Silent Poetry, Speaking Painting

TO THE READER.

...while that rule could be adapted to the straightness or the curvature of any building: so I might satisfy the wishes of all, whether just or unjust; and perhaps not without reason, I might recite that saying of Theognis: Theognis of Megara (6th century BCE) was a Greek poet known for his "gnomes" or moral maxims.

original Greek: "Σοὶ μὲν ταῦτα δοκεῦντ’ ἔστιν, ἐμοὶ δὲ τάδε."

original Latin: "Hæc placuêre tibi , ast hæc placuêre mihi."

I have provided annotations, though if they are not polished to the highest perfection original: "emunctas sectum ad unguem." This Latin idiom refers to a sculptor checking for the slightest seam or imperfection with a fingernail to ensure a perfect finish., they are certainly not many; in which, however, there are no flashy trappings original: "phalera," referring to the ornamental metal discs on a horse's harness, used here to mean rhetorical "fluff.", nor bombastic speech original: "ampulla," literally a "flask," used metaphorically to describe puffed-up or overly grandiloquent language.: because, following the example of the most eloquent bishop Salvian Salvian of Marseille (c. 400–470 CE) was a Christian writer noted for his social criticism and moral clarity., I sought things that were useful rather than

pleasing... The Latin text cuts off at "vid." and the catchword "plau-" suggests the word "plausibilia," meaning "pleasing" or "worthy of applause."