| Translation(s) |
-
Some people have striven to find gold in this life.
Others, in their insatiate desire, are eager to take
earth, or pearls, or all forms of wealth.
The owner of the present book, however,
in his wisdom, and from a religious love,
has discovered not pearls, nor stones, nor gold,
but the beauty of the prophet’s words
and he has here collected this wealth, the only one which is permanent.
All things on earth pass by and only the Word remains;
but, oh, right arm of the sinless one,
protect the man who has beautified these words with much desire,
and save him in the manner which you see fit.
- Language
- English
- Source(s)
-
F. Bernard, 2014, Writing and Reading Byzantine Secular Poetry 1025-1081, Oxford: 320-321
-
(a partial translation of the occurrence):
Il y en qui, dans leur vie, se fatiguent à chercher de l'or,
d'autres à chercher de la terre ou des perles,
et à accumuler avidement des richesses
(...)
ayant trouvé non pas des perles, des pierres précieuses ou de l'or,
mais avec sagesse la beauté des paroles divines;
grâce à l'amour divin il a acquis la seule richesse qui dure,
puisque tout ce qui appartient à la vie terrestre s'en va, tandis que seul le Verbe demeure
(...)
- Language
- French
- Source(s)
-
G. Cavallo, 2006, Lire à Byzance, Paris: 135
|
| Comment |
Mercati (1970: 613): 'Il padrone del libro, a differenza da altri che insaziabili cercano oro, gioie e richezza, scoperta saggiamente la bellezza dei salmi, dice di averne raccolta una ricchezza che sola rimane, e raccomanda al Signore chi con molto amore abbellì il libro'.
Text of Bernard (2014: 320-321) based on Mercati (1970: 613) modified by DBBE. |
