THE ELEPHANT, BEARER OF THE OBELISK.

I.

The Egyptian stones, which reflect the rays of the Sun,
The Elephant brings as gifts to ALEXANDER the Seventh.
What a wise beast! WISDOM has given YOU, Seventh [Alexander],
to the world as its sun; hence, you possess the gifts of the Sun.

II.

I who had said: no beast
is more prudent than the Elephant
(Now, in place of the greatest Towers,
the Elephant, master of arts,
bears the Egyptian letters.)
With Rome listening, I, TULLIUS,
exclaim: there is no beast
more lettered than the Elephant.

III.

In the Forum of Minerva,
you are a prudent Elephant: Minerva is prudent;
how well do you both preside over the Forum?

A decorative woodcut tailpiece featuring a central grotesque mask or face with a shell-like headdress, flanked by symmetrical foliate scrolls and fruit elements.