… non illa que figmentum est, sed bestia que a Iacabo chimera dicitur. Chimera, ut dicit Iacobus, bestia est in partibus Babylonie, alta anterius, demissa posterius. Hanc bestiam captam Sarraceni pretioso pallio coopertam domino suo, ut ei gratanter serviant, offerunt. Signat autem eos, qui animas suas per cultum et fastum mundane glorie demonibus offerunt. Nec dubium, quin eas demones gratanter accipiant. Unde in Actibus apostolorum Herodes Agrippa gloriatus in veste regia a demonibus percussus est et exspiravit. Et tamen proprium regum est purpura et nobilioribus vestibus indui. Sed quia non dedit honorem deo in honore oblato, periit. Quid ergo tu pauper, humilis atque despectus pro vestis et cultus gloria recepturus es, si nec regi in vestis gloria glorianti parcitum esse consideras?
- Translation
- Vocabulary
- Notes
Concerning the chimera, not that which is a fiction, but the beast which is called chimera by Jacob. The chimera, as Jacob says, is a beast in parts of Babylon, honored at first and later dismissed. The Saracens offer this captured beast clothed with a precious coat to their master in order to serve him with joy. Moreover, it signifies those who offer their souls to the demons through honor and pride for worldly glory. In fact there is no doubt they receive the demons with joy. From the Acts of the Apostles, Herodes Agrippa, boasting in a regal robe, was struck down by the demons and died. And yet it is the characteristic of the king to be clothed in purple and nobler robes. But because he did not give honor to the god in offered honor, he died. Therefore you poor man, lowly and scorned you are about to receive glory instead of clothing and adornments, if not a king in bragging in glorious clothing, do you consider the glory to have been shared?
anterius, a, um adj. earlier; previously
apostolus, i m. missionary; apostle
colo, colere, colui, cultus 3 honor
considero, considerare, consideravi, consideratus 1 examine; consider
cooperior, cooperiri, coopertus sum 4 clothe; cover fully demon, is m. demon; spirit desmissus, a, um adj. lowly; dismissed exspiro, expirare, expiravi, epiratus 1 expire; die
fastus, fastus m. pride
figmentum, i m. figment; fiction
gratanter adv. with joy
induo, induere, indui, indutus 3 clothe; dress oneself
nobilis, e adj. noble
offero, offerre, obtuli, oblatus 3 offer; present
pallium, i n. cover; coat; cloak
partior, partiri, partitus sum 4 share; divide up
pauper, is m. poor man
percutio, percutere, percussi, percussus 3-io beat; strike
pereo, perire, perivi/ii, peritus irr. die; perish
posterius, a, um adj. coming after; later
proprius, a, um adj. individual; special
purpura, ae f. purple
recipio, recipere, recepi, receptus 3-io keep back; recover
signo, signare, signavi, signatus 1 mark; signify
sarraceni: This refers to the Saracens. In Ancient Greece and Rome the term Saracen was used to describe anyone who lived near Arabia, but by the 13th century (when this was written) it was used synonymously with Muslim.
ut ei gratanter serviant: purpose clause. “So that they may serve him with joy.”
Nec dubium, quin… accipiant: This is a clause of doubting, which is signified by “nec dubium” and responsible for the use of the subjunctive verb.
Actibus apostolorum: the Acts of the apostles. This is a book in the bible.
nobilioribus: comparative. “More noble” or “nobler.”
indui: present passive participle. Translated “to be clothed.”
oblato: perfect passive participle of offerre. “…offered honor.”
recepturus es: “recepturus” is the future active participle of “recipere” (to receive). Translated “about to receive.” With es, it is a future active periphrastic, which is translated “you are about to receive.”
parcitum esse: perfect passive infinitive of partior (share, divide up), which is often spelled partitum esse. Occasionally “c” was used instead of “t”. Translated “to have been shared.”
Source:
http://thelatinlibrary.com