Albertanus Bresciae [Albertano]
1195-1251 AD, Italy
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Medieval Era)
ALBERTANO OF BRESCIA
DE AMORE ET DILECTIONE DEI ET PROXIMI ET ALIARUM RERUM ET DE FORMA VITAE LIBER I
[CONCERNING LOVE AND DELIGHT OF GOD, SON, AND OTHER THINGS, AND CONCERNING THE BEAUTY OF LIFE BOOK I]
Incipit liber de amore et dilectione dei et proximi et aliarum rerumet de forma vitae liber primus.
1 [My first book begins by covering the Love and Delight of God, Son, and Other Things as well as the beauty of life.]
Initium mei tractatus sit in nomine Domine, a quo cuncta bona procedunt,et a quo est omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum descendens a patreluminum.
2 [Let the beginning of my essay be conducted in the name of the Lord, from whom all good things spring, and from who the best outcome is granted, as well as every perfect gift descending from the light of the Father.]
Quanto amore quantaque dilectione mea paterna caritas tuam diligat filialem subiectionem, vix tibi possem narrare, vel lingua mea posset aliquatenus explicari.
3 [Because my paternal charity delights your curiosity, like a son, with so much love and delight, I could scarely recount to you--and barely could my tongue unfold itself till now.]
Volens igitur ego Albertanus te filium meum Vincentium bonis moribus conformare, ac de amore et dilectione Dei et proximi et aliarum rerum et de forma vitae instruere, in primis duo credo tibi fore precipue necessaria:doctrinam videlicet ac loquelam.
4 [So, I, Albertano, willingly trust that you can inspire my son, Vicenzio, with good morals, and instruct him on the subject of God's love and delight in Him, his Son, and other things, as well as on the beauty of life, and that you possess two necessary qualities: obviously, your training and eloquence.]
Primo enim debes discere, postea veroloqui.
[You see, you ought to teach him at first, and then converse with him earnestly.]
Nam ut ait Ihesus filius Sirac,
[You see it is like Ihesos, son of Sirac, says,]
"Ante iuditium para iustitiam, et antequam loquaris disce."
["Made justice possible before punishment, and learn before you lecture.]
Et Salomon dixit,
[and Solomon said,]
"Qui prius loquitur quam discat,ad contemptum et irrisionem properat."
[Whoever first lectures before he learns will propel himself to contempt and mockery.]
Doctrinam ergo primo audias,
[and so first may you listen to a lesson,]
deinde animo discas,
[then learn it in your mind,]
postea vero mente retineas;
[and afterward, verily retain it in your memory.]
animo enim vivimus, animo adiscimus,mente vero retinemus.
[You see, we live in the accompaniment of our mind, we learn with our mind, we truly remember it in our mind.]
[Caput I.]--Chapter 1
De doctrina. [Concerning doctrine]
Doctrinam igitur audire debes,
[And so, you ought to listen when it comes to doctrine]
ut habeas scienciam.
[so that you can possess knowledge.]
Nam ut ait Salomon,
[Its exactly as Solomon says,]
"Qui diligit doctrinam, diligit scientiam;
[Whoever derives pleasure in doctrine, enjoys knowledge.]
qui autem odit increpationes insipiens est."
[on the other hand, whoever hates those informing him, is a fool.]
Et alibi,
[and otherwise does he say,]
"Accipite disciplinam meam,
[Accept my instruction,]
et non pecuniam;
[instead of money;]
doctrinam magis quam aurum eligite."
[choose my instruction over gold.]
Et alibi,
[and elsewhere says he,]
