Cedrus arbor est nobilissima, altitudine quasi ad nubes elata, sicut dicunt lacobus et Ysidorus, cuius folia ad cypressi similitudinem respondent, odorifera multum et inimica serpentibus. Lignum quoque iocundi odoris est et diu durans nec a tinea unquam exterminatur. Hec arbor resinam tribuit, que cedria dicitur, que in conservandis libris adeo est utilis, ut perliniti ex ea nec tineas patiantur nec tempore consenescant. Odor enim ipsius serpentes fugat. Cedrorum sunt duo genera. Cedrus que floret fructum non fert, fructifera vero non floret et in ea antecedentem fructum occupat novus. Que autem fructificant maritime dicuntur et parve sunt. Fructus eius est secundum humani capitis quantitatem. Triplicem substantiam in se habet pomum cedrinum. Iacobus: In prima parte, que est deforis, substantiam calidam habet; in interiori parte pomi secunda pars temperativa; medium vero quasi cor pomi intrinsecus latens frigidum existit. Hunc dicunt fructum, de quo dominus in Levitico: Sumetis vobis die primo fructus arboris pulcherrime. Circa Libanum montem pulchre et sublimes cedri sunt valde, sed steriles.
- Translation
- Vocabulary
- Notes
The cedar is a very noble tree, in height as if lifted to the clouds, as Jacob[1] and Isidore[2] say, whose leaves resemble those of the cypress, very fragrant and hostile to snakes. The smell of its wood is also pleasant and lasts a long time nor is it ever damaged by woodworms. This tree generates a resin, which is called “cedria”, which is so useful for preserving books that those smeared all over with it do not suffer worms or decay over time[3]. Indeed, its smell repels snakes. There are two types of cedars. The cedar that flowers does not bear fruit, but the fruit-bearing ones truly do not flower and on it a new fruit takes the place of the previous one. Those that bear fruit, on the other hand, are called “maritime” and are small. Their fruit is in conformity with the size of a human head[4]. The fruit of the cedar has within it a threefold substance. Jacob: In the first part, which is outside, it has a warm substance; in the inner part of the fruit there is a second moderating part; but in the middle, as if the heart of the fruit were hiding inside, it is cold. They say that this fruit (is that) about which the Lord (says)[5] in Leviticus[6]: you will take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of the most beautiful tree. Near Mount Lebanon there are very beautiful and tall cedars, but barren.
cedrus, i, f.: the cedar
altitudo, dinis, f.: height, altitude
nubes, is, f.: cloud
elatus, a, um: exalted, elevated, lofty, high.
folium, ii, n.: leaf
cypressus, i, f. : the cypress
similitudo, inis, f.: likeness, imitation; similarity, resemblance
odorifer, era, erum: bringing, spreading odors, fragrant
serpens, entis, m. et f.: serpent, snake;
lignum, i, n.: wood, log
jocundus, a, um: pleasant, agreeable
odor, oris, m.: scent, odor, aroma, smell
duro, as, are: to bear, last, remain, continue; to endure;
tinea, ae, f.: a gnawing worm, a moth, bookworm
unquam, adv.: at any time, ever; at some time;
extermino, as, are: to banish, expel; to dismiss;
resina, ae, f.: resin, rosin
tribuo, is, ere, bui, butum: to divide, assign; to present; to grant, allot, bestow, attribute;
cedria, ae, f. : resin from cedar, pitch
conservo, as, are: to keep safe/intact, save (from danger)
perlinio, is, ire : to smear all over
consenesco, is, ere, nui,: to decay – to decline, go gray, grow feeble; to fade/waste away, sink;
floreo, es, ere, ui: to flourish, blossom, be prosperous
fructifer, era, erum: fruit-bearing
antecedo, is, ere, cessi, cessum: to precede, go before/ahead/in front of
fructifico, are: to bear fruit
maritimus, a, um: maritime; of/near/by the sea; coastal; relating/used to sea
quantitas, atis, f. : magnitude/ multitude, quantity, degree, size; (specified) amount/ quantity/ sum;
triplex, icis : threefold, triple
substantia, ae, f. : that of which a thing consists, the being, essence, contents, material, substance
pomum, i, n. : fruit, apple
cedrinus, a, um : of cedar-wood, cedar-
deforis, adv.: from outside, outside
calidus, a, um: warm, hot
interior, oris: inner, interior; nearer;
temperativus, a, um : soothing, lukewarm, moderating, softening.
intrinsecus, adv.: on the inside
frigidus, a, um : cold
existo, is, ere, stiti: to exist
Leviticus, i, m. : book of Leviticus
Libanus, i, m. : mount Lebanon, in Syria
sublimis, e: high
valde, adv. : greatly, very, intensely
sterilis, e : barren, sterile; fruitless; unprofitable, futile
[1] It is probably the French theologian and historian Jacques de Vitry.
[2] Isidore of Seville, a Hispanic scholar who, in fact, said these things about the cedar in his work.
[3] This resin has a disinfectant, regenerating and cleansing effect and has been commonly used for medicinal purposes.
[4] Secundum followed by accusative works as a preposition, meaning “according to, in conformity with”.
[5] The verb to be and the verb to say in Latin are often omitted: Hunc dicunt fructum (esse) de quo dominus in Levitico (dicit).
[6] The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Torah and of the Old Testament, also known as the Third Book of Moses.