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The Dialogue of Solomon and Marcolf: Appendix

THE DIALOGUE OF SOLOMON AND MARCOLF, APPENDIX: FOOTNOTES

1 Compare Proverbs 25:17: “Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee” ["Subtrahe pedem tuum de domo proximi tui, nequando satiatus oderit te<"]; 21:9 and 25:24, “It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a quarrelsome woman, and in a common house” ["melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi"].

2 Compare 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Wherefore he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall” ["Itaque qui se existimat stare, videat ne cadat"].

3 Proverbs 20:1: "Luxuriosa res vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas."

4 2 Corinthians 9:7: "hilarem enim datorem diligit Deus."

5 Proverbs 29:21: "Qui delicate a pueritia nutrit servum suum postea sentiet eum contumacem".

6 Proverbs 22:10: "Ejice derisorem, et exibit cum eo jurgium; cessabuntque causae et contumeliae."

7 Ecclesiasticus 14:5: "Qui sibi nequam est, cui alii bonus erit."

8 Ecclesiastes 10:4: "Si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te, locum tuum ne dimiseris."

9 Compare Matthew 5:25: “Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison” ["Esto consentiens adversario tuo cito dum es in via cum eo; ne forte tradat te adversarius judici, et judex tradat te ministro, et in carcerem mittaris"].

10 Compare Job 6:16: “They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them” ["Qui timent pruinam, irruet super eos nix"].

11 Compare Proverbs 26:28: “A deceitful tongue loveth not truth” ["Lingua fallax non amat veritatem"].

12 Compare Ecclesiasticus 12:8-9: “A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not be hidden in adversity. In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend is known in his adversity” ["Non agnoscetur in bonis amicus et non abscondetur in malis inimicus. In bonis viri inimici illius in tristitia et in malitia illius amicus agnitus est"].

13 Proverbs 15:16: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content” ["Melius est parum cum timore Domini, quam thesauri magni et insatiabiles"]; 16:8: “Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity” ["Melius est parum cum justitia quam multi fructus cum iniquitate"].

14 Proverbs 9:8.

15 The opposite view is presented at Ecclesiasticus 12:1: “If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it” ["Si benefeceris, scito cui feceris"].

16 Compare Proverbs 25:14: “As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises” ["Nubes et ventus, et pluviae non sequentes, vir gloriosus et promissa non complens"].

17 Proverbs 9:9: “Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him.”

18 Compare Proverbs 21:9 and 25:24, “It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house” ["Melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi"].

19 Proverbs 15:1, reading Responsio for Sermo.

20 Compare Canticle 2:3: "Sicut malus inter ligna silvarum, sic dilectus meus inter filios."

21 Proverbs 28:14.

22 Ecclesiasticus 12:2.






















 
Proverb exchanges present in the “long” versions of The Dialogue of Solomon and Marcolf in the manuscripts but not included in the Latin and vernacular prints:

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Mulier bona super omnia bona, mulier mala super omnia mala; mulier mala nec defuncta credatur.
[A good wife is good beyond all things, a bad wife bad beyond all things; a bad wife is not to be trusted even when dead.]
Frange illi ossa et mitte in fossam, tunc joca securus de morte ejus!
[Break her bones and throw her in a ditch, then joke about her death, carefree!]

Subtrahe pedem tuum a muliere litigiosa!
[Withdraw thy foot from a quarrelsome woman!]1
Subtrahe nasum tuum a culo jussoso!
[Withdraw thy nose from a farting ass!]

Qui stat, videat ne cadat.
[He that stands, let him take heed lest he fall.]2
Qui offendit pedem, respicit ad lapidem.
[He that stubs his foot looks back at the stone.]

Luxuriosa res est vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas.
[Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous.]3
Jejunus est pauper qui ebrius sibi videtur dives.
[The poor man is hungry, who when drunk supposes himself rich.]

Qui expectat, consequitur quod desiderat.
[He that waits, obtains what he desires.]
Catella saginosa cecos catulos parit vel anus totus in yma descendit.
[A fat bitch either gives birth to blind pups or her whole backside sinks down to the bottom.]

Inter bonos et malos repletur domus.
[Between good men and bad the house is filled.]
Inter podiscos et merdam repletur latrina.
[Between arse-wipes and shit the privy is filled.]

Melius est habere dampnum in abscondito quam verecundiam in publico.
[It is better to have one’s loss in private than one’s shame in public.]
Bibere merdam desiderat qui canis culum basiat.
[He desires to drink shit, who kisses a dog’s ass.]

Elemosinam desiderat facere qui alienum servum cupit ingeniosum esse.
[He desires to perform a charity, who wishes another man’s servant to be resourceful.]
Qui furiosum castrat, merdam recentem bibere desiderat.
[He that castrates a madman desires to drink fresh shit.]

Hilarem datorem diligit Deus.4
[God loves a cheerful giver.]
Parum dat servienti qui cultellum suum lingit.
[He gives too little to the server, who licks his own knife.]

Duodecim manentes faciunt unam villam.
[Twelve land-tenants make a village.]
Duodecim torciones faciunt unam jussam.
[Twelve cramps make a fart.]

Duodecim vicarii faciunt unum comitatum.
[Twelve viscounts make a county.]
Duodecim bombi faciunt unum strontum.
[Twelve loud farts make a turd.]

Duodecim comites faciunt unum ducatum.
[Twelve counts make a duchy.]
Duodecim stronti faciunt unam paladam.
[Twelve turds make a shovelful.]

Duodecim duces faciunt unum regnum.
[Twelve dukes make a kingdom.]
Duodecim palade faciunt unam tinariam.
[Twelve shovelfuls make a tubful.]

Duodecim regna faciunt unum imperium.
[Twelve kingdoms make an empire.]
Duodecim tinarie faciunt unam carradam.
[Twelve tubfuls make a cartful.]

Qui delicate nutrit servum ab infancia, postea senciet eum contumacem.5
[He that nourishes his servant delicately from his childhood, afterwards shall find him stubborn.]
Nugax servus fetidos habet semper honores.
[A worthless servant always holds honors foul.]

Quatuor evangeliste sustinent mundum.
[The four evangelists uphold the world.]
Quatuor subposte sustinent latrinam, ne cadat qui sedet super eam.
[Four posts uphold the privy, lest he fall in that sits over it.]

Optime convenit in clipeo candido nigra bucula.
[A black boss fits perfectly on a white shield.]
Optime considet inter albas nates niger culus.
[A black arsehole sits perfectly between white cheeks.]

Luna infra dies triginta peragit cursum suum.
[The moon travels its course in thirty days.]
Culmus quantum ascendit in anno, tantum descendit in una die.
[The stalk grows as much in a year, as it falls down in a single day.]

Eice derisorem et exibit cum eo jurgium cessabuntque cause et contumelie.6
[Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.]
Eice inflacionem de ventre et exibit cum ea merda cessabuntque torciones et jusse.
[Drive out wind from the belly, and shit shall go out with it, and cramps and farting shall cease.

Inter duos montes unam vallem reperies.
[Between two mountains you shall find a valley.]
Inter duo femora magna sepe latet vulva.
[Between two large thighs often lies hidden a vulva.]

Cum homine litigioso non ineas pactum.
[Make no covenant with the quarrelsome man.]
Vicioso incole si tres dantur uncie, non habet cor docile.
[Even if a triple portion is given a wicked countryman, he won’t have a gentle heart.]

Venter meus dolet et fluctuat.
[My belly is in pain and churning.]
Vade ad latrinam, bene preme ventrem; culus evomat de quo fluctuat venter.
[Go to the privy, press hard on your belly; your arse will get rid of what’s making your belly churn.]

Qui sibi nequam, cui bonus erit?
[He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good?]7
Cui placet hirnia, inhonestus debet esse.
[The man that is pleased with his hernia must be depraved.]

Si ascenderit super te spiritus potestatem habens, locum tuum ne dimiseris!
[If the spirit of him that has power ascends upon you, leave not your place!]8
Quando hirnie gravescunt, testiculi marcescunt; cum venerit pluvia, fugit estus.
[When a hernia gets heavy, the testicles decay; when the rains comes, the heat flees.]

Si aliquando victoriam habueris super inimicum, cave ne incidas in manus illius!
[If ever you should have victory over your enemy, beware lest you fall into his hands!]9
Qui in estate quiescit, in hyeme laborabit.
[He who rests in summer, shall work in winter.]

Qui timet pruinam, veniet super eum nix.
[He that fears the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon him.]10
Qui timet festucam numquam caccat in stipulam.
[He that fears the stalk never shits in stubble.]

Os mendax non habundat veritate.
[A lying mouth does not abound in truth.]11
Expertus bucca de petulancia cui non prodest malum loquitur bonum.
[A man skilled in impudent talk, when evil is unprofitable, speaks goodness.]

Amicus et medicus in necessitate probantur.
[A friend and a doctor are proven in time of need.]12
Adjuvat, non nocet, sepius bibit qui cellaria diligit.
[He helps, he does no harm, he drinks more often, who likes a wine cellar.]

Qui despicit parum, non meretur multum accipere.
[He that scorns a little does not deserve to receive much.]13
Vulva despecta et canis incenatus tristes vadunt pausare.
[A neglected vulva and an unfed dog go to bed sad.]

Noli arguere derisorem, ne oderit te!
[Rebuke not a scorner lest he hate you!]14
Quando aliquis plus movet merdam, plus fetet.
[When somebody moves shit around more, it stinks more.]

Non eligas cui bonum facias!
[Do not choose for whom you would do good!]15
Perdit suas penas qui crasso porcello culum saginat.
[He wastes his efforts who fattens the arse of a fat piglet.]

Uxoris preces sobrias despicere noli.
[A wife’s sober prayers, do not scorn them.]
Cum tua uxor vult sese uti, noli illi negare, quia necesse habet.
[When your wife wants you to enjoy her, deny her not, since she has a need.]

Considera que promittis, sed plenius quam promiseris presta.
[Pay heed to what you promise, but give more generously than you promised.]16
In quantum habes longum saccum, tende pedem.
[As long as the sack you have, stretch your foot that far.]

Da sapienti occasionem, et addetur ei sapiencia.
[Give a wise man an opportunity, and wisdom shall be added to him.]17
Infarcire ventrem et addetur tibi merda.
[Stuff your belly, and shit shall be added to you.]

Qui amat sapienciam, additur illi.
[He that loves wisdom, more is added to him.]
Laxa culum pedere, et ipse concuciet se.
[Let the arsehole fart, and it will shake itself.]

Bonum convivium malumque convivium suppis decoratum.
[A good meal and a bad meal are enhanced by soups.]
Suppe faciunt teneras buccas et culum viscosum.
[Soups make the mouth tender and the arsehole sticky.]

Melius est sedere in angulo solum quam cum muliere litigiosa.
[It is better to sit in a corner all alone than with a quarrelsome woman.]18
Sorex que non potest ire ad suum foramen malleum ad suam caudam ligat.
[The mouse that cannot go to its hole ties a hammer to its tail.]

Sermo mollis frangit iram, sermo durus suscitat furorem.
[Mild speech subdues anger, harsh speech rouses up fury.]19
Irasci cui non potes nec finge te quasi noceas.
[The man against whom you cannot show anger, do not pretend as if to harm him.]

Cor mundum nichil timet.
[A pure heart fears nothing.]
Qui sanum digitum ligat, sanum dissolvit.
[He that binds up a healthy finger, unbinds a healthy one.]

Cum tibi acciderit flagellum, noli murmurare sed gracias deo age et pacienter sustine.
[If punishment should befall you, do not murmur, but give thanks to God and bear it patiently.]
Invitus basiat malamium cui in bucca nascitur dampnum.
[Unwilling, he kisses cummin, in whose mouth an injury occurs.]

Ante os clybani non nascitur herba; et si nata fuerit, cito arescit a calore ignis.
[Before the mouth of an oven, grass does not sprout, and if it should sprout, it quickly withers from the fire’s heat.]
In culo non nascuntur pili; et si nati fuerint, cito uruntur propter aquas calidas, que per alvum de vicino discurrunt.
[In an arsehole, hairs do not sprout; and if they should sprout, they are quickly scorched due to the hot waters coursing through the bowels nearby.]

Sicut malum inter ligna silvarum, sic amica mea inter filias.
[As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among daughters.]20
Mel male habentibus ponitur.
[Honey is set out for those feeling poorly.]

Circa aures stultus es et de fama plenus, reliqua parte corporis sordidus.
[About your ears, you are a fool and full of gossip, vile in every other part of your body.]
Ubi invenis talem follem, bucca illum basia aut in culo morde.
[When you find such a fool, kiss him on the mouth or bite him on the arse.]

Summo opere cave ne illi qui tibi carus amicus est des exiguum munus.
[Take great care not to give a trifling gift to him who is your dear friend.]
Si amico tuo invitus das munera, perdis amicum tuum et munera.
[If you give gifts to your friend unwillingly, you lose your friend and your gifts.]

Qui habet malam uxorem non potest securus esse.
[He that has a bad wife cannot be free of cares.]
Qui habet caballum pravum non debet eum lassare ociosum.
[He that has a bad horse must not leave him idle.]

Celum quando nubilat, pluviam facere vult.
[When the sky clouds, it wants to rain.]
Canis quando crupitat, cacare vult.
[When the dog hunches his back, he wants to shit.]

Beatus homo qui semper est pavidus.
[Blessed is the man that is always fearful.]21
Tarde clamat quem lupus strangulat.
[He cries out too late whom a wolf is throttling.]

Suspiciosus homo numquam requiescit.
[The suspicious man is never at peace.]
Cornarius duo patitur, dampnum et obprobrium.
[The cuckold suffers two things, injury and vilification.]

Benefac justo et invenies retribucionem magnam; et si non ab ipso, certe a Domino.
[Do good to the just, and you shall find great recompense; and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord.]22
Benefac ventri et invenies eructuacionem magnam, et si non ab ore, certe a culo.
[Do good to the belly, and you shall find great belching, and if not of the mouth, assuredly of the arsehole.]


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