The Strife of Love in a Dream

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

That which my eyes, and thousands upon thousands of pens:
Have written with great toil,
In a brief dream is all here explained.
By dream, I mean that which happened to the author.

O coarse wits, who are only men 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 Latin: "Cœlum, non solum." A motto suggesting the work's divine or lofty inspiration.

EXPOSITION OF THIS SONNET.
This is a 16th-century French poetic paraphrase of the Italian sonnet above.

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

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

O gross spirits whom reason abandons,
And you who listen to miserable gain,
This book is such that its weight astonishes you.

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

TABLE

Poliphilus is the protagonist; his name means "lover of Polia" or "lover of many things."

Of the sleep that took Poliphilus, and how it seemed to him while sleeping that he was in a desert country, then entered into a dark forest. Page 1.
Poliphilus, fearing the peril of the forest, made his prayer to Jupiter: then found the exit, quite parched with thirst. And as he heard a melodious song, to follow which he abandoned the ready water: whereby he found himself [at the gate]. 1.

Poliphilus recounts how it seemed to him in a dream, that while sleeping he found himself in a valley closed by a great enclosure in the shape of a pyramid, upon which was seated an Obelisk of marvelous height, which he looked upon carefully and with great admiration. 2.

Poliphilus, after having declared the form of the pyramid, describes in the following chapter other great and marvelous works, namely a horse, and a reclining Colossus, an Elephant, and singularly a beautiful gate. 3.

How Poliphilus, after having shown the measurements and proportions of the gate: proceeds to describe the ornaments and excellent composition of the same. 7.

How Poliphilus entered a little way inside the gate described above, looking at the beautiful ornaments of the same: then wanting to return, saw a great Dragon that 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. 14.

Poliphilus recounts the beauty of the region where he had entered, and how he found there a beautiful fountain and five damsels, who were very amazed at his coming, and invited him to go to the sport with them. 18.

How after Poliphilus had reassured himself with the five damsels, 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 The name signifies "Liberty.": in whose palace he saw another beautiful fountain, and several marvelous things. 21.

Poliphilus recounts the excellence of the Queen, the place of her residence, with her magnificent preparation, the establishment she had for him, the good of which has neither second nor equal. 25.

How Poliphilus recounts on his part, and of his damsels who accompanied him, the sumptuous banquet, and the place where it was prepared. 31.

Poliphilus recounts the beautiful dance that was performed after the great banquet, and how the Queen commanded two of her damsels that they should make him see more fully all the state of her palace: also how he was instructed by her on certain doubts he had: then led to the three gates into which he entered, and remained in the middle one with the amorous damsels. 39.

How after Poliphilus had lost sight of the lascivious damsels who left him, there came to him a Nymph, whose beauty and finery he showed, and she showed him the way, and he describes the river and the Nymph. 49.

How the beautiful Nymph arrived toward Poliphilus carrying a burning torch in her hand and invited him to go with her: then how he was smitten with her love. 50.

How Polia, still unknown to her lover Poliphilus, reassured him sweetly, and showed him the great triumphs of the amorous goddesses. 52.