat ad curiam --

Nunquam hic Stephanus habebit graciam!

Recedat igitur nec carpat quempiam,

aut lapidabitur propter blasphemiam.

The man who sells oil goes to court -- here

Stephen will never have thanks (Acts 7)!

Therefore he may retreat without getting anything,

or be stoned for blasphemy.

In aula veritas est pestilencia

et assentancium dolus est dulia;

qui vera loquitur et serit seria

gravis est aulicis ut sexta feria.

Truth is a pestilence in court, and servility is a

trick of yes-men; he who speaks truth and treats

serious matters is as unpleasant in courts as a

fast-day.

Qui palpat aulicos in aulam trahitur,

et broncus Stephanus ab aula pellitur

justeque lapidum jactura plectitur,

nam semper lapides squarrosos loquitur.

He who flatters courtiers is drawn to court, and

buck-toothed Stephen is driven from court, and

rightly battered with stones, for his speech is

stony.

Qui regi ferrea producit cornua,

fasces et munera meretur afflua;

Micheas discolus cornicans fatua

dignus est vinculis et arta pascua.

De Palpone shows many of the connections made by

earlier satirists. Speech and sexuality, for

example (p. 47)

Palpo turpissimus et preco turpium

linguam prostituit ob leve precium;

os enim violat omne mendacium

et linguam polluit per adulterium.

The worst flatterer prostitutes his tongue

for the slightest gain; for every lie

violates his mouth and befouls his tongue

through adultery.

Cor lingue caput est, sicut vir femine, 52

ut eius copula fetetur famine;

mechatur igitur in verbi germine,

quod non concepitur ex cordis semine.

The heart is the head of the tongue, as man

is of woman, so that the joining of speech

stinks; therefore, it becomes foul in the

seed of the word which is not conceived out

of the seed of the heart.

Cor lingue federat nature sanccio 53

tanquam legitimo quodam connubio;

ergo cum dissonant cor et locucio,

sermo concipitur ex adulterio.

Nature's law binds the heart to the tongue,

as though in legitimate marriage; therefore

when the heart and what is said are not in

accord, speech is adulterously conceived.

Lingua pro coniuge cordi se copulat, 54

sed quando famina mente non regulat,

viri legitimi thorum commaculat

et matrimonii fedus effibulat.

The tongue joins itself to the heart in marriage,

but when speech is not ruled by the mind

it stains the bed of the lawful husband,

and unfastens the marriage contract.

Vir debet debitum uxori reddere 55

et prolem numinis ad cultum gignere,

hoc est, quod didicit mens, verbo promere

et sapientia rudes imbuere.

A man should pay his wife her due, and bring

forth progeny to worship divinity, that is,

to bring forth in words what the mind

teaches, and to fill the ignorant with

wisdom.

Solvit et mulier marito debitum 56

cum lingua detegit in corde conditum;

si fingit aliud, statim ad cohitum

ut mecha suscipit mendacem spiritum.

The woman dissolves what is owed to the

husband when the tongue hides what is shut up

in the heart; if the tongue feigns anything,

immediately, like a whore, it is receiving

the spirit of falsehood in intercourse

(Rigg's translation from the semi-colon; he

also says that neither the A nor the B

reading alone provides adequate sense. check

these connections with waltchat).

Ex dictis igitur recte concluditur 57

quod lingua blandiens cum ficta loquitur,

qua Sathan spiritus mendax abutitur,

in adulterii reatum labitur.

Therefore from the words it may correctly be

inferred that the smooth tongue speaks with

falseness, by means of which lying Satan

abuses the spirit, which falls into adultery.

Quid mirum igitur si lingua talium, 58

palponum scilicet et assentancium,

quam ipsum gravidat mendax demonium,

nil loqui valeat preter mendacium?

Therefore is it surprising that the tongues

of such men, that is, flatterers and yes-men,

oppressed by the demonic liar, are unable to

say anything but lies?

Rite mendacium lingua deblaterat 59

quam mendax spiritus impregnat, onerat;

nam hoc enititur quod preconciperat,

hoc fundit mulier quod vir infuderat.

Certainly the tongue of liars, impregnated

and oppressed by the lying spirit, blathers

away, for it brings forth what it has

received, as a woman pours out what a man has

infused her with.

Palpones perfidi, palpones noxii 60

abscondunt tribulos sub flore lilii,

sub favo faminis venenum odii,

succum lolliginis sub melle labii.

Treacherous flatterers, dangerous flatters, hide

thorns under the flower of the lily, the poison of

hateful speech under the honey-comb, the moisture

of the cuttle-fish under the honey of the lip

(Horace Sat I.4.100-101)

Dum tua fumigat popina pinguibus 61

diversi generis referta carnibus,

placere poteris hiis bucconibus

qui falsis epulas venantur laudibus

If your eating-house steams with different kinds

of rich meats, you will be able to please these

babblers who hunt meals with false praise.

Inpransus balatro tua preconia

canit, et alios omnis infamia

aspergit aliqua, to post convivia,

cum verax aperit liber precordia.

Before eating, the buffoon sings your praises, disparaging

everyone else; after the meal, he attacks you, when the true

book opens his heart.

Hic pauper fructibus et dives foliis, 63

hostis est animo sed frater labiis,

amicum menciens exardet odiis;

sic spinas operit sub lingue liliis.

Poor in fruit and rich in leaves, he is an enemy

in his heart but a brother with his lips, faking

frienship, he burns with hatreds; thus he hides

thorns under the lilies of his lips.

Palpo sentencie favet utrilibet, 64

gratus quibuslibet wuai qualislibet;

contingens etenim est ad utrumlibet,

vel impossibile quod infert quidlibet.

The flatterer agrees with any opinion, is

pleasing to anyone in any way possible, "he

is contingent on (depends on) either side, or

on whatever impossible inference is made."

(Rigg)

Palpo si valeat in aulam recipi, 65

fit cunctis concolor in morem polipi;

propter hoc aulicis carus et principi,

quos iuvat dulciter et blande decipi.

If the flatterer can get a reception at court, he

becomes every color for everyone, like a polypus

(cuttle-fish, octupus; Solinus 30.25-26). For this

reason he is dear to courtiers and to the prince,

whom he pleases by sweet, mild deceptions.

Nullus est aulicis palpone gracior, 66

quia mendaciis est testis prompcior:

pluma, si placeat, est plumbo gravior,

fel melle dulcius, nix corvo nigrior.

No one is more pleasing in court than the

flatterer, because he is very quick to testify to

lies: the pen, if it pleases, is heavier than

lead, poison sweeter than honey, snow blacker than

the crow.

Gratus est aulicis palpo vertibilis, 67

ad quorum volitum est alterabilis,

parandrum emulans sed magis mobilis,

nulli dissimilis sed neque similis

The whirling flatterer is pleasing to courtiers,

to whose will he is amenable, like the reindeer,

but more agile, unlike and like no one.

Si nigra quelibet nix esse dicitur, 68

ut Anaxagoras sensisse traditur,

in testimonium si palpo trahitur,

falsum tam evidens verificabitur.

If something black is said to be snow, as

Anaxagoras is said to have thought (Cicero Acad

2.72), if the flatterer is brought in to testify,

he will verify what is patently false.

Ad latus principis stat palpo blandiens, 69

adaptans clamidem vestemque poliens

et invisibiles plumas decuciens,

invisa linceo visu conspiciens.

The flatterer stands compliantly at the side of

the prince, adjusting his cloak, smoothing his

garments, brushing away invisible feathers (Ovid

AA 149-152), seeing what is invisible on the

linen.

Palpo mutalbilis, conformis omnibus, 70

alter camelion est in coloribus;

propter hoc maxime placet principibus

qui volunt labiis pasci mendacibus.

The changeable flatterer, fitting everyone, in

colors is another chameleon; because of this he is

most pleasing to princes, who want to be fed by

lying lips.

Si mille dixeris impossibilia, 71

palpo, si iuserris, confirmat omnia

per Deum degerans et evangelia;

sic place aluicis hec aule simia.

If you said a thousand things that were

impossible, the flatterer, if you ordered him,

would declare them all correct, swearing (check

Niemeyer, DuC for degerens) by God and the

gospels; in this way this court-ape pleases

courtiers.

Palpo subtiliter et multifariam 72

regis volatilem venatur graciam;

nunc aptat clamidem, nunc vestem aliam,

nunc plumam excutit ymaginariam.

The flatterer cunningly and in many places hunts

the changeable favor of the king, now adjusting

his cloak, now another garment, now brushing away

an imaginary feather.

Hoc monstrum omnibus monstris dissimile 73

ad omne volitum regis est mobile;

rex ut est figulus, palpo ductibile

lutum ad principis votum formabile.

This monster, unlike all other monsters, is ready

for every whim of the king; the king is like a

potter, and the pliable flatterer mud to be shaped

the prince's will.

Palpones mobiles et formis varii, 74

venantes graciam favoris regii,

fallaci calice fallacis labii

incautos debriant potu mendacii.

Flatterers are changeable and come in different

shapes, hunting the favor of the king, with the

deceptive cup of their false lips they intoxicate

the unwary with a lying drink.

In hiis prodigiis sunt repugnancia 75

cor, frons, vestibulum et penetralia,

nam intus odia fovent incendia

et mella labiiis stillant Heymetia. (Horace Sat 2.2.15)

The heart, forehead, entrances, and innards of

these monsters are repugnant, for deep within they

foster hatreds, while their lips distill Heymetian

honey.

Palpo volubilis calix mendacii, 76

pincerna Sathane, crater demonii, aule primoribus

sive palacii propinat pocula dulcis exicii

The spinning flatterer, a goblet of lies, Satan's

bowl, the demon's vessel, prepares the cups of

sweet death for the rules of the court or palace.

Palpo volubilis vas est Sathanicum, 77

propinans regibus potum sophisticum,

quos reddit stupidos per lingue toxicum,

summe mortiferum, summe narcoticum

The spinning flatterer is a Satanic vessel, offering a

sophistic drink to kings, whom he stupifies with a poisonous,

extremely deadly, numbing tongue.

Favet utrilibet palpo sententie, 78

ut menti connicit placere regie;

sic motu vario feruntur varie

quo placet principi planete curie.

The flatterer is in favor of either side of an

argument, so long as it helps to please the king;

thus they are carried in various directions by

various means, as the planets are moved by what

pleases the prince.

Palpo sentencias magnorum sequitur. 79

aqua ductilior, quo placet ducitur;

cheruca mobilis quo iubes vertitur

et omni flatui concors efficitur.

The flatterer follows the opinions of great men.

More easily led about than water, he is led

anywhere; inconstant cheruca turns wherever you

_______

command, agreeing with every breeze.

Cheruca flatui favet qui flaverit: 80

consentit Boree si prevaluerit;

cum Auster pluvius oriri ceperit,

fedus cum Borea contractum deperit.

Cheruca favors

when rainy Auster has begun to arise, the pact

agreed upon with Boreas is broken.

Blandus in vivio ponit os blandulum, 81

tali vafricia vitat periculum;

salutat quemlibet cheruca ventulum

omnesque suscipit flatus ad osculum.

Smoothly he sets his smooth face in vivio, and

__ ______

with such cunning he avoids danger; the cheruca

_______

greets every breeze and he kisses every breeze.

Laudat blandiloquus magnorum crimina, 82

tali solercia vitat discrimina;

tot habet facies et tot volumina,

vultus volubiles, quot rRgus lumina.

He smoothly praises the crimes of powerful men,

cleverly avoiding danger; he has as many forms, as

many folds, as many changing faces, as Argus has

eyes.

Hic favo Laydis et salle Tulii 83

in regum domibus hoc genus studii

est lucratissimus modus aucupii.

He learned to preserve the stench of vice in the

honey of Lais,(2) and in Ciceronian salt; in the

halls of kings this kind of endeavoour is the most

lucrative way of catching birds.

Hic lingue pectine comit facinora, 84

hoc sale condiens peccati stercora;

sic leva seculi tranquillat equora

et tandem applicat ad mitre littora.

With the comb of his tongue he ornaments crimes,

preserving with this salt the excrement of sin;

Hic fumum criminis oris aromate 85

multo thurificat et verbi scemate

hac arte noctua diescens stemat

transit in aquilam in nostro climate.

With the odor of his speech and verbal strategies

he thoroughly fumigates the smoke of crime; By

means of this skill the night-owl in our region

acquires the nobility of the day, and turns into

an eagle.

Hic omne sceleris oletum abicit (abluit?) 86

et sordes lambit has quas princeps vomuit;

pro tali studio crismari debuit,

pro tali munio mitrari merui.

He washes away every filthy piece of evil, and

licks the foulnesses that the prince vomits forth;

for such an endeavour he should be annointed, for

such service he should receive a mitre.

Hic compto crimina comit eloquio, 87

incensum adolet omni flagicio,

oris thurribulum dat omni vicio.

Ve tali scelerum thurribulario!

With his well combed eloquence he makes crimes

look elegant, he gives the sweet smell of incense

to every crime,(3) scatters incense over every

vice. Woe to such an incense-burner for crimes!

Palpones principum arte venatica 88

venantur graciam, id est gnatonica;

sic placent regibus per ora lubrica

et ad utrumlibet pro voto tropica.

Flatterers use the hunter's -- that is, the

slave's -- art to hunt for the favor of princes.

Thus they please kings with their slippery mouths,

which turn to either side according to their

wishes..

Palpo par Protheo vel usiformior, 89

par astu vipere sed felle forcior;

tanto deterior est quanto dulcior,

et quanto moolior tanto malignior.

The flatterer is equal to Protheus, or usiformior,

___________

equal to crafty serpent, stronger than poison the

sweeter he is the worse he is, the smoother he is

the more dangerous he is.

Palpo Diogenis contempnens olera 90

laudat vel levigat tiranni scelera;

minutam scabiem appellat ulcera,

leprosi Naaman verrucas tubera.

Despising Diogenes' lamp, the flatterer praises or

makes light of the crimes of the tyrant; he calls

a small scab an ulcer, while he calls leprous

Naaman's swellings 'warts'.(4)

Paponi Baucidis non place ollula 91

neque Diogenis aula monocula;

propter hoc regia fricat ulcuscula,

expalpans pinguia per frictum fercula.

Baucis' little pot(5) does not please the

flatterer, nor does the one-eyed hall of Diogenis;

because of this he rubs the royal sore spots,

flattering by stroking the fatty dishes. (?)

Qui ceco nesciunt pulmento vivere 92

solent in curia devote querere

Argi multividi visum in olere,

Bachum in cantaro cum sacra Cerere.

Those who do not know how to live on blind relish

("little pottage" - Rigg, blind = hard to see) at

court are accustomed devotedly to seek for the

sight of many-eyed Argus in their 'cabbage', for

Bacchus in a wine cup, together with the holy food

of Ceres.

Circumstat principem grex adulancium 93

et comit comiter omne mendacium;

per tale munium et ministerium

meretur trabeam ostrumque Tirium.

A flock of admirerers stand around the prince, and

companionably (like retainers) makes every lie

look good; by such service and labor the group

earns the robe of state and the purple stripe.

Frequentat curias grex assentancium 94

ut mencientibus ferat auxilium;

nostris temporibus nullum obsequium

meretur auccius in aula premium.

A flock of yesmen crowd the courts, offering lies

as assistance; in our times obedience earns a

greater reward at court.

Si reges provide mentiri nesciunt, 95

ad opem providi palpones veniunt;

nuda mendacia perpulcre vestiunt,

propter hoc regias vestes accipiunt.

If kings do not know how to lie, flatterers,

proficient at the task, arrive; they dress lies

beautifully, in return for which they accept regal

garments.

Cum princeps menciens est minus topice, 96

palpo subveniens hoc saluat tropice,

nudum mendacium sustentans obice;

hiis palpo meritis ornatur murice.

When a prince needs help lying, a flatterer comes

up and finds figures of speech for him, to support

the naked lie; for these merits the flatterer is

decked out in purple.

Putat rex dissona vel repungnancia, 97

palpones facient hec simul stancia;

si placent principi contradictoria,

hec palpo faciet compassibilia.

When the king's thoughts are contradictory and

abhorrent, let the flatterers make them firm; if

contradictions appeal to the prince, the flatterer

can make them appealing.

Contradictoria si princeps astruit, 98

astans gnatonicus favet et annuit;

componit pariter simulque consuit

que simul ponere Deus non potuit.

If the prince offers contradictions, the slave

standing by agrees with it; he composes and at the

same time adds what God could not have fabricated.

Ex ore principis si falsum prodeat, 99

ne nuda falsitas in aure sordeat

et auditoribus spernenda pateat,

palpo mendacium sub tropo clipeat.

If something false comes from the mouth of the

prince, to prevent the naked falsehood from

sullying the ear and being despised by the

listener, the flatterer shields the lie with a

trope.

Si princeps aliquam affirmet nugulam 100

quam palpo comperit a vero nudulam,

oris accomodat statim forfiuclam

parans mendacio tropi tuniculam.

If the prince offers some trifle which the

flatterer finds denuded of truth, he immediately

prepares his verbal scissors, making a tiny tunic

of a 'figure' to cover his falsehood.

Hic nanum miserum cuius laterculi 101

vix grossitudinem habent digituli,

vix hinni viribus passura parvuli

armis et animo preponit Herculi.

He puts in command of a man with the arms and

courage of Hercules a wretched dwarf whose bricks

(sides?) are scarcely one finger wide, with

scarcely the strength to utter the slightest

whinny.

Palpones regibus solent assistere 102

auresque nugulis illius credere,

quas student pectere docteque comere

et falsis laudibus ad astra vehere.

Flatterers customarily stand at the side of king,

lending their ears to the king's slightest

utterances, which they eagerly comb and learnedly

ornament, lifting them to the stars with false

praises.

Palpo dulciculus lingua mellicula 103

potentes pellicit, sic pinguiuscula

mercari didicit in aula dwexul,

Qui ceca Baucidis odit oluscula.

The sugary flatterer with his sweet tongue seduces

powerful men, and thus he who hates the little pot

of Baucis learns to sell the fattest dishes in

court.

Hic studet omnium placere studio; 104

alget si frigoris te tangat lesio;

si sudas, estuat sudore nimio

et frontem manice tergit sudario.

He is eager to please everyone; if you are

bothered by a chill, he too is cold; if you sweat,

he burns with sweat and wipes his forehead with

the handkerchief of his sleeve(6)

Hic sordes ingerit regum auriculis; 105

propter hoc regiis pinguescit epulis;

pro tali merito reptus de casulis

decreto principis dignus est infulis.

He pours filth into kings' ears; for this he grows

fat at the royal feasts; for such merit he is

snatched from a humble cottage and granted the

priest's fillet by the prince's decree.

Hic scit quorumlibet vultus induere; 106

Sosiam alterum se novit fingere

de corvo didicit olorem facere;

novit in Herculem Tersitem vertere.

He knows how to put on every kind of mask; he knew

how to make himself another Sosia;(7) he has

learned to make a swan out of a crow; he knew how

to turn Thersites into Hercules.

Hic prius perficit iussa quam iubeas; 107

huic solum sufficit ut nutu moneas;

nubescit fletibus si forte doleas;

micat Phebigera fronte si gaudeas.

He is the first to carry out the orders you give;

you need merely nod; if, perhaps, you are unhappy,

he becomes cloudy with tears; if you are happy,

his forehead shines like the sun.

Hic flentes adiuvat fletu ficticio; 108

si risu solveris, saltat pre gaudio;

ars hec ars arcium est in palacio,

que dignos efficit favore regio.

He supports those who weep with a false flood;

should you dissolve in laugter, he leaps for joy;

this art is the art of arts in the palace, which

makes men worthy of royal favor.

Hanc domum incolit palponum concio 109

que verne tepuit fortune radio;

in bruma delitet quo specu nescio,

veris in reditu redit papilio.

The crowd of flatterers inhabits this house,

growing warm in the sunbeam of vernal fortune; the

butterfly hides in the winter, by what means I

don't know, and returns with the return of spring.

Palpones casulam Amicie fugiunt, 110

non terunt limina que fata feriunt;

tales yrundines in bruma dormiunt,

cum ridet Jubiter, sompnos excuciunt.

Flatterers flee the little house of Amyclas,(8)

they do not wear down the thresholds of houses

struck down by the fates; such swallows sleep in

the winter, and when Jupiter smiles, they break

their sleep.

Palpo frontosior est meretricibus 111

qui sepe Sisiphum equat gigantibus,

varum et turpiter distortum cruribus

scaurum balbuciens labellis mollibus

The flatterer is bolder than prostitutes

(1) Architrenius 4.407-9: Et pede vel cubito socios et

crimina tangens, Quod lingua reticet loquitur pede,

cuncta loquentis Garrulitate pedis.

(2) meretricious sweetness -Rigg Quatuor Elementa tells

story of Lais and Demosthenes from Aulus Gellius.

(3) Rigg points out that in Classical Latin the translation

would read, "he burns a sacrifice to every crime," but

adolere had other possibilities by the 13th century.

(4) Horace Sat 1.3.73-74

(5) See Architrenius 2.219 and 2.391-493 for more on Baucis

and Philemon, from Ovid Met 8.626-724.

(6) Quintilian 6.3.60 and 11.2.148.

(7) Slave in Terence's Andria.

(8) The humble fisherman of Lucan 5.504 ff. See also

Architrenius 2.224