The Strife of Love in a Dream

Behold the other Column that sustained
That beautiful model of ancient memory:
Every figure, every mass, and structure:
And various styles of signs it contained.

That which a thousand eyes, and thousands upon thousands of pens:
And that which they have written with great toil,
In a dream is all here explained,
And I understand what happened to the author.

O coarse minds, and men only in part:
And you who are intent on vile profit,
These papers are heavy burdens to you.

O pure spirits, and noble Frenchmen:
By God, see in these learned papers
How much genius and art are worth and can achieve.

original: "Cælum, non solum." A Latin motto suggesting the work's aspirations are spiritual or intellectual rather than merely worldly.

ornamental initial View here the most high column,
Where the most ancient knowledge is marked.
Every stroke, every plan, every work beautiful and good,
And many a fragment is well-applied there.

That which a thousand eyes and hands have practiced
With great labor, is given in this book
Easily, explained through discourse
Under a brief dream, which the author ordains.

O thick wits whom reason abandons,
And you who are focused on miserable gain,
This book is such that its weight The French "paix" is likely a variant or typo for "poix" (weight/pitch) or "prix" (value), matching the Italian "pesi" (burdens). astounds you.

But O Frenchmen, beautiful and prudent spirits,
See how much can be achieved in a person
By art and spirit when they are in accord.

ornamental initial Of a sleep that took Poliphilo, and how it seemed to him while sleeping that he was in a deserted country, then entered into a dark forest. Folio 1.
Poliphilo, fearing the peril of the forest, made his prayer to Jupiter: then finding a fountain, he heard a melodious song, to follow which he abandoned the ready water: whereby he found himself before [it]. 2.
Poliphilo recounts how it was advised to him in a dream, that he slept, and while sleeping found himself in a valley enclosed by a great wall in the form of a pyramid, upon which sat an Obelisk of marvelous height, which he regarded with admiration. 3.
Poliphilo, after having declared the form of the pyramid, describes in the following chapter other great and marvelous works, namely a horse, a fallen Colossus, an Elephant, and singularly a beautiful gate. 7.
How Poliphilo, after having shown the measures and proportions of the gate, proceeds to describe the ornaments and excellent composition of it. 14.
How Poliphilo entered a little way inside the gate described above, looking at the beautiful ornaments of it: then wanting to return, saw a great Dragon who wanted to devour him: for fear of which he began to flee into the hollow and subterranean ways, so that finally he found another exit, and arrived in a very pleasant and delectable place. 18.
Poliphilo recounts the beauty of the region where he had entered, and how he found there a beautiful fountain and five young ladies, who were very amazed and marveled at his coming, and invited him to go to sport with them. 21.
How after Poliphilo had reassured himself with the five young ladies, he went to the baths with them: and how there was great laughter because of the fountain, and for the ointment: then how he was led by them before Queen Eleutherilide: at whose palace he saw another beautiful fountain, and several marvelous things. 25.
Poliphilo recounts the excellence of the Queen, the place of her residence, with her magnificent preparation and sumptuous banquet, and how the Queen commanded two of her young ladies, that they should make him see more amply the whole state of her palace: also how he was instructed by her on certain doubts he had: then led to the three gates in which he entered, and remained in the middle one with the amorous young ladies. 39.
How after Poliphilo had lost sight of the lascivious young ladies who left him, there came to him a Nymph, the beauty and finery of whom are here amply described. 49.
How the beautiful Nymph arrived toward Poliphilo carrying a burning torch in her hand and invited him to go with her: then how he was smitten by her love. 50.
How Polia, still unknown to her friend Poliphilo, kissed The original "baissa" likely refers to "baisa" (kissed) or "s'abaissa" (lowered herself/bowed). softly, and shows him the great triumphs of the amorous goddesses. 52.