Septem Sapientum: HISTORIA SEPTEM SAPIENTUM

Fuit quidam Rex, qui convocatis septem sapientibus filium suum coram eis aduxit et erudiendum tradidit. Unus autem ex ipsis, Syndebar nomine, diligenter conditiones et bonas habitationes pueri contemplatus ait: Vera est iuventus et puritas pueri, et puto quod sapientior erit quam ego, et modo scivi et iam congratulor in sapientia sua, cum creverit, dum video quia non est similis sui. Dixerunt alii sapientes: Verba Sindebaris sunt ut nubila, tonitrua, fulgura, quando (non) est ymber aque in eis.

There was a certain King, who, the seven sages having been summoned, led his son before them and entrusted him to be instructed. Now one of them, named Syndebar, having carefully contemplated the dispositions and good habits of the boy, said: The youth’s truth and purity are real, and I think that he will be wiser than I, and even now I have known and already rejoice in his wisdom when he has grown up, while I see that he is not like his equals. The other sages said: The words of Syndebar are like clouds, thunderings, lightnings, when (non) is rain of water in them.

Dixit Sindebar: Non cognoscitis quia sapientia est in homine sicut muscus et ambra? Que quanto plus tanguntur, tanto magis dant odorem suum. Sic et sapientia çelum suscitat illum.

Sindebar said: Do you not know that wisdom is in a man like musk and amber? Which the more they are touched, the more they give their odor. Thus also wisdom awakens that heaven within him.

Adhuc respondit alius et dixit: Hec (sunt) verba quorum nullus est qui cognoscat veritatem, usque dum videat eorum novissima, nec aliquis potest ea laudare, donec videat eorum finem, et hec sunt: Navis in pelago maris usque dum intrat portum, et bellator in prelio donec reddeat victor, et eger usquequo de egritudine convalescat, et pregnans usque dum pariat, et triticum donec reponatur in fovea. Similiter verba Sindabaris laudari non possunt, donec | eorum videatur effectus. Hec audiens Sindibar iratus est valde in socios dixitque ad Regem: Vivat Rex!

Another answered and said: These are words of which no one can know the truth until he sees their last, nor can anyone praise them until he sees their end, and these are they: a ship on the sea, until it enters the harbour, a warrior in battle until he returns victorious, the sick man until he recovers from his illness, a pregnant woman until she gives birth, and wheat until it is laid up in the pit. Likewise the words of Sindebar cannot be praised until | their effect is seen. Hearing these things Sindebar was very angry with his companions and said to the King: Vivat Rex!

Ego docebo filium tuum, ut vincat sapientiam omnium sapientum. Sed concede mihi petitionem cordis mei quam posco a te; quodsi non fecero, tradam vitam meam iugulo ante regalem curiam. Postremo turbati sunt sapientes et dixerunt: Perimet capita nostra coram rege.

I will teach your son, that he may surpass the wisdom of all the wise. But grant me the petition of my heart which I ask of you; and if I do not do it, I will give up my life by the throat before the royal court. At last the wise were disturbed and said: He will cut off our heads before the king.

Et adiecerunt: Manifestemus Sindebarem esse sapientem ut dicta oris sui conprobant, qui vult filium Regis instruere super omnes sapientes. Tunc Rex dixit Sindebari: Sindebar facundissime, si feceris quod dixisti, vives; sin autem, morieris. Et Sindebar tulit omnia que erant sibi necessaria suo magisterio.

And they added: Let us demonstrate that Sindebar is wise, as the words of his mouth attest, who wishes to instruct the king’s son above all the wise. Then the king said to Sindebar: Sindebar, most eloquent, if you do what you have said, you will live; but if not, you will die. And Sindebar took all the things that were necessary for his teaching.

Et Rex scripsit annum et mensem, diem ac horam et dedit ei puerum. Deinde Sindebar hedificavit templum iuxta desertum et pinxit in tecto astra et stellas et scripsit in parietibus omne lignum, et non erat cum eis, excepto uno eunucho sene qui ministrabat eis. Deinde studuit Sindibar breviter et comode instruere puerum, et pervenit ad tempus statutum.

And the King wrote the year and the month, the day and the hour, and gave him the boy. Then Sindebar built a temple next to the desert and painted on the ceiling the constellations and stars and wrote on the walls every kind of wood, and there was no one with them except an old eunuch who served them. Then Sindebar endeavored briefly and conveniently to instruct the boy, and the appointed time arrived.

Et fecit eum sapientiorem sapientibus terre sue.

And he made him wiser than the wise men of his land.

Post hec direxit Rex ad Sindibarem dicens: Ecce tempus statutum, nunc que est voluntas tua? Hiis auditis Sindibar misit ad Regem: Si placet tibi, domine Rex, crastino veniet ad te filius tuus sicut est desiderium anime tue. Audiens Rex letatus est vehementer et congregavit omnes principes terre et sapientes.

After this the King turned to Sindibar, saying: Behold the appointed time; now what is your will? Having heard these words Sindibar sent to the King: If it pleases you, lord King, tomorrow your son will come to you as is the desire of your soul. Hearing this the King rejoiced greatly and gathered together all the princes of the land and the wise men.

| Et in illa nocte dixit Sindibar ad filium regis: Ego misi ad patrem tuum nuncium ut cras pergas ad eum, et non aspexi in astronomia quid patiaris. Nunc ergo in hac nocte videamus in astronomia. Tunc aspexit Sindibar in astronomia et cognovit quod si puer loqueretur usque ad . VII.

| And on that night Sindibar said to the king’s son: I sent a messenger to your father that you should go to him tomorrow, and I did not look in astronomy what you will suffer. Now therefore in this night let us look in astronomy. Then Sindibar looked in astronomy and perceived that if the boy spoke up to . 7.

dies, quod mori deberet. Hec videns Sindebar manibus se verberans dixit: Heu me, quid agam? Respondit ei puer et dixit: Quid habes, magister, aut quid vidisti?

days, that he ought to die. Seeing this, Sindebar, beating himself with his hands, said: Alas me, what shall I do? The boy answered him and said: What ails you, master, or what did you see?

Et dixit ei magister: Vide tu in astronomia et cognosces, cur hoc facio. Tunc prospiciens puer cognovit ea que magister viderat et ait: Nolo ut irascaris, magister, quia, si mihi precipias ut .VII. mensibus os meum non sit apertum, tua precepta non erunt repudiata.

And the magister said to him: See you in astronomia and you will know why I do this. Then, looking forth, the boy recognised the things which the magister had seen and said: I do not wish you to be angry, magister, for if you bid me that my mouth be not opened for 7 months, your precepts will not be repudiated.

Respondit magister et dixit: Ego misi nuncium ad patrem tuum ut cras ad eum pergas, quia tempus constitutum accessit quod fuit inter nos. Rex autem congregabit principes suos et sapientes. Tu vero cum nunciis patris tui ibis ante tribunal Regis, ego autem ero absconditus privatim.

The master answered and said: I have sent a messenger to your father that you should go to him tomorrow, for the appointed time which was between us has come. But the king will gather his princes and wise men. You, however, will go with your father's messengers before the king's tribunal; I, however, will be hidden privately.

Tunc fecit magistri precepta et venit ante Regis presenciam et adoravit Regem. Videns autem Rex quod non esset cum eo magister suus, turbatus est valde et interrogavit eum, puer vero nihil respondit minime. Et similiter interrogaverunt eum principes, quibus nihil respondit.

Then he did the master's precepts and came before the King's presence and worshipped the King. But seeing that his master was not with him, the King was greatly disturbed and questioned him; the boy, however, answered nothing at all. And likewise the princes questioned him, to whom he returned no answer.

Et dixit Rex sapientibus: Quid dicitis de hoc? Sapientes dixerunt: Nunc, rex, Sindebar quesivit puerum ad instruendum et fortasse vidit cor eius clausum et dedit ei pocionem ad | aperiendum cor eius et potus presit linguam eius ideoque obmutuit. Ut autem audivit hoc Rex, vociferatus est vociferatione magna et amara et cepit agitare capud et evellere barbam, scindens vestimenta sua.

And the King said to the wise men: What do you say about this? The wise men said: Now, King, Sindebar sought the boy to instruct him and perhaps saw his heart closed and gave him a potion to | open his heart, and the draught pressed down his tongue and therefore he became mute. When the King heard this, he cried out with a great and bitter outcry and began to shake his head and to tear out his beard, ripping his garments.

Interea venit quedam puellarum suarum que creverat cum filio Regis, quam Rex amabat plus omnibus mulieribus, et dixit: Domine mi Rex, si placet tibi, concede mihi puerum, quia ipse diligit me sicut sororem suam; nam nunquam fuit illi ocultum quod michi non manifestaret. Unde forsitan suadebo illi in verbo et intelligam si mutus est an non. Cui dixit Rex: Tolle eum.

Meanwhile came one of his girls who had grown up with the king’s son, whom the King loved more than all women, and she said: My lord King, if it pleases you, grant me the boy, for he loves me as his sister; for it had never been hidden from him that he did not disclose (it) to me. Wherefore perhaps I will persuade him with a word and I will learn whether he is mute or not. To whom the King said: Take him.

Tunc duxit eum in thalamum et suasit illi in multis et intellexit puerum per sapientiam tacuisse. Dixitque ei: Relinque hec omnia. Cognosco enim quoniam non es mutus neque amens, sed pro facundia tui animi hec peragis.

Then he led him into the chamber and persuaded him with many words, and perceived that the boy had been silent through wisdom. And he said to him: Leave all these things. For I know that you are neither mute nor mad, but because of the facundity of your mind you do these things.

Ut enim cognosco quandam de puellis regis amas et cupis invenire locum quo secum sedeas et petere eam de rege ut ego. Unde coniungas te illi, quia hec est illa quam queris. Que enim in puellis regis similis mihi?

For as I learn that you love a certain one of the king’s girls and desire to find a place where you may sit with her and to ask her of the king as I [did], that you might join yourself to her — for this is she whom you seek — for which among the king’s girls is like me?

Tu pulcer es, et ego pulcrior. Etenim pater tuus senuit, et non est iam fortitudo in eo ad regendum. Disponamus ergo fedus inter nos: ego interficiam eum, et tu solus regna tenebis, et ego uxor tua ero coniugata gaudio.

You are beautiful, and I more beautiful. For your father has grown old, and there is no longer strength in him to rule. Let us then arrange a pact between us: I will kill him, and you alone will hold the kingdoms, and I will be your wife, married with joy.

Ut autem audivit puer hec verba. Comotus est valde et pre nimia ira oculi eius pleni sanguine sunt, strinsitque os suum dentibus et ait: Faciam hec tua verba amodo ad .VIII. dies omnibus nota.

But when the boy heard these words he was greatly moved, and through excessive anger his eyes were full of blood; and he clenched his mouth with his teeth and said: "From now on I will make these your words known to all for 8 days."

Tunc | prospexit puella iuvenis iram; qua nimis terita dixit in corde suo: Si ego non interficio eum in medio istorum septem dierum, me mori faciet. Et surrexit confestim et scidit vestimenta sua, rumpens capillos, scindens genas cum ungue, et magna voce clamans intravit ad regem et dixit: Rex magnifice, nonne dixisti filium tuum esse mutum? Quod mihi non videtur verum; nam hoc tam diu pro industria fecit donec me in cubiculum duxit, et mecum concumbere quesivit.

Tunc she perceived the youth's anger; whereupon, greatly terrified, she said in her heart: If I do not kill him in the midst of those seven days, he will cause me to die. And she rose immediately and rent her garments, tearing her hair, scratching her cheeks with her nails, and shouting with a loud voice entered before the king and said: O magnificent King, did you not say your son was mute? Which to me does not seem true; for he did this with such industry for so long until he led me into his chamber, and sought to lie with me.

Quo audito Rex turbatus est valde et accendens iram suam in filium ait: Ad inpudentiam mihi inputabitur, si hoc a me scandalum non eiecero. Hoc maximo dolore Rex comotus precepit gladiatoribus morti eum confestim tradere et caput eius ante presentiam suam portari.

When this was heard the King was very disturbed and, kindling his anger against his son, said: “Shall this impudence be imputed to me, if I do not expel this scandal from me?” With this great sorrow the King, moved, ordered the gladiators to deliver him immediately to death and to carry his head before his presence.

Inter hec mala consiliati sunt septem sapientes et dixerunt: Ecce Rex filium habet unum et non alium: quem si hodie mori fecerit, cras penitebit, et postea erit super nos, quoniam non mitigavimus iram eius. Unde ambulet sex de nobis qui liberent puerum a manibus percuciencium, et unus pergat ante regem qui regis iram quietet. Et videntes celerius sapientes iuerunt ad liberandum puerum a gladiatoria manu.

Meanwhile, among these evils the seven sages conferred and said: Behold, the King has one son and no other: if he causes him to die today, he will repent tomorrow, and afterward it will be upon us, since we did not soothe his wrath. Therefore let six of us go who will free the boy from the hands of those about to strike him, and let one go before the king who will quiet the king’s anger. And seeing this, the sages hastened to free the boy from the gladiatorial hand.

Et septimus venit ante regem et flexis genibus adoravit eum et dixit: Domine mi Rex, deprecor noli despicere faciem servi tui qui | cupit tibi pauca referre. Exaudi consilium servi tui, quoniam sapientes libenter prebent aurem ad consilium; et si totus populus aliquid sine consilio facit, imperialem tamen hoc non decet facere maiestatem. Et nosti quod cum dominus aliud iusserit statim, sic et postea si peniteat penituisse non iuvat.

And the seventh came before the king and, with knees bent, adored him and said: Domine mi Rex, I beg you do not despise the face of your servant who | desires to bring a few things to you. Hear the counsel of your servant, for the wise willingly lend an ear to counsel; and if the whole people does anything without counsel, nevertheless it does not beseem imperial majesty to do this. And you know that when a lord commands something at once, so afterwards if he repents it does not avail to have repented.

Et aliquando cogitat homo plura esse vera que vera non sunt. Et cave ne accidat tibi sicut evenit cuidam Regi, cui nomen erat Versura. Et dixit Rex: Quid evenit ei? Tunc sapiens dixit:

And sometimes a man thinks many things to be true which are not true. And beware lest it happen to you as it happened to a certain King, whose name was Versura. And the King said: What happened to him? Then the wise man said:

1. Primi sapientis prima historia: Leo

1. The first story of the first sage: Leo

Quidam Rex fuit in seculo temporibus illis larga manu et dilectus ab omnibus militibus propter suam largitatem. Tunc quedam puella pulcra ad videndum floreque eleganti coniuncta erat marito, cuius domus iuxta domum regiam sita erat. Quam Rex adamavit.

There was a certain King in the world in those times, generous of hand and beloved by all the soldiers because of his liberality. Then a certain beautiful girl, pleasing to see and of elegant bloom, was joined to a husband, whose house was situated next to the royal house. Whom the King loved.

Surgens autem Rex cum duobus eunuchis suis nocte ivit ad domum illius inpetum faciens. Ut autem vidit mulier regem, tremefacta dixit: Ecce ancilla tua in manu tua est, fac in me quod placet in oculis tuis; sed si vis, domine mi, mundabor et ungam me et postea veniam in cubile ad regem. Tunc Rex ait: Facito.

Rising, however, the king with two eunuchs of his went by night to that woman’s house, making an assault. But when the woman saw the king, trembling she said: “Behold, your handmaid is in your hand; do to me whatever pleases in your eyes; but if you will, my lord, I will wash and anoint myself and afterwards come to the bed to the king.” Then the king said: “Do so.”

At mulier posuit librum ante regem et ait: Legat interim dominus meus in libro hoc. Quo facto mulier illa concussa metu clanculo per aliud hostium fugam petiit. Et sedens Rex in libro (legit), donec invenit scriptum quod adulterium aliene nupte magnum delictum est.

But the woman placed a book before the king and said: Let my lord meanwhile read in this book. When this was done, that woman, shaken with fear, secretly sought flight through another of the houses. And the king, sitting with the book (reads), until he found written that adultery with another man's wife is a great crime.

Et intellexit Rex quod sapienter fecisset | mulier, dum fugam inruiit. Surgens autem Rex recessit et oblitus est virgam quam manu tenebat, et ipsamet mulier non cognovit. Veniens interim maritus mulieris in domum suam, aparuit virgam regis, et dixit: Verum est quod Rex iacuit cum uxore mea.

And the King understood that the woman had acted wisely | when she threw herself into flight. But the King rose up and withdrew and forgot the staff which he held in his hand, and the very woman did not recognize it. Meanwhile the woman's husband coming into his house, the king's staff was revealed, and he said: It is true that the King lay with my wife.

Et timuit exinde altercari cum ea, sed non est locutus ei nec bonum nec malum nec comedit cum ea nec iacuit. Unde mulier ivit ad domum patris sui et fuit ibidem .30. diebus. Tunc pater ac fratres illius perrexerunt ad regem et inclinatis capitibus dixerunt: Vivat Rex!

And from then on he feared to quarrel with her, but he spoke to her neither good nor bad, nor did he eat with her, nor did he lie with her. Wherefore the woman went to her father's house and was there .30. days. Then her father and her brothers went to the king and, with bowed heads, said: Long live the King!

Nos dedimus viro isti agrum qui sub nostra fuerat ditione, ita ut ab eo coleretur et eum adaquaret et sereret et fructificaret et faceret messem. Hic autem cunctis diebus quibus in ipsa terra fuit eam coluit et adaquavit et fructuosam reddidit. Sed iam per multum tempus eam relinquid, unde sicca et multum aspera facta est.

We gave that man the field which had been under our dominion, so that it should be cultivated by him and irrigated and sown and made fruitful and bring forth a harvest. Now he, during all the days in which he was upon that very land, cultivated it and irrigated it and rendered it fruitful. But for a long while now he has abandoned it, wherefore it has become dry and very barren.

Rex autem audiens dixit illi viro: Tu inde quid dicis? Et ille ait: Domine, verum est quod hii mihi terram dederunt et ego eam colui et seminavi ut decuit, sed quadam die in dicta terra vestigia leonis inveni; unde perteritus timui ne leo ibi me inveniret. Ideo dimisi eam.

But the king, hearing, said to that man: "What then do you say?" And he said: "Lord, it is true that these men gave me the land and I cultivated it and sowed it as was fitting, but on a certain day in the said land I found the footprints of a lion; wherefore, being terrified I feared lest a lion might find me there. Therefore I abandoned it."

Rex autem eorum verba protinus intellexit et dixit: Scimus in illa terra leonem visum, in qua si fractam aperuit, sepem tamen non transivit nec fructum comedit, et vivat leo qui iam ad eam gressum suum non retorquet. Tunc cognovit homo regem non habuisse uxorem suam. -Sic, domine | mi Rex, multa putantur vera que non sunt.

But their king immediately understood their words and said: We know that a lion has been seen in that land, in which, though he opened a breach, yet he did not cross the hedge nor eat the crop; and may the lion live who now does not turn his step back to it. Then the man realized that the king had not had his wife. -Sic, domine | mi Rex, multa putantur vera que non sunt.

Unde noli interficere filium tuum pro verbis uxoris tue, ne a verbis illius decipiaris, quoniam decepcio mulieris plurima est. Et ne eveniat tibi fortuito sicut cuidam homini de uxore sua. Ait Rex: Dic quomodo fuit.

Therefore do not kill your son on account of your wife's words, lest you be deceived by her speech, for the deceit of a woman is very great. And lest it happen to you by chance as to a certain man concerning his wife. The king said: Tell how it was.

Dixit sapiens:

The wise man said:

2. Primi sapientis secunda historia: Avis

2. The first sage's second story: Avis

Quidam homo decoram nimis habebat uxorem et erat çelans super eam. Quadam vero die quesivit ire in aliam civitatem et pre nimio çelo quem habebat in coniugem emit unam avem que vulgo vocatur pica et posuit eam in cubili suo. Cui dixit: Aspice et excuba et omnia que gesta fuerint mihi, cum venero, narra.

A certain man had a wife excessively comely and was jealous concerning her. One day indeed he had to go to another city, and because of the excessive jealousy he had concerning his spouse he bought a bird which is commonly called a pica and placed it in her bed. To it he said: "Look and keep watch, and tell me all things that shall have been done to me when I come."

Mulier nesciebat avem illam se suo marito accusaturam. Pergente autem viro vocavit privatim amicum suum, et concubuit cum ea omnibus diebus quibus vir eius absens fuit. Anno uno peracto venit vir eius et clanculo picam interrogavit.

The woman did not know that the bird would accuse her to her husband. But while her husband was away she privately summoned her friend, and lay with him on all the days that her husband was absent. After a year had passed her husband returned and secretly questioned the magpie.

Illa vero retulit omnia visa. Mox iratus dominus uxorem de domo expulit. Illa autem ad domum cuiusdam vicine sue ivit et ille picam post eam misit.

She, moreover, related all that she had seen. Soon the angry master expelled his wife from the house. She, however, went to the house of a certain neighbor of hers, and he sent the magpie after her.

Mulier vero dixit ancille sue: Cur turbasti me dicendo facinora mea marito meo? Ancilla dixit: Non, domina, absit! Non ego feci talia, sed pica dixit domino nostro, quem adhuc non habeo notum.

But the woman said to her maid: Why did you trouble me by telling my crimes to my husband? The maid said: No, mistress, God forbid! I did not do such things, but the magpie told our master, whom I do not yet know.

Respondit mulier: Faciamus ergo sibi aliquid inginii. Confestim tulit par unum macillenarum et inposuit super solarium domus et barile unum plenum aqua et scopam et unum stipitem igne accensum. Et ascendit nocte solarium cum | ancilla et iussit ancillam macinare cum macillenis, et illa infundebat aquam cum scopa et ita radiabat cum stipite in curia, ubi pica morabatur, excubans tota nocte.

The woman answered: "Let us therefore make for her some device of ingenuity." Immediately she took one pair of macillenarum and placed them upon the solarium of the house, and a barrel full of water, and a broom, and a stake lighted with fire. And she ascended at night to the solarium with | the maid and ordered the maid to grind with the macillenis, and she poured the water with the broom and thus brandished the stake in the courtyard where the pica was lingering, keeping watch the whole night.

Mane autem facto pica motis pennis reversa est ad dominum suum. Tunc ille interrogavit picam et dixit. Non vidisti aliquid?

When morning had come, the magpie, its wings moved, returned to its master. Then he questioned the magpie and said, “Did you not see anything?”

Tunc pica dixit : Domine, quid potui videre? Tota nocte fuerunt tonitrua et coruscationes et pluvie. Dixit homo: Ubi fuerunt fulgura, coruscationes et tonitrua?

Tunc the magpie said : Lord, what could I see? All night there were thunders and coruscations and rains. The man said: Where were the lightnings, the coruscations and the thunders?

Qualiter hoc mentiris, sic mentita es super uxorem meam. Quo dicto picam occidit et mulierem ad se revocavit et dedit ei dona et pacificatus est cum ea. -Ergo, domine mi Rex, vita falacias mulierum, ne forte dissipent caniciem tuam. Hiis auditis iussit Rex non occidi filium suum.

How you lie about this; thus you lied concerning my wife. At this saying he killed the magpie and summoned the woman back to him, and gave her gifts and was pacified with her. -Therefore, my lord King, shun the deceits of women, lest they scatter your gray hair. These words heard, the King ordered that his son not be killed.

Altera autem die venit uxor regis et cecidit ad pedes eius et dixit: Audisti consilium tuorum consiliatorum qui sunt impii et falaces, nec facis vindictam filii tui qui quesivit denudare vestes patris. Unde videas tu et filius tuus tuique consiliatores, ne cadatis sicut cecidit lavator in profundum fluvii et filius eius et frater. Dixit ei Rex: Dic quomodo fuit hoc. Illa dixit:

On the next day the king's wife came and fell at his feet and said: You have heard the counsel of your counselors who are impious and deceitful, and you do not take vengeance for your son who sought to strip the father's garments. Wherefore beware, you and your son and your counselors, lest you fall as the washerman fell into the depth of the river, and his son and brother. The king said to her: Tell how this was. She said:

3. Reginae prima historia: Lavator

3. The queen's first story: Lavator

Fuit quidam vir lavator vestimentorum in flumine Fixon, cuius filius ludebat in ripa fluminis. Pater autem non prohibebat eum, usque dum veniret in locum cavum, et mersum est caput eius. Cucurrit pater | ad liberandum eum, et lapsus est pes eius in lutum et cecidit in aquam.

Cucurrit frater eius ad liberandum eos, et ipsi aprehenderunt pannos eius et gravati mersi sunt in profundum tenentes se invicem. - Sic, rex, cum filio tuo tuisque consiliatoribus submergemini, quia non vexastis eos. Quibus auditis mandavit Rex occidi filium suum.

His brother ran to free them, and they themselves seized his garments and, weighed down, were drowned in the deep, holding one another. - Thus, king, you will be submerged with your son and your counselors, because you did not punish them. Having heard these things the King ordered his son to be killed.

Deinde consiliati sunt septem sapientes et dixerunt inter se: Ecce Rex audivit uxorem suam et iussit occidi filium suum. Heri frater noster liberavit eum. Et nunc liberemus eum invicem singuli habentes diem suam usque ad septem dies, et si post septem dies interfecerit eum, nos erimus innocentes.

Then the seven sages took counsel and said among themselves: Behold, the King has listened to his wife and has ordered his son to be slain. Yesterday our brother liberated him. And now let us free him in turn, each having his day for up to seven days, and if after seven days he kills him, we shall be innocent.

Et ambulaverunt sex ad liberandum eum de manibus gladiatorum. Et septimus venit ante regem et flexis genibus adoravit eum et dixit: Domine Rex, asculta verba servi tui et iube non occidi filium tuum festinatione, quoniam eris orbatus ut turtur et penitebit te et dolebis nihilque iuvabit te ut turturem. Dixitque Rex: Quomodo fuit?

And six walked to free him from the hands of the gladiators. And the seventh came before the king and, with knees bent, worshipped him and said: Lord King, hear the words of your servant and command that your son not be killed in haste, for you will be bereft like a turtledove and it will cause you remorse and you will grieve, and nothing will help you like a turtledove. And the King said: How was it?

Dixit sapiens:

The wise man said:

4. Secundi sapientis prima historia: Turtures

4. The second sage's first story: Turtures

Duo turtures, masculus et femina, congregaverunt grana estivo tempore et inpleverunt nidum. Dixitque vir uxori: Cave ne tangas hec grana, quoniam in yeme, quando non poterimus invenire foris, comedemus illa. Dixitque femina: Libenter.

Two turtledoves, a male and a female, gathered grains in the summer-time and filled their nest. And the male said to his wife: Beware that you do not touch these grains, for in winter, when we shall not be able to find food outside, we will eat them. And the female said: Gladly.

Adveniente autem profunda estate grana adeo sicca (facta) sunt in nido quod devenerunt ad mediam partem. Tunc dixit masculus femine: Nonne ego dixi tibi: ne tangas victum in | estate? Et mox cepit eam percutere alis et rostro et sicut interfecit eam.

But when the depth of summer arrived the grains had become so dry (having been made) in the nest that they fell to the middle part. Then the male said to the female: Did I not tell you: do not touch the victuals in | summer? And straightaway he began to beat her with wings and bill and so killed her.

Yemali autem tempore humida facta sunt grana et inflata inpleverunt nidum sicut prius. Et cogitavit masculus quod gratis et sine causa interfecerat feminam suam et penituit et doluit, quoniam remanserat solus. -Ita et tu, domine Rex, videas ne facias ut turtur, nec mulier faliat te, quia dum homo cernit feminam bonam et castam, tunc debet magis vitare illam.

In the time of Yemali the grains became moist and swollen and filled the nest as before. And the male thought that he had killed his female for naught and without cause, and he repented and grieved, because he had remained alone. -So you also, lord King, see that you do not act like the turtledove, nor let a woman deceive you, for when a man beholds a woman good and chaste, then he ought all the more to shun her.

Et vide ne accidat tibi qualiter evenit cuidam negociatori de coniuge sua. Tunc Rex ait: Dic, qualiter fuit? Ille autem dixit:

And see that it not happen to you as it happened to a certain merchant concerning his wife. Then the King said: Tell, how was it? He, however, said:

5. Secundi sapientis secunda historia: Catula

5. Secundus the wise's second story: Catula

Fuit quidam mercator, qui habebat uxorem bonam et castam quam diligebat valde. Volens itaque remocius ire dixit uxori sue: O cara uxor, ego volo aripere longum iter. Precor, iura mihi quod, si moriar, tu non queras acubare cum alio viro; et si tu mortua fueris, ego non coniungar alteri.

Fuit a certain merchant who had a good and chaste wife whom he loved very much. Wanting therefore to go a long way off, he said to his wife: "O dear wife, I wish to undertake a long journey. I beg you, swear to me that, if I die, you will not seek to lie with another man; and if you should die, I will not be joined to another."

Quod et fecerunt. Viro autem eunte ab illo die non petiit illa lavare corpus suum neque perungere nec egressa est limen domus sue. Quadam autem die puella transitum faciebat per eius vicum cum liris, citaris et cinbalis.

Which they did. But with the man having gone from that day she neither sought to wash her body nor to anoint it, nor did she go forth across the threshold of her house. Yet on a certain day the girl was passing through his street with lyres, citharas, and cymbals.

Illa autem fecit se ad fenestram causa videndi. Continuo vidit eam quidam iuvenis et eam concupivit et pre nimio amore cecidit in lectum. Venit autem quedam anus ad visitandum eum.

She, however, set herself at the window for the purpose of seeing. Immediately a certain young man saw her and longed for her, and through excessive love fell into bed. But a certain old woman came to visit him.

Cui dixit: Narra mihi, iuvenis, quid habes. Forsitan mea eris medicatus medela. Cui iuvenis dixit: Diligo uxorem talis viri, sed precor sis aminiculum nostro amori: tribuam tibi | grata dona.

To whom she said: Tell me, young man, what you have. Perhaps you will be my healing cure. To whom the young man said: I love the wife of such a man, but I pray you be a little cloak to our love: I will grant you | pleasing gifts.

Ait anus: Sit hoc in me. Juit anus et fecit figmenta, quoniam sciebat illam nullo modo esse facturam voluntatem eius, et temperavit massam cum aliis et pipere et butiro et lacte et dedit cani sue. Et canis libenter comedit, quia sapuit sibi. Juit autem anus in domum puelle, et canis post eam.

The old woman said: Let this be on me. The old woman ordered and made confections, because she knew that she would in no way do his will, and she tempered the dough with other things and with pepper and butter and milk and gave it to her dog. And the dog gladly ate, because it tasted good to him. The old woman then went into the girl’s house, and the dog after her.

Videns autem puella anum illico surrexit et honoravit eam et posuit ei mensam cum deliciis, et canis stabat coram ea et respiciebat anum, ut daret sibi aliquid de mensa, et oculi eius lacrimabantur pre ardore piperis et aliorum. Cepitque anus similiter plorare. Cui dixit puella: Mi domina, quare ploras?

Seeing the old woman, the girl immediately rose and honoured her and set a table for her with delicacies, and the dog stood before her and looked toward the old woman, so that she might give him something from the table, and his eyes were watering from the heat of the pepper and other things. And the old woman likewise began to weep. To whom the girl said: "My lady, why do you weep?"

Que dixit: Ista catula puella pulcra fuit nimis et filia mea fuit. Et dilexit eam quidam iuvenis, et noluit audire illum. Ille vero pre nimio dolore languit, clamavit ad dominum et conversa est in canem.

Who said: That little female puppy was very beautiful and was my daughter. And a certain young man loved her, and she would not listen to him. He, however, from excessive sorrow languished, cried to the Lord, and she was turned into a dog.

Et modo ex quo me prospicit, sequitur et flet, eo quod non fecerit voluntatem iuvenis. Tunc dixit puella: Heu me, domina mi! Ecce quidam iuvenis amat me et pre amore cecidit in lectum; timeo enim, ne eveniat mihi ut catule tue. Sed perge queso et duc illum ad me, ut faciat voluntatem suam.

And now from the time he looks upon me, he follows and weeps, because I did not fulfill the youth’s will. Then the girl said: Alas me, my lady! See, a certain youth loves me and through love has fallen upon his bed; for I fear lest it happen to me as to your puppy. But go on, I beg, and bring him to me, that he may do his will.

Tunc festinavit anus ad iuvenem et non invenit eum dixitque: Ecce iuvenem non invenio: quero ergo alium et coniungam eum sibi et tollam mihi donum. Juit anus in vicum et reperit iuvenem unum et dixit ei: Est tibi, lumen iuvenis, ardor in puella pulcra nimis et in nectare ciborum et potuum? Cui iuvenis: Est itaque et multum.

Then the old woman hastened to the young man and did not find him, and she said: Behold, I do not find the young man; I will therefore seek another and join him to her and take a gift for myself. The old woman went into the village and found one young man and said to him: Is there in you, O light of youth, a burning for a girl too fair and for the nectar of foods and drinks? To whom the young man: There is therefore, and very much.

Et ipse erat maritus ipsius puelle. Dixit ipse | in corde suo: Ibo post istam et cognoscam ubi me ducet, quia non est meretrix in terra ista. Juitque post eam usque ad hostium domus sue.

And he himself was the husband of that very girl. He himself said | in his heart: I will go after that woman and learn where she will lead me, for she is not a harlot in this land. And he followed her as far as the house of her hosts.

Mox intravit ipse cum nimio furore. Et ecce illa lavata et uncta musco levansque oculos et videns maritum cucurrit et accepit illum per capillos et barbam et ait: Omnia ad me hec pertinent, et hoc est fedus inter nos. Ego cognovi adventum tuum; ideo surrexi suadente (hac). Sic ergo fecisti in terra aliena?

Soon he himself entered with excessive fury. And behold she, washed and anointed with moss, lifting her eyes and seeing her husband, ran and seized him by the hair and beard and said: "All these things pertain to me, and this is the pact between us. I knew your arrival; therefore I rose at its urging (hac). So then did you act thus in a foreign land?"

Quod cernens anus fugam aripuit. Ille vero precabatur uxorem dicens: Non dicas meam esse culpam, quia certe ipse hacmet turbatus sum et aduxit me huc. Illa vero clamabat: Non!

Seeing this the old woman snatched at flight. He, however, prayed to his wife, saying: "Do not say that it is my fault, for certainly I myself am by this very thing troubled and she brought me hither." She, however, cried out: "No!"

Sic eciam ivisses in domum alienam, invide et inique. Ille vero dedit ei dona, et sic ipsa recepit eum in domum.-Unde, domine Rex, vita ne decipiaris a falaciis mulierum. Et precepit Rex ut non interficeretur filius suus.

Thus you would also have gone into another's house, envious and unjust. But he gave her gifts, and so she received him into the house. - Wherefore, my lord King, that I not be deceived by the deceits of women. And the King commanded that his son should not be killed.

Venit mulier die tercia et dixit Regi: Audisti consilium sapientum perfidorum et non interficis filium tuum, qui voluit fallere me ad ignoranciam senectutis tue? Faciet mihi deus vindictam in te et in consiliariis tuis, sicut fecit consiliario regis Boçre. Dixit rex: Quomodo fuit?

A woman came on the third day and said to the King: Have you heard the counsel of the perfidious wise men and will you not kill your son, who wished to deceive me by the ignorance of your old age? God will exact vengeance for me upon you and upon your counselors, as he did upon the counselor of King Boçre. The king said: How was it?

6. Reginae secunda historia: Striga + Fons

6. The queen's second story: Striga + Fountain

Fuit Regi Boçre filius unus et amabat eum sicut animam suam et non dimittebat eum exire extra civitatem, ne forte occurreret sibi langoris occasio. Rogavit autem puer quendam sapientem consiliarium patris, ut rogaret patrem suum ut equitaret et iret venatum. Tunc | consiliarius locutus est cum Rege, sicut voluit puer.

Fuit Regi Boçre filius unus et amabat eum sicut animam suam et non dimittebat eum exire extra civitatem, ne forte occurreret sibi langoris occasio. Rogavit autem puer quendam sapientem consiliarium patris, ut rogaret patrem suum ut equitaret et iret venatum. Tunc | the counselor spoke with the King, as the boy wished.

Dixitque rex consiliario: Exi tu cum eo. Dixitque consiliarius: Libenter. Tunc exivit filius regis cum consiliario et videntes cervum in agro cucurrerunt post eum. Et dixit consiliarius: Relinquite filium Regis solum, ut sequatur cervum, et hoc causa adiscendi.

And the king said to his counselor: "Go out with him." And the counselor said: "Gladly." Then the king's son went out with the counselor, and seeing a stag in the field they ran after it. And the counselor said: "Leave the king's son alone, that he may follow the stag, and this for the sake of learning."

Et secutus est filius Regis cervum et elongatus est a sociis suis et non potuit redire ad socios, quoniam erraverat in nemore. At illi quesierunt eum et non invenientes redierunt ad regem et dixerunt: Venit leo inter nos et comedit filium tuum. Tunc scidit Rex vestes suas et turbatus est pro filio.

And the King's son followed the stag and was separated from his companions and could not return to his companions, because he had gone astray in the wood. But they sought him and, not finding him, returned to the king and said: A lion came among us and devoured your son. Then the King tore his garments and was distraught for his son.

At puer erat in silva et vidit puellam formosissimam et clamavit ad eam et ait: Que es tu? Mox illa: Filia regis sum: sompnus decepit me iacentem super elephantem, qui eduxit me de via, et cecidi de eo et remansi hic. Accipe me super caballum tuum et libera me. Cui dixit puer: Etiam filius regis sum, et sic evenit mihi. Dixit puella: Ego cognosco viam.

Now the boy was in the wood and saw a most beautiful girl and cried to her and said: "Who are you?" Soon she: "I am the king's daughter: sleep deceived me while lying upon an elephant, which led me off the road, and I fell from it and remained here. Take me upon your horse and free me." To which the boy said: "I also am the king's son, and so it happened to me." The girl said: "I know the way."

Et recepit eam in equo post se, et perrexerunt et venerunt ad qoddam desertum, et dixit puella: Descendo et lavabo pedes meos. Descendit et venit ad locum in quo morabatur. Videns autem puer quod moram feceret, descendit de equo et speculabatur a foramine parietis.

And he took her on the horse behind him, and they proceeded and came to a certain desert, and the girl said: I will dismount and wash my feet. She dismounted and came to the place in which she was staying. But the boy, seeing that she was delaying, dismounted from the horse and peered through a hole in the wall.

Ecce puella erat striga, et stabat cum aliis et dicebat: Ego duxi filium regis usque huc. Alie autem strige dixerunt: Duc eum ad talem locum, et faciemus | voluntatem nostram. Audivit hoc iuvenis et timuit et reversus est in equum suum.

Behold, the girl was a witch, and she stood with others and said: I have led the king’s son up to here. But the other witches said: Lead him to such a place, and we will do | our will. The youth heard this and feared and returned to his horse.

Et striga reversa est in puellam et exiit et ascendit equum. Et ipse teritus tremebat pre nimio pavore et mutata est facies eius. Et cognovit mulier quod teritus esset et dixit: Quid times, puer?

And the witch returned into the girl and went out and mounted the horse. And he, terrified, trembled from excessive fear, and his face was changed. And the woman perceived that he was terrified and said: "Why do you fear, boy?"

Ille respondit: Est mihi amicus fictus et malus et timeo eum. At illa: Nonne dicis quod pater tuus est Rex? Et ait ipse: Pater meus non habet potestatem in eum.

He answered: He is to me a fictitious and evil friend, and I fear him. But she: Do you not say that your father is King? And he said: My father does not have power over him.

Illa dixit: Decipe eum in argento et auro. Cui puer: Nequeo eum amicum facere argento vel auro. Illa autem dixit: Clama ad deum super ipsum.

She said: Bind him in silver and gold. To whom the boy replied: I cannot make him a friend with silver or gold. But she said: Call upon God against him.

Puer autem erexit utrasque palmas ad sydera et dixit: Deus, libera me de manu istius strige, ut non sim sub eius potestate. Ut autem vidit quod nota erat puero, cecidit de equo et fregit utrasque cossas. Ipse vero fugiebat per desertum et siciebat multum.

But the boy uplifted both palms to the stars and said: "God, deliver me from the hand of that witch, that I may not be under her power." And when she saw that she was recognized by the boy, she fell from the horse and broke both legs. He, however, fled across the desert and was very thirsty.

Et venit ad quendam fontem, de quo quicumque bibebat si masculus erat vertebatur in feminam, et si femina erat vertebatur in masculum. Et ipse nesciebat, sed bibit, et versus est in feminam et cepit lacrimari et timebat adhuc bibere de aqua. Et ipse mestus mansit in illa nocte ibi, et ecce turba puellarum venit et ludebant et cantabant iuxta fontem.

And he came to a certain spring, from which whoever drank—if a masculus was he—was turned into a femina, and if a femina was she—was turned into a masculus. And he himself did not know, but he drank, and was turned into a femina and began to weep and was still afraid to drink of the water. And he himself remained sorrowful that night there, and behold a throng of puellae came and played and sang beside the spring.

Surrexit etiam ipse ad ludendum cum eis, quia credebant se factum esse strigam. Interrogaverunt eum puelle et dixerunt: Quis es tu et unde venis? Ipse autem narravit omnia que | acciderant sibi.

He himself also rose up to play with them, for they believed that he had been made a striga. The girls asked him and said: Who are you and whence do you come? He, however, related all the things which | had happened to him.

Cui una illarum dixit: Jura mihi quod ducas me uxorem et liberabo te et revocabo ad patrem tuum. Et iuravit ei. Et illa: Bibe de aqua fontis illius. Bibit et mutatus est in masculum.

To whom one of them said: Swear to me that you will take me as your wife, and I will free you and will bring you back to your father. And he swore to her. And she said: Drink of the water of that spring. He drank and was changed into a male.

Illa autem accepit eum et reduxit ad patrem suum. Ipse vero retulit patri omnia visa. Tunc iussit Rex dampnari consiliarium.

She, however, took him and led him back to her father. He, moreover, reported to his father all that had been seen. Then the King ordered the counselor to be condemned.

-Sic deus faciat vindictam in te sicut fecit in filio regis. Tunc precepit Rex occidi filium suum.

-Thus may God visit vengeance upon you as he did on the king's son. Then the King ordered his son to be killed.

Affuit postea tercius sapiens et adorans eum dixit: Noli dampnare filium tuum, ne paciaris quemadmodum comes Imperatoris. Dixit rex: Quomodo fuit? Dixit sapiens:

Then there appeared a third wise man, and worshipping him he said: Do not condemn your son, lest you suffer as the emperor’s companion did. The king said: How was that? The wise man said:

7. Tertii sapientis prima historia: Canis

7. The third sage's first story: The Dog

Fuit quidam comes Imperatoris qui sedebat in domo sua et habebat quendam parvulum natum, et iacebat coram eo et non erat in domo alius preter eum. Misit autem Cesar et vocavit eum. Ille vero surrexit et ivit ad eum et reliquid cum infante canem, venatorem sagacem, inferius, qui canis iacebat iuxta puerum.

A certain companion of the emperor was sitting in his house and had a little newborn, and a cradle lay before him and there was no one else in the house besides him. Caesar sent for him and called him. He rose and went to him and left behind with the infant a dog, a keen hunting hound, lying below, which dog lay beside the boy.

Et ecce serpens affuit et insurrexit in puerum. Cucurrit canis et presit serpentem et obviavit supradicto domino. Os autem canis plenum erat sanguine.

And behold a serpent was present and rose up against the boy. The dog ran and pressed upon the serpent and went to meet the aforesaid master. But the dog's mouth was full of blood.

Comes ille videns hec timuit propter filium et evaginato gladio interfecit canem. Et vadens domum reperit puerum iacentem | et serpentem mortuum iuxta eum, et vidit quod sine causa peremit canem et penituit facti. -Nunc vide, domine, ne dissipes filium pro ingenio mulieris, ne forte fallat te ut quedam anus.

That count, seeing these things, feared for his son and, drawing his sword, killed the dog. And going home he found the boy lying | and the dead serpent beside him, and he saw that he had slain the dog without cause and repented of the deed. -Now see, lord, do not lose your son for the wit/ingenium of a woman, lest perhaps some old woman deceive you.

Et dixit Rex: Dic, quomodo fuit? Et ait:

And the King said: "Tell, how was it?" And he said:

8. Tertii sapientis secunda historia: Pallium

8. The third sage's second story: The Pallium

Quidam iuvenis adamavit quandam feminam maritatam et cupiebat nimis concumbere cum ea. Tunc dedit premia cuidam vetule ut ei suaderet. Cui dixit anus: Surge, iuvenis, perge ad forum mariti et eme paliolum et ducito ad me. Quod factum est. Anus vero accepit paliolum et incidit in tres partes et ivit ad domum puelle.

A certain youth fell in love with a certain married woman and desired exceedingly to lie with her. Then he gave rewards to a certain old woman to persuade her. To whom the old woman said: "Rise, youth, go to the husband's market and buy a little cloak and bring it to me." Which was done. The old woman indeed took the little cloak and cut it into three parts and went to the girl's house.

Mox puella surrexit et intravit alium thalamum, ut ferret panem vetule. Et anus posuit paliolum supra sedile in quo consueverat maritus sedere et a domo recessit. Venit maritus sero et sedit super sedile in quo consueverat propter palium quod erat subtus se. Quod abstulit et cognovit quia erat illud quod vendiderat iuveni dixitque in corde suo: Revera concubuit cum uxore mea; emit enim hanc vestem a me et oblitus est eam hic.

Soon the girl rose and entered another bedchamber to bring the old woman bread. And the old woman placed the little cloak upon the seat on which her husband was accustomed to sit and withdrew from the house. The husband came late and sat upon the seat on which he was accustomed because of the cloak that lay beneath him. He lifted it up and recognized it, for it was the very garment he had sold to the young man, and he said in his heart: Truly he has lain with my wife; for he bought this garment from me and left it here.

Et statim verberavit uxorem et proiecit eam de domo et non dixit quare. Mulier autem perrexit ad domum patris sui. Et anus secuta est eam et dixit illi: Quid enim est, filia mea?

And immediately he struck his wife and cast her out of the house and did not say why. The woman, however, went to her father's house. And the old woman followed her and said to her: What, then, is it, my daughter?

At illa: Vir meus verberavit me | et nescio quare. Et ait anus: Veni mecum ad quendam bonum senem qui mittit pacem in virum et mulierem. Et surgens perrexit cum ea. Tunc anus duxit eam ad iuvenem et clausit hostium post eam.

But she: My husband struck me | and I know not why. And the old woman said: Come with me to a certain good old man who sends peace between husband and wife. And rising, she went with her. Then the old woman led her to the young man and shut the doors behind her.

Iuvenis vero amplexiatus est eam et iacuit cum ea. Illa vero timuit clamare pre turpitudine. Post hec reversa est dolore plena, quoniam illusa erat. Vetula autem ivit ad domum mariti et invenit eum ibi et flevit alte.

The young man indeed embraced her and lay with her. She, however, was afraid to cry out for shame. After this she returned full of pain, since she had been deceived. The old woman, however, went to her husband's house and found him there and wept loudly.

Cui vir: Cur fles? Dixit anus: Veni huc nudius tercius et inportavi in manu mea pallium unum adustum in tribus partibus, quod mihi dedit quidam iuvenis, ut portarem ad sutorem; at nescio si hic dimisi eum vel alibi. Et iuvenis cuius erat criminatur me. Et ille: Turbasti me; unde feci mala coniugi mee.

To whom the husband: Why do you weep? The old woman said: I came here three days ago and brought in my hand one cloak burned in three places, which a certain young man gave me to carry to the cobbler; but I do not know whether I let him go here or elsewhere. And the young man whose it was accuses me. And he said: You disturbed me; wherefore I did harm to my wife.

Tunc dedit ei pallium misitque ad uxorem et fecit eam venire ad se cum magno dono. -Ideo, domine Rex, vita fallaciam mulieris. Tunc precepit Rex non occidi filium suum.

Then he gave her a pallium (cloak) and sent it to his wife and made her come to him with a great gift. -Therefore, Lord King, behold the deceit of the woman. Then the King commanded that his son not be killed.

Interea venit mulier die quarta et dixit: Ostendat deus de te sicut de symia. Dixit Rex: Quomodo fuit de illa? At ille.

Meanwhile the woman came on the fourth day and said: "May God show concerning you as concerning the monkey." The King said: "How was it with her?" But he.

9. Reginae tertia historia: Simia

9. The queen's third story: The Ape

Fuit quedam turba rusticorum. Et venerunt nocte et aplicuerunt in domo una in quodam vico, ubi erat fur. Et posuerunt sarcinas in medio foro, et ipsi iacebant circumquaque.

Fuit quedam turba rusticorum. And there was a certain throng of rustics. And they came by night and lodged in one house in a certain street, where a thief was. And they set their sarcinas in the middle of the forum, and they themselves lay around about.

Animalia vero | stabant ibi. Sero venit leo, ut caperet de animalibus, et stabat in medio sellorum donec homines traderent se sopori. Interea fur cepit in obscuro tangere sellos et posuit manum super leonem et equitavit super eum.

Animals, however | stood there. Late came a lion, to seize from the animals, and he stood in the midst of the saddles until the men gave themselves over to sleep. Meanwhile the thief began in the dark to feel the saddles and put his hand upon the lion and rode upon him.

Teritus leo cepit fugere et exiens foras ad lunam. Vidensque leonem timuit descendere de dorso eius, ne eum occideret, et ipse leo timebat hominem fugiebatque cum eo. Et duxit sub quadam arbore et ascendit sursum leone fugiente adhuc. Tunc reperit eum symia et dixit: Quid habes, magne imperator, quid fugis?

The terrified lion began to flee and, going out outdoors toward the moon. And seeing the lion he feared to descend from his back, lest he kill him, and the lion himself feared the man and fled with him. And he led him under a certain tree and climbed up while the lion was still fleeing. Then a she-ape found him and said: What ails you, great emperor, why do you flee?

Leo dixit: Pro homine fugio. Ait symia: Ubi est homo? Duc me ad eum.

The lion said: "I flee on account of the man." The she-monkey said: "Where is the man? Lead me to him."

Ait leo: Vade ante et sequar te. Tunc leo ostendit symie arborem in qua erat homo. Symis autem aspiciens per rimas arborum vidit hominem et ascendit sursum, ut faleret eum. Poro homo cepit eam per testiculos, et cepit fugere nimis.

The lion said: Go before and I will follow you. Then the lion showed the she-ape the tree in which the man was. The she-ape, however, looking through the cracks of the trees, saw the man and climbed up, to seize him. The man seized her by the testicles, and began to flee excessively.

Tunc dixit leo symie: Nonne dixi tibi: Vita ingenium hominis, quia magnum est! Et leo fugit et reliquid symiam in manu hominis. -Ita tradet te deus, Rex, qui ascultas tuos consiliarios.

Then the lion said to the ape: Did I not tell you: Life is the ingenium of man, because it is great! And the lion fled and left the ape in the hand of the man. —Thus will God deliver you, King, who listen to your counselors.

Tunc Rex iussit occidi filium suum.

Then the King ordered his son to be killed.

Venit quartus et adoravit regem et ait: Oro, domine, ne tradas filium tuum morti, ne peniteas sicut fecit quidam negociator. Dixit Rex: | Quid fecit? Dixit sapiens:

The fourth came and adored the King and said: I beg you, lord, do not deliver your son to death, do not repent as a certain merchant did. The King said: | What did he do? The wise man said:

10. Quarti sapientis prima historia: Panes

10. The fourth sage's first story: Loaves

Fuit quidam negociator deliciosus et venit in civitatem Babilonie et iussit ministrum suum emere sibi panem de symilla. Qui videns in foro ancillam cum bucellis emit et portavit ad dominum suum. Quo viso dominus ait: Ubi est ancilla que fecit istas bucellas?

Fuit a certain negotiator, a delicately luxurious merchant, and he came into the city of Babylon and ordered his minister to buy for him bread of simila. Who, seeing in the market a maidservant with bucellas, bought them and carried them to his master. When this was seen the master said: Where is the maid who made these bucellas?

Apte sunt mihi et multum mihi conplacent. Ipse vero minister emebat cottidie. Accidit autem quadam die quod illa ancilla non habuit bucellas.

They suit me well and please me greatly. The steward himself, however, used to buy daily. But it came to pass one day that that maid had no bucellas (little loaves).

Et reversus ille ad dominum ait: Domine, non inveni panem apud illam ancillam. Dixit ei dominus: Duc eam ad me, ut indicet mihi quomodo fecit panem illum, ut ego faciam similiter. Fecit servus ut iussit dominus.

And he returned to his lord and said: "Master, I did not find bread with that maid." The lord said to him: "Bring her to me, that she may show me how she made that bread, so that I may make likewise." The servant did as the lord commanded.

Cui ait: Quomodo faciebas panem quam vendisti servo meo? Cui illa: Dominus meus fuit eger et habebat in corpore suo vulnus magnum et malum. Et iusserant medici libram masse temperare cum pigmentis et aromatibus et çucharo et ponere super vulnus et stare tota nocte, donec lamberet vulnus.

Cui ait: How did you make the bread which you sold to my servant? Cui illa: My lord was ill and had on his body a great and grievous wound. And the physicians had ordered a pound of masse to be tempered with pigments and aromatics and çucharo and to be placed upon the wound and to remain the whole night, until the wound licked (it).

Mane autem facto faciebam bucellas et coquebam in clibano et veniebam ad forum. Modo ille est sanus et non est necesse facere amplius. Hoc audiens ille, nausea facta est illi et viscera eius sunt mota, et clamavit et penituit, nec iuvit eum.

But once morning had come I was making little loaves and baking in the oven and I was going to the market. Now he is healthy and it is not necessary to make more. Hearing this, nausea seized him and his entrails were stirred, and he cried out and repented, nor did it profit him.

-Et nunc, domine Rex, cave, ne taliter eveniat tibi et peniteas et ne decipiat te mulier, quoniam ingenium mulieris magnum | est, sicut decepit quedam virum suum. Dixit Rex: Narra quomodo fuit. Dixit ille:

-And now, lord King, beware, lest such a thing happen to you and you repent, and lest a woman deceive you, since a woman's ingenuity is great | as a certain woman deceived her husband. The King said: Tell how it was. He said:

11. Quarti sapientis secunda historia: Zuchara.

11. The second history of the fourth sage: Zuchara.

Quidam homo erat eger et desiderabat multum comedere granum coctum cum çucharo. Qui ait uxori sue: Tolle denarios et eme mihi çucharam. Quo dicto perrexit uxor eius ad forum et dixit negociatori: Habes çucharam?

A certain man was poor and longed greatly to eat cooked grain with sugar. He said to his wife: "Take denarii and buy me sugar." With these words his wife went to the market and said to the merchant: "Have you sugar?"

Vir enim meus amat ipsius dulcedinem. Et ille: Si vir tuus cupit mee çuchare, ego tue çuchare nectar desidero; et si vis de mea ego de tua, redeamus nobis invicem. Tunc manicha colecta ad os subrisit, et risu iam favet dans.

For my husband loves its very sweetness. And he: If your husband desires to sugar me, I desire the nectar of your sugar; and if you want from mine, I from yours — let us return them to one another. Then the little hand, brought to the mouth, smiled, and, now favouring with a laugh, gave it.

Ipse vero cognoscens velle mulieris dedit ei amplexum, prius ligando çucharam in mantile eius. Postea ducens eam in cubile usus est ea ad libitum. Inter hoc iusit ille clam servo suo ut levaret çucharam de mantili et ligaret in ea pulverem.

He himself, however, knowing the woman's wish, gave her an embrace, first tying the spoon into her kerchief. Afterwards, leading her to the bed, he used her at will. Meanwhile he secretly ordered his slave to lift the spoon from the kerchief and to put powder on it.

Quod et factum est. Tunc illa surgens de adulterio et accipiens mantile ivit in domum suam et nesciebat si in eo esset çuchara vel aliud. Ponens mantile ante maritum intravit alium thalamum, ut acciperet ollam et coqueret frumentum cum çuchara.

Which was done. Then she, rising from the adultery and taking the mantle, went into her house and did not know whether in it there was a çuchara or anything else. Placing the mantle before her husband she entered another bedchamber, that she might take the pot and cook grain with the çuchara.

Tunc maritus eius soluit mantile, ut videret çucharam, et invento ibi pulvere vocavit uxorem dicens: Quare pulveres mihi atulisti? Quo audito mulier dimisit ollam et tulit cribrum, in quo misit pulveres et dixit: Nescis quid mihi accidit : Cum irem ad forum, homines inpinxerunt in me | et numos diffuderunt. Et ego congregavi pulveres illos et misi in mantile ut cribrarem et invenirem illos.

Then her husband loosed the mantle to see the ladle, and finding dust there he called his wife, saying: Why did you bring me powders? At this hearing the woman let fall the pot and took the sieve, into which she put the powders and said: Do you not know what happened to me? When I went to the market, men pressed upon me | and scattered coins. And I gathered up those powders and put them into the mantle to sift them and to find them.

Et credidit maritus verbis mulieris. -Ita, rex, caveas de ingenio mulieris, ne faciat te occidere filium tuum. Et precepit Rex ut non occideretur filius suus.

And the husband believed the woman's words. -Thus, O king, beware of the woman's ingenuity, lest she cause your son to be put to death. And the King commanded that his son not be killed.

Quinta vero die venit uxor Regis ad eum et dixit: Domine, non facis vindictam de filio tuo, qui voluit facere turpidinem patri suo? Sed deus faciet mihi vindictam de te, sicut fecit cuidam vindictam de porco. Dixit Rex: Quomodo fuit?

On the fifth day moreover the king’s wife came to him and said: Lord, do you not take vengeance on your son, who wished to do shame to his father? But God will take vengeance for me on you, as he took vengeance on a certain pig. The King said: How was it?

Narra mihi. Et illa dixit:

Tell me. And she said:

12. Reginae quarta historia: Aper

12. The queen's fourth story: The Boar

Quidam agricola ivit in agrum suum. Et ecce exiit sus de villa cum magna ira et ibat insequendo eum per silvam. Homo autem ascendit in arborem fici.

Quidam agricola ivit in agrum suum. And behold a sow came out of the villa with great ire and was going, pursuing him through the wood. The man, however, climbed into a fig-tree.

Tunc sus videns eum stantem in arbore cepit ficum dentibus rumpere. Homo autem ingeniose cepit iactare ficus de arbore, sus autem cepit illas manducare. Deficientibus autem ficubus cepit caput erigere contra hominem, quatinus ei de ficubus iactaret, et tantum respexit eum, ut nervi eius torti sunt et sus mortuus est.

Then the pig, seeing him standing in the tree, began to break off figs with its teeth. But the man cleverly began to throw the figs down from the tree, and the pig began to eat them. When the figs failed, it began to rear its head against the man, so that he might throw figs at it, and it looked back at him with such force that his sinews were twisted and the pig died.

-Ita et deus faciet mihi vindictam de te. Tunc precepit rex occidi filium suum.

-So likewise God will do vengeance for me against you. Then the king ordered that his son be killed.

In quinta autem die venit consiliarius regis et prostratus coram eo dixit: Rogo te, domine Rex, asculta consilium meum et non facies occidi filium tuum, ne peniteas sicut penituit quidam homo, qui erat dominus balnei. Dixit Rex: Quomodo fuit? Et ille ait:

On the fifth day, however, the king’s counselor came and, prostrate before him, said: I beg you, lord King, hear my counsel and do not have your son put to death, lest you repent as a certain man repented, who was the master of the bath. The King said: How was that? And he said:

13. Quinti sapientis prima historia: Balneator

13. The first story of Quintus the Wise: The Bath-attendant

Quidam filius regis ivit ad balneum causa lavandi se corpus suum, et cum expoliaret vestes et videret eum dominus balnei quod esset pinguis, cepit flere. Cui dixit filius regis: Cur fles? Dixit balneator: Pater tuus fuit dilectus ab omnibus et faciebat legem et iusticiam in populo suo.

Nunc autem timeo, ne memoria eius pereat. Dixit filius regis: Pro qua causa? Ait ille: Quia nequis iungi mulieribus ut mos est.

Now however I fear lest his memoria perish. The king's son said: For what cause? He said: Because that no one is joined to women as is the custom.

Dixit filius regis: Accipe centum soldos et aducas ad me mulierem pulcram, et tu poteris videre si possum mulierem cognoscere. Dixit balneator: Ipse non potest copulari cum femina, et uxor mea valde pulchra est: ducam ego eam sibi et lucrabit centum soldos. Hoc cogitando inquid: Formose iuvenis, formosior a me tibi ducentur iuvencula.

The king’s son said: Take one hundred coins and bring to me a beautiful woman, and you will be able to see whether I can recognize a woman. The bath-keeper said: He himself cannot copulate with a woman, and my wife is very beautiful: I will bring her to him and he will gain one hundred coins. Thinking this, he said: Fair youth, a young woman more beautiful than I will be brought to you by me.

Quo dicto velociter cucurrit domum et uxorem suam aduxit ad filium regis. Qua visa gavisus est filius regis valde et osculatus est eam valde satis et dixit balneatori: Recede et abi in aulam aliam, quia iam delector facere. Respondit balneator: Fac quod potes.

With that said he ran quickly home and brought his wife to the king's son. When she was seen the king's son was very glad and kissed her very much indeed, and said to the bath-attendant: Withdraw and go into another hall, for I now desire to do so. The bath-attendant answered: Do what you can.

Et gaudens recessit gaudentemque illum dimisit. Speculabatur tamen a parvo foramine. Mox ubi vidit filius regis faciebat rem quam non putavit, magno dolore ductus ivit ad fores balnei et dixit: O miser et iam miseranda, usque quo eris subagitata?

And rejoicing he withdrew and dismissed him rejoicing. Yet he peered through a small hole. Soon when he saw, the son of the king was doing a thing which he had not supposed; led by great sorrow he went to the doors of the bath and said: O wretched one and now to be pitied, how long will you be driven about?

Veni, iam tempus est ut redeas. Respondit uxor: O infelix et vere infelix cucurbita, deceptus anili adolescente, que spes decepit te, ut me huc duceres? Dic mihi quomodo possum ad te venire, quia iam spopondisti ut hic mecum gauderet | usque sero.

Come, now it is time that you return. Respondit uxor: O unhappy and truly unhappy gourd, deceived by an old-woman’s youth, which hope deceived you, that you would lead me hither? Tell me how I can come to you, for you have already pledged that he should rejoice here with me | until late.

Ea tacente locutus est balneator filio regis dicens: O pinguis, qui ob ipsam corporis tui pinguedinem pecultus es, quid facis? Dimitte mulierem. Respondit filius regis: O macer, sede et quiesce, quia ego laboro per te usque ad serotinam horam.

She being silent, the bath-attendant spoke to the king’s son, saying: O fat one, who, on account of the very fatness of your body, are pampered, what do you do? Send away the woman. The king’s son answered: O lean one, sit and be still, for I labour by you even until the late hour.

Hec audiens balneator maiori dolore comotus timens cum filio regis rixam facere ivit domum et laqueo se suspendit. Nunc ergo, domine, cave ne accidat tibi sicut illi; nam si interfeceris filium tuum, pre dolore tui cordis postea morieris. Et sicut supra mulierum sapienciam maior est sapiencia virorum, sic ingenium earum vincit ingenium virorum.

Hearing this, the bath-attendant, stirred by the greater grief and fearing to make a quarrel with the king’s son, went home and hanged himself with a noose. Now therefore, lord, beware that what befell him does not befall you; for if you kill your son, you will afterwards die from the pain of your heart. And just as above the wisdom of men is greater than the wisdom of women, so the ingenuity of women conquers the ingenuity of men.

Et sicut postea vulpis est parva inter feras, ita ingenio suo vincit omnes feras. Et cave ne vincaris ab uxore tua, sicut uxor Serve vicit virum suum ingenio suo qui fortissimus (erat) virorum in gente sua, et uxor sua superavit eum ingenio suo. Dixit Rex: Quomodo fuit?

And just as afterwards the fox is small among the wild beasts, so by its cunning it conquers all the beasts. And beware lest you be overcome by your wife, just as the wife of Servus conquered her husband by her wit — he who was the bravest of men in his people — and his wife overcame him by her cunning. The King said: How was it?

Et respondens sapiens dixit:

And answering, the wise man said:

14. Quinti sapientis secunda historia: Gladius

14. The second story of Quintus the Wise: The Sword

Fuit quidam vir Serve nomine in provincia Babilonie, alacer et fortis. Accidit autem ut cum festinancia militaret ad bellandum cum hoste suo. Illo autem eunte uxor sua misit ad amicum suum, ut veniret et concumberet secum.

There was a certain man named Servus in the province of Babylon, lively and strong. It happened that, hurriedly, he was serving as a soldier to go to war against his enemy. But as he was going, his wife sent to his friend that he should come and lie with her.

Amicus autem suus misit puerum suum, ut prepararet se. Ipso autem faciente moram et amoris igne crescente concubuit cum legato, non tantum propter delectationem quam propter expectatam amici moram. -Unde certum est quod, si femina vocat amantem et stans in ipso ardore nequid eum habere, si adest aliquis in presenti, utitur eo; tanta est malicia faminarum. -Interea videns | amicus eius quod puer quem misit moram faceret, ense acincto venit ad domum amice.

But his friend sent his boy to make preparations. While he himself delayed and the fire of love growing, he lay with the envoy, not so much for delight as because of the expected delay of his friend. -Whence it is certain that, if a woman calls her lover and, standing in that very ardor, if someone is present, she makes use of him; so great is the malice of women. -Meanwhile, seeing | his friend that the boy whom he had sent was causing delay, girded with a sword came to his friend's house.

Mulier autem ficta causa stans in balneo vidit eum venientem ad se et statim celavit puerum in thalamo suo, et ascendens amans salutavit eam dicens: Saluto. Et illa resalutato eo dixit: Sedeatis. Hiis sedentibus et loquentibus, ecce Serve veniebat.

But the woman, for a feigned cause, standing in the bath saw him coming to her and immediately hid the boy in her bedchamber, and the lover, ascending, greeted her, saying: "I greet." And she, having returned the greeting to him, said: "Be seated." While these were sitting and speaking, behold Serve was coming.

Cum autem videret eum uxor eius, dixit in se ipsa: Quid faciam? Si abscondero hunc hic, malum est, quia puer eciam eius est hic absconsus; et si vir meus invenerit ambos in domo sua, requiret causam, et quid responsura sim ignoro, et ita erunt duo hii occisi pro me, et demum me ipsam mactabit in tanto scelere deprehensam. Et quamvis forsitan non erimus mortui, ero tamen nota rea marito ob amici et pueri absconsionem et ob hoc ab omnibus vituperata mortalibus, tam viris quam mulieribus.

When his wife saw him, she said to herself: What shall I do? If I hide this one here, it is evil, because his boy also is hidden here; and if my husband finds both in his house, he will require a cause, and what I shall answer I do not know, and thus these two will be killed on account of me, and finally he will slay me myself, caught in so great a crime. And although perhaps we shall not be killed, I will nevertheless be known as guilty to my husband because of the hiding of the friend and the boy, and on this account be reproached by all mortals, both men and women.

Ego ipsa utile consilium mihi dabo: pandam hos. Hiis autem ostensis culpe fama erit celata; si autem eos occultavero, culpa patefiet. Moxque dixit amico: Dulcissime amice, si vis evadere, extrahe arma et evaginato nucrone sta iuxta portam curie et magna voce vocifera, et si dixerit vir meus quid habes, saltem noli dicere ei fingendo te mutum.

I myself will give myself a useful counsel: I will expose these. But with these having been shown, the fault will be hidden by rumor; however if I shall have concealed them, the blame will be laid bare. And soon she said to her friend: "Dearest friend, if you wish to escape, draw out your arms and, with the blade bared, stand beside the gate of the curia and shout with a loud voice; and if my husband says, 'What do you have?', at least do not tell him, pretending yourself mute."

Fecit ille ut mulier iusserat. Et ecce Serve afuit et ait illi clamanti: Quid habes? Ille vero quasi accensus furia nil respondit, sed magis clamabat.

He did as the woman had commanded. And behold, the servant was there and said to him who was shouting: "Quid habes?" He, however, as if kindled by fury, answered nothing, but shouted all the more.

Tunc Serve intrans domum dixit uxori: Quid habet homo ille? Respondit illa: Hic homicida iratus est super servum suum et insecutus est eum evaginato | gladio, ut eum occideret; hic autem multum verberatus vix evasit ab eius manibus, deinde videns dominum suum volentem eum occidere fugit et venit huc et commendavit vitam suam tuo auxilio qui fortissimus es, credens hic te esse: propter hoc clamabat ille tali modo. Tu autem deo volente venisti: facito de eo quod vis.

Then the slave, entering the house, said to his wife: What has that man? She answered: This man, the murderer, was enraged against his slave and pursued him with a drawn | sword, to kill him; this one, however, having been much beaten, scarcely escaped from his hands, then, seeing his master wishing to kill him, fled and came here and entrusted his life to your aid, you who are most brave, believing you to be here: for this reason he was shouting in that manner. But you came, God willing: do with him what you will.

Interea amicus fugam iniit, timens ne panderetur. Serve autem dixit uxori sue: O coniunx, laudanda et benedicta es, quia liberasti hunc hominem a morte. Et ut magis amaretur a viro, ostendit ei puerum verberatum.

Meanwhile the friend made his escape, fearing lest it be discovered. The slave, however, said to his wife: O spouse, you are to be praised and blessed, for you have freed this man from death. And, that she might be loved more by her husband, he showed her the beaten boy.

Sed ut hec posset credere, verbera passus erat miser ille, que illa fecerat sibi tunc quando amicus eius ivit ad portam viro tamen nondum veniente, eo tamen prodeunte viri (ad) adventum. -Proinde, domine Rex, devita ingenium mulieris. Qua de causa iussit Rex non occidi filium suum.

But so that this might be believed, that wretched man had suffered the beatings which that woman had inflicted on him then, when his friend went to the gate, the husband however not yet coming, yet the husband drawing near to his arrival. -Therefore, domine Rex, avoid the woman's cunning. For which cause the King ordered that his son not be killed.

15. Reginae quinta historia: Absalon rebellus

15. The queen's fifth history: Absalon the rebel

In sexta vero die venit mulier et ait Regi: Excellentissime domine, quod factum est non videtur dulce, ymo amarum, si non prohicis ab hac terra filium dum vivis, antequam dissipet terram et senectutem tuam. Nosti enim quod, si David occidisset Amon filium suum, quando fecit stulticiam in sorore sua Thamar, Absolon non fugisset in terram Gessar nec rebellus fuisset patri suo; in bello tamen mortuus est. Nunc autem filius tuus melior est illo?

In the sixth day, however, the woman came and said to the King: "Most excellent lord, what has been done does not seem sweet, nay bitter, unless you cast out from this land your son while you live, before he wastes your land and your old age. For you know that if David had slain Amnon his son when he did folly against his sister Tamar, Absalom would not have fled into the land of Geshur nor been rebellious against his father; yet he died in war. But now is your son better than he?"

-Tunc iussit Rex interfici filium suum.

-Then the King ordered that his son be killed.

Venit item sextus consiliarius et cecidit ante regales pedes et ait: Audi me, domine Rex, et faciem | servi tui ne despicias. Dixit Rex: Dicito quod vis. Et ait ille:

The sixth counsellor likewise came and fell before the royal feet and said: Hear me, Lord King, and do not despise the face | of your servant. The King said: Say what you wish. And he said:

16. Sexti sapientis prima historia: Absalon mortuus

16. The first history of Sextus the Wise: Absalon dead

Nescis quod David Rex, de quo femina locuta est, habebat filios plures? Et quamvis multi filii ei essent, tamen, quando perrexerant homines ad bellum, precepit illis ut servarent filium eius Absolon, et postquam filius eius mortuus est in bello, flevit valde dicens: Absolon, filii mi, quis mihi det, ut moriar pro te? Et ipse in mente sua habebat occidere Joab, sed non poterat, quia vir ille fortis erat. Iussit tamen filio suo Salomoni, ut eum occideret.

Nescis quod King David, of whom the woman spoke, had many sons? And although he had many sons, yet when the men had gone forth to war, he commanded them to keep his son Absolon safe; and after his son was killed in battle, he wept greatly, saying: "Absolon, my son, who will give me that I may die for you?" And he himself had in his mind to kill Joab, but he could not, because that man was strong. Nevertheless he commanded his son Solomon to kill him.

Et Absolon scivit quid operatus erat in patrem suum. Et filius tuus qui nil mali operatus est, contra te operatus est? Vis ut morti tradatur gratis, et sit causa ut destruatur regnum tuum et remaneas orbatus filiis?

And Absalom knew what he had done to his father. And your son, who has done no evil, has acted against you? Do you want him to be handed over to death for nothing, and for this to be the cause that your kingdom be destroyed and that you remain bereft of sons?

Tu iam senex es et non potes alium generare filium. Nunc autem quid habes eum odio, quia mutus est? Uxor tua debuit tibi dare consilium, ut mederetur.

You are now old and cannot beget another son. But now why do you hold him in hatred, because he is mute? Your wife ought to have given you counsel, that she might have healed him.

Sed facimus cum ea bella plus quam cum regibus Yndie. Nescis quidem quod, si aliquis Rex haberet uxorem que non faciat filium, orat deum mulier illa ut non nascatur filius ex alia matre? Femina hec quia sterilis est, cupit mortem in filio tuo, ut ipsa sola remanens teneat imperium post mortem tuam.

But we make war with her more than with the kings of India. Know you not that if any king had a wife who does not bear a son, that woman prays to God that no son be born of another mother? This woman, because she is barren, desires the death of your son, so that she alone, remaining, may hold the imperium after your death.

Nescis quid evenit cuidam homini, qui habebat strigam in mulierem suam. Dixit Rex: Quid? Ille dixit:

Do you not know what befell a certain man, who had a striga against his wife. The King said: "What?" He said:

17. Sexti sapientis secunda historia: Nomina

17. The second story of Sextus the Wise: Names

Quidam homo fuit qui erat socius strige. Et veniebat homines ad interrogandum eum de quacunque re perdidissent, et eciam habentes amicos in alia | regione veniebant ad eum, et ipse omnia dicebat. Striga vero fuit cum eo triginta annis.

A certain man there was who was an associate of a striga. And people would come to question him about whatever thing they had lost, and even those having friends in another | region would come to him, and he himself told everything. The striga, moreover, was with him for thirty years.

Et ipse de hiis que faciebat habebat necessaria vite. Postea mulier inquid homini: Rex strigus precepit mihi, ut vadam illuc, et iam non potero ad te reverti. Nunc autem gracia nostre societatis docebo te tria nomina ; dabit tibi.

And he himself from those things which he was doing had the necessities of life. Afterwards the woman said to the man: "King Strigus commanded me to go thither, and now I will no longer be able to return to you. Now however, by the grace of our society I will teach you three names ; he will give them to you."

Tunc docuit eum illa tria nomina. Quo facto gavisus est homo et perrexit ad domum suam et dixit uxori sue: Fida coniunx, ita dixit mihi striga; tu vero quid dicis ut ego petam? Dixit ei uxor: Probemus eam causam in mare.

Then she taught him those three names. When this was done the man rejoiced and went to his house and said to his wife: Faithful spouse, thus the striga told me; but what do you say that I should ask? His wife said to him: Let us try that cause in the sea.

Si hec tibi data fuerint, pro certo omnia petita a te erunt adinpleta. Dixit ei vir: Dic in quo ea probemus. Dixit uxor: Roga deum, ut inpleatur totum corpus tuum mentullis.

If these things are given to you, for certain all things asked by you will be fulfilled. The man said to her: "Tell in what we may prove them." The wife said: "Pray to God, that your whole body be filled with little penises."

Ille hoc audiens nescius doli mulieris oravit, et statim inpletum est corpus eius mentullis. Tunc dixit uxori: Et quid mihi fecisti? Quid me facere iussisti?

Hearing this, he, unaware of the woman's deceit, prayed, and immediately his body was filled with little penises. Then he said to his wife: And what have you done to me? What did you bid me do?

At illa: Roga ut eas a te aufferat. Ille adhuc simplex rogavit: et abstulit sibi omnes, eciam illam quam prius habebat. Mox mestus dixit uxori: Heu me, quid nunc faciam?

But she: Ask that he carry them away from you. He, still simple, asked; and he carried off from himself all of them, even that which he had before. Soon, sad, he said to his wife: Alas me, what now shall I do?

Perdidi eciam eam quam prius habui. Dixit uxor: Roga deum ut illa quam prius habuisti revertatur ad te. Et rogavit, et reversa est prior mentulla. Dixit autem vir: Quid profuit hoc consilium quod mihi dedisti?

I have lost even the one which I had before. The wife said: Pray to God that that one which you formerly had may return to you. And he prayed, and the former member returned. But the man said: What good was this counsel that you gave me?

Ego non quesivi divicias nec alia mihi comoda. Dixit ei uxor: Ideo dedi tibi hoc consilium, quia si divicias haberes, dimitteres me, ut aliam nobilem duceres sponsam. - | Ideo dico tibi, Rex, quod uxor tua propter invidiam vult quod dampnetur filius tuus; timet enim quod, si mortuus fueris, ille duceret uxorem: illa erit Regina et ipsa, uxor tua, non regnabit.

I have not sought riches nor other comforts for myself. His wife said to him: Therefore I gave you this counsel, because if you had riches, you would dismiss me, so that you might take another noble bride. - | Therefore I tell you, King, that your wife, out of envy, wishes that your son be condemned; for she fears that if you were dead, he would take a wife: she will be Queen, and your wife herself will not reign.

Tunc iussit Rex non occidi filium suum.

Then the King ordered that his son not be killed.

Videns mulier quod appropinquabat tempus quod loqueretur filius regis, precepit puellis suis ut irent secum ad flumen, ut ibi se demergeret. Quod ut sapientes intellexerunt, quod debebat se occidere, posuerunt custodes, ut eam tenerent, et dixerunt: Hodie si volumus liberare filium Regis ab occisione, numerus nostrum inpleatur. Regina vero timens ventura fefellit custodes et currens precipitavit se in flumen.

Seeing that the time was approaching when the king’s son would speak, the woman ordered her maidens to go with her to the river, so that there she might plunge herself. But when the wise men understood that she ought to be killed, they set guards to hold her, and said: “Today, if we wish to free the king’s son from execution, our number must be filled.” The Queen, however, fearing what was to come, deceived the guards and, running, hurled herself into the river.

Mox sapientes miserunt ministros et extraxerunt eam. Rex autem dolore coniugis comotus precepit occidi filium suum. Quam ob rem sex consiliarii cito cucurrerunt, ut liberarent puerum a manu spiculatoris.

Soon the wise men sent ministers and drew her out. But the king, moved by the grief of his consort, commanded that his son be killed. Wherefore six councillors quickly ran together to free the boy from the hand of the executioner.

Et septimus ivit ad regem et flexis genibus adoravit et dixit: Excellentissime domine Rex, cuius moderamine India protecta est, aspice faciem servi tui, sicut aspexisti consocios meos. Quis enim resistere valet contra ingenium mulieris? Asculta quid fecit quedam anus cuidam homini.

And the seventh went to the king and, with knees bent, adored him and said: Most Excellent Lord King, by whose governance India is protected, behold the face of your servant, as you have looked upon my companions. For who can resist the ingenuity of a woman? Hear what a certain old woman did to a certain man.

Ait Rex: Dic. At ille:

The King said: Speak. But he:

18. Septimi sapientis prima historia: Juvenis femina

18. The first story of Septimius the Wise: a youth, a woman

Fuit homo cui erat uxor pulcra, quam diligebat adolescens quidam, sed ire ad eam nequibat, quia vir eius tenebat eam sub custodia, et pre nimia cura portabat claves thalami, et hic erat senex. Iuvenis | autem ille magno captus amore languidus effectus est. Tunc vetula quedam sua convicina venit ad eum.

Fuit homo who had a beautiful wife, whom a certain youth loved, but he could not go to her, because her husband kept her under guard, and through excessive care bore the keys of the bedchamber, and he was an old man. Iuvenis | autem ille, seized by great love, became languid. Then a certain old woman, his neighbour, came to him.

Ut autem cognovit eius amorem, ait: Vis facere meum velle? Iuvenis inquid: Presto sum. Dixit anus: Rade tibi barbam corpusque tuum pilosum.

When, however, she learned of his love, she said: "Will you do what I wish?" The youth answered: "I am ready." The old woman said: "Shave your beard and your hairy body."

Quod et fecit. Tunc induit eum habitu femineo et post tenuissima veste supra pallium Tyrio distinta murice et circha pectus a sumitate colli purpura deaurata de bombice veste candidissima. Deinde circuivit totam faciem infula absque oculis, ut non videretur masculus sed speciosa virgo.

Which he did. Then she clad him in a feminine habit, and over a very thin vestment she put a pallium dyed with Tyrian murex and circha, and from the summit of the neck she covered the chest with purple gilt, from a most white bombice garment. Then she encircled the whole face with an infula without eye-holes, so that he might not appear masculine but a comely virgin.

Hoc facto ostendit ei mulierem vestigia et passus, territos sonus et blanda verba. Et ait: Move blande gradum ut videns. Et ille adhuc indoctus ambulabat erecto collo et veloci cursu.

Having done this, she showed him the woman’s footprints and steps, the frightened sounds and flattering words. And she said: Move, gently, set your step as one who sees. And he, still unlearned, walked with his neck erect and at a swift pace.

Anus irata minabat ei, tandem docuit eum. Quo docto perrexit anus ad coniugem illius femine et ita eum aloquitur : Honorande domine, tuam flagito pietatem, quia sum femina vidua, et hec est mihi filia cara. Nunc autem quia habeo pergere in civitatem aliam ad meos parentes, audiens quod tua uxor est casta mente et moribus ac sante mens simplicitatis et quia timeo eam alteri comittere, si placet tibi duco eam modo in domum tuam, et omnibus expensis meis serviat uxori tue.

The angry old woman threatened him; at last she taught him. With him thus instructed the old woman proceeded to the spouse of that woman and thus addressed him: "Honored lord, I beseech your piety, for I am a widow woman, and this is my dear daughter. Now, however, because I must go on to another city to my parents, having heard that your wife is chaste in mind and morals and has a holy mind of simplicity, and because I fear to commit her to another, if it pleases you I will lead her now into your house, and let her serve your wife at all my expenses."

Hec audiens ille valde letatus ait: Domina, pro tua etatis reverencia et tuis precibus motus et quia necesse est mihi super mensam meam habere in meo | obsequio puram puellam, facio tuam voluntatem. Tunc anus gavisa cucurrit et duxit iuvenem in domum hominis et mulieris et ait eis: Hanc filiam meam vestre fidei comendo. Quo dicto valedicens abiit.

Hearing this he, greatly rejoiced, said: Domina, for the reverence due to your age and moved by your prayers, and because it is necessary for me to have above my table in my | service a pure maid, I do your will. Then the old woman, glad, ran and led the young man into the house of the man and the woman and said to them: I entrust this my daughter to your faith. With this said, having taken leave, she departed.

Mox senex inclusit eam cum uxore. Deinde ivit et fecit negocia sua. Tunc iuvenis detexit faciem suam et ostendit se mulieri.

Soon the old man shut her up with his wife. Then he went and attended to his business. Then the young man uncovered his face and showed himself to the woman.

Quo viso mulier premirata est, deinde gavisa ait: Dilectio mea, spes mea, venisti? Olim concupivi te cernere et ut meo te dares conspectui meo angebar amore. Iuvenis autem ille gavisus est cum ea aliquantibus diebus et secum fuit.

When he was seen the woman was overcome; then, rejoicing, she said: "My beloved, my hope, have you come? Long have I desired to behold you, and, that you might be given to my sight, I was anguished by love." The young man, however, rejoiced; he was with her for several days and remained with them.

-Ideo, domine Rex, vita ingenium mulieris. Videas ne decipiat te, ut quedam mulier decepit quendam Saracenum. Dixit Rex: Dic quomodo fuit.

-Therefore, Lord King, such is the life and disposition of the woman. See that she not deceive you, as a certain woman deceived a certain Saracen. The King said: Tell how it was.

Et ille ait:

And he said:

19. Septimi sapientis secunda historia: Gibbosi

19. The second history of Septimi the Wise: The Hunchback

Fuit quedam mulier habens virum senem, qui non dimittebat eam exire foras propter pulcritudinem suam. Illa vero, quia erat clausa, dolore moriebatur. Accidit autem ut rogaret virum suum quia volebat ire in domum magistre sue.

There was a certain woman who had an old husband, who would not permit her to go out because of her pulchritude. She, however, being shut in, was dying of sorrow. It happened, moreover, that she begged her husband, for she wished to go to the house of her mistress.

Et dixit ei: Vade. Et illa ivit. Que dixit magistre sue: Domina mea, vade et invenias mihi hominem qui ludat ante me. Tunc magistra ivit et invenit unum gibosum tenentem cinbala et tynpanum et pro ludo accipiebat mercedem suam.

And he said to her: Go. And she went. And she said to her mistress: My lady, go and find me a man who will play before me. Then the mistress went and found a hunchback holding cymbals and a tympanum, and for the play was taking his fee.

Et duxit eum in domum. Videns autem mulier illa fecit eum comedere. Mandens itaque | gibosus cepit ludere et gratulari.

And she led him into the house. The woman, however, seeing him, made him eat. Thus ordering | the hunchback began to play and to rejoice.

Tunc induit eum femina serico vestitu deditque ei premia magna. Et abiit ille. Quod videntes alii gibosi dixerunt: Quis dedit tibi hec?

Then the woman clothed him in a silk garment and gave him great rewards. And he departed. And, seeing this, other hunchbacks said: Who gave you these?

Ille ait: Vocavit me quedam femina et lusi ei, et quia conplacui sibi, dedit mihi hec munera. Dixerunt illi: Vade et dic mulieri illi ut faciat nobis idem; sin autem, manifestabimus. Ille autem gibosus cucurrit et ait mulieri: Domina, sodales mei petunt venire at te cum iocis.

He said: A certain woman summoned me and I played with her, and because I pleased her she gave me these gifts. They said to him: Go and tell that woman that she should do the same for us; otherwise we will make it manifest. But the hunchback ran and said to the woman: Mistress, my companions ask to come to you with jests.

Dicit illa: Veniant. Illi vero venerunt et comedentes ebrii facti sunt nimis (et) ceciderunt de mensa ob ebrietatem. Et ecce vir mulieris veniebat.

She says: Let them come. They, however, came, and, while eating, became overly drunk and fell from the table because of drunkenness. And behold the woman's husband was coming.

Tunc mulier videns adventum viri sui dixit ancille sue: Proice eos in illam domum. Illa vera domus plena erat plumis, et proiecti in plumis submersi defuncti sunt. Veniens autem vir mulieris comedit et descendit de domo.

Tunc the woman, seeing the advent of her husband, said to her ancilla: Proice them into that house. That very house was full of plumes, and, thrown into the plumes, submerged, they died. Coming, however, the woman's husband ate and descended from the house.

Tunc femina dixit ancille sue: Curre velociter et invenias hominem portatorem qui prohiciat hos extra civitatem, quia mortui sunt. Et duxit femina unum Saracenum. Cui ait puella: Volo ut clam portes istum gibosum in mare et dabo tibi solidum unum.

Then the woman said to her maid: Run swiftly and find a porter who will cast these out beyond the city, for they are dead. And the woman led in one Saracen. To whom the girl said: I want that you secretly carry that hunchback into the sea, and I will give you one solidus.

Respondit ille: Libenter. Tunc mittens illum in saccum ivit et proiecit eum in mare. Et veniens petebat solidum.

He answered: Gladly. Then, sending him into a sack, he went and threw him into the sea. And coming, he asked for the solidus.

Cui illa: Non, frater, quia quem credis proiecisse adest. Ait ille: Da mihi illum, et ego taliter eum prohiciam, ut non ultra revertatur. Et accipiens alium proiecit eum in alciori mari.

To whom she: No, brother, for he whom you think you have thrown out is present. He said: Give me him, and I will thus cast him away, that he return no more. And taking another, he cast him into the deeper sea.

Et rediens querebat solidum. Femina autem illa | extraxerat alium et dixit portatori querenti precium: Frater, quid me deludis? Tu dimittis eum in itinere: ipse regreditur huc.

And returning he sought the solidus. But that woman | had taken out another and said to the bearer asking the price: 'Brother, why do you mock me? You send him away on the journey; he himself returns here.'

At ille: Domina, cur inponis mihi? Crede mihi quia in mare deieci eum, sed ut video ioculator est et bonus natator, et idcircho sic me falit. Sed tamen ego portabo eum et sic proiciam, ut ultra non regrediatur.

But he said: Mistress, why do you lay this on me? Believe me that I threw him into the sea, but as I see he is a jester and a good swimmer, and therefore thus deceives me. Nevertheless I will carry him and so cast him that he will not return any more.

Quid plura? Omnes deiecit in mare deceptus a femina. -Nunc autem, magnifice Rex, sagacitatem mulierum considera et emulacionem earum respice, et non interficiatur filius tuus dulcis.

What more? He threw everyone into the sea, deceived by a woman. -Now therefore, most noble King, consider the sagacity of women and behold their emulation, and may your sweet son not be slain.

Anuit Rex eius eloquio et iussit non interfici filium suum.

The King assented to his speech and ordered that his son not be killed.

Conpletis igitur septem diebus locutus est filius regis. Et ait patri suo: Excellentissime domine, usque modo mutus non fui, sed feci velle Sindibaris preceptoris mei, qui precepit mihi, ut usque ad septem dies non loquerer, quia ipse et ego ita vidimus in stellis. Et hoc idem dixerunt sapientes quia usque ad mortis terminum atingerem, cum in hiis septem diebus iussisti me capitalem subire sentenciam.

The seven days therefore having been completed, the king’s son spoke. And he said to his father: Excellentissime domine, I was not mute until now, but I acted at the will of Sindibaris my preceptor, who commanded me that I should not speak for up to seven days, because he and I so saw in the stars. And the same things said the wise men, namely that I would reach the term of death, when in these seven days you ordered me to undergo the capital sentence.

Nunc autem, domine Rex, femina digna est morte, cum qua sapientes non ob aliud studuerunt pugnare nisi ut me liberarent a morte. Interea, pater mi, tibi et omnibus principibus glisco refferre fabulam. Quis enim valet resistere ingeniis mulierum?

Now however, Lord King, the woman is worthy of death, with whom the wise strove for no other reason than to free me from death. Meanwhile, my father, I am eager to relate the tale to you and to all the princes. For who indeed can withstand the wiles of women?

Dixit Rex et principes: Dic quod vis. At ille dixit:

The King and the princes said: Say what you wish. But he said:

20. Filii regis historia: Inclusa

20. History of the king's sons: Enclosed

Quidam miles Galicus se esse cum quadam domina sepius sompniabat. Nunquam tamen viderat eam nec ubi moraretur sciebat. Et ipsa de milite similia sompnia habebat, | et unus formam alterius ymaginariam in mente conceperat, ac si mutuo se vidissent.

Miles vero captus amore domine circuivit multas partes et tandem pervenit ad quoddam castrum in Yspania iuxta mare, in quo erat turris alta viginti clavatis firmata. Et aspiciens vidit in turris sumitate per fenestram feream dominam quam in sompnis se vidisse estimabat, et ipsa eodem modo militem recognovit et in signum amoris ei cyroticam proiecit. Quo facto miles querens occasionem illic remanendi ad dominum castri accessit et suum auxilium ei liberaliter optulit.

The soldier, however, seized by love of the lady, wandered many regions and at last came to a certain fortress in Spain by the sea, in which was a tall tower, fastened with 20 clavates. And looking up he saw on the summit of the tower through a window the lady he believed he had seen in his dreams, and she in the same way recognized the soldier and threw to him a kerchief as a sign of her love. When this was done, the soldier, seeking an occasion to remain there, approached the castle’s lord and liberally offered him his service.

Quo gratanter accepto ambo in eius inimicum irruerunt et ipsum occiderunt. Propter quod inter eos nimia familiaritate contracta concessit castellanus militi hoc petenti ut iuxta turrim sibi domum construeret ad manendum. Quo facto cum quodam magistro muri iurato ut factum proderet conposuit ut foramen secretum in pede turris faceret quod sigilato lapide clauderetur, per quod sibi accessus pateret ad dominam, et e converso illi ad eum.

This being gratefully received, both rushed upon his enemy and killed him. Because of which, a too-great familiarity having been contracted between them, the castellan granted to the soldier, who asked it, that he should build for himself a house next to the tower for remaining. Having done this, he conspired with a certain sworn master of the wall to disclose the deed, arranging that a secret opening be made in the foot of the tower which should be closed by a sealed stone, through which an access would lie open to the lady for him, and conversely her to him.

Et ecce dum quadam vice simul corporali solacio fungerentur, domina militi annulum suum dedit. Quod in digito militis maritus suus videns recognovit et ex hoc suspicionem non modicam erga militem concepit. Maritus autem volens de hoc certificari turrim apperuit.

And behold, while on one occasion they together were enjoying bodily solace, the lady gave the soldier her ring. Which, seeing it on the soldier’s finger, her husband recognized, and from this conceived no small suspicion against the soldier. The husband, however, wishing to be made certain about this, opened the tower.

Miles vero per foramen via breviori pertransiens domine annulum redidit et reversus est. Cumque maritus viginti clavatas aperiens turrim ascendisset, annulum in digito domine invenit. Propter quod omnis cessavit suspicio.

The soldier, however, passing through the hole by the shorter way, returned the lady’s ring and went back. And when the husband, having opened the tower with twenty bolts, had ascended, he found the ring on the lady’s finger. Because of this all suspicion ceased.

Altera die dominus castri cupiens venationis solacio recreari petivit a milite si secum venatum pergere vellet. At miles respondit: Quedam damicella a me quam plurimum dilecta heri de partibus meis ad me venit, cum qua oportet me post triduum repatriare: rogo ut amore ipsius hodie mecum prandeatis. Qui concessit.

On the next day the lord of the castle, desiring to be refreshed by the solace of hunting, asked the soldier if he would go hunting with him. But the soldier answered: "A certain young lady, very dear to me, came yesterday from my parts to me, with whom it is necessary that I repatriate after three days; I beg that you breakfast with me today for the sake of her love." He granted it.

Dominus autem ante prandium venatum ivit, et interim miles foramen turris aperuit, et domina descendit, et pannos quos iam fecerat ad modum terre sue dominam induit et marito reverso huius rei inscio miles ad mensam posuit. Qui suspicatus eam esse suam uxorem comedere non potuit. Elevata mensa miles cum domino foras exivit et in turri domina intus manens habitum mutando proprias vestes induit et turrim per foramen intravit.

The lord, however, went hunting before dinner, and meanwhile the soldier opened the tower’s gateway, and the lady came down, and she put on the clothes which she had already made in the fashion of her land; and with the husband returned, the soldier, this matter unknown to him, set her at the table. He, suspecting that she was his own wife, could not eat. When the table was lifted the soldier went outdoors with the lord, and the lady, remaining inside the tower, having changed her habit, put on her own garments and entered the tower through the opening.

Dominus quam cicius potuit turrim ascensit et ibi invenit dominam ut solebat. Cui dixit: Amasia militis tibi per omnia similis est. Et illa respondit: Pulchre sunt que sibi invicem assimilantur.

The lord climbed the tower as quickly as he could and there found the lady as she was wont. To whom he said: Amasia, the soldier's, is in all things like you. And she answered: Fair are those things which are likened to one another.

Mane autem adveniente miles ad maritum accedens rogavit eum ut ipsum in desponsacione sue amasie asociaret. Qui concessit et inter alia proprie uxoris digitum tenendo militis annulum inposuit. Quibus peractis miles cum domina captata licencia navem ascendit et levatis vellis repatriavit.

But in the morning, the soldier approaching the husband begged him to associate him in the betrothal of his Amasia. He granted it and, among other things, holding the finger of his own wife, placed the soldier’s ring upon it. These things having been completed, the soldier, with the lady having obtained leave, boarded a ship and, the sails raised, returned home.

Dominus autem castri, qui militem et uxorem propriam iuverat sociare, reversus turrim ascendit et dominam non inveniens de fraude percepit et usque ad mortem contristatus | remansit.--

But the lord of the castle, who had helped to join the soldier and his own wife, returning climbed the tower and, not finding the lady, perceived the fraud and, saddened unto death, remained | remansit.--

Audisti itaque, pater, et luce clarius ex predictis exemplis advertere potuisti quod infinite sunt malicie mulierum. Propter quod eis nullatenus est credendum. Voluit me uxor tua perimere, quia sue libidini nolui consentire.

You have heard therefore, father, and could perceive more clearly from the foregoing examples that the malice of women is infinite. Wherefore they are in no wise to be trusted. Your wife wished to destroy me, because I would not consent to her libidinous desire.

Regina vero omnia negavit et imperatorem ad vindictam suis fallaciis incitavit. Considerans autem puer se esse inculpabilem dixit regine: Sit ex parte tua qui duellum faciat, ut inter nos hec contencio finem accipiat. Surrexit frater domine pugnare cum puero, et tandem frater regine oprimitur, et puerum inmunem esse veritas protestatur.

The queen, however, denied everything and incited the emperor to vengeance by her deceits. But the boy, considering himself to be blameless, said to the queen: Let there be on your part one who will do battle, so that this contention between us may come to an end. The lady's brother rose to fight with the boy, and at length the queen's brother was overpowered, and truth testifies that the boy is innocent.

Tunc ait Imperator: O domina, tua manifesta sunt opera. Restat ut propter tuas falacias penas talionis recipias. Et sic contra eam sentencia scribitur, et igni cremari nequissima demandatur.

Then the Emperor said: O lady, your deeds are manifest. It remains that, on account of your fallacies, you receive the penalties of talion. And thus a sentence against her is written, and the most wicked woman is delivered to be burned by fire.