Letter to César (1555)

P R E F A C E de M. MICHEL NOSTRADAMUS à ses prophéties.
Ad Caesarem Nostradamum filium — Vie et félicité

P R E F A C E by Master Michel Nostradamus to his prophecies.
To César Nostradamus, my son — Life and happiness.

Ton tard advenement, Cesar NOSTREDAME mon fils, m’a faict mettre mon long temps par continuelles vigilations nocturnes reserer par escipt toy delaisser memoire, apres la corporelle extinction de ton progeniteur, au commun profit des humains, de ce que la divine essence par Astronomiques revolutions m’ont donné cognoissance.

Your late arrival, César Nostredame, my son, has caused me for a long time, by continual nocturnal vigils, to set aside in writing and leave you as a memorial — after the bodily extinction of your progenitor — for the common benefit of humankind, that which the divine essence has given me knowledge of through astronomical revolutions.

Et depuis qu’il a pleu au Dieu immortel que tu ne sois venu en naturelle lumiere dans cette terreine plaige, et ne veux dire tes ans qui ne sont encores accompaignez, mais tes mois Martiaux incapables à recevoir dans ton debile entendement ce que ie seray contraint apres mes iours desiner: veu qu’il n’est possible te laisser par escrit, ce que seroit par l’iniure du temps oblitéré: car la parole hereditaire de l’occulte prediction sera dans mon estomach intercluse:

And since it has pleased the immortal God that you have not yet come into natural light in this earthly region — and I do not wish to speak of your years, which are not yet complete, but of your martial months, incapable of receiving into your weak understanding what I shall be constrained to set forth after my days — seeing that it is not possible to leave you in writing that which would be erased by the injury of time; for the hereditary word of occult prediction will remain enclosed within my stomach.

considerant aussi les adventures definiment estre incertaines; et que le tout est regy et gouverné par la puissance de Dieu inestimable, nous inspirant non par bacchante fureur ne par limphatique mouvement, mais par astronomiques assertions. Soli numine divino afflari praesagiunt et spiritu prophetico particularia.

Considering also that events are by their definition uncertain; and that all is ruled and governed by the inestimable power of God, inspiring us not by bacchic frenzy nor by lymphatic movement, but by astronomical assertions. Only those inspired by divine will foretell, and by prophetic spirit, particulars.

Combien que de long temps par plusieurs fois i’aye predict long temps auparavant ce que depuis est advenu, et en particulieres regions attribuant le tout estre faict par la vertu et inspiration divine, et autres felices et sinistres adventures de acceleree promptitude prononcees que depuis sont advenues par les climats du monde:

Although for a long time, on many occasions, I have predicted long beforehand what later came to pass, and in particular regions, attributing all to be done by divine virtue and inspiration, and other happy and unhappy events of accelerated promptness pronounced which since have occurred across the climates of the world;

ayant voulu taire et delaisser pour cause de l’iniure, et non tant seulement du temps present, mais aussi de la plus grande part du futur, de mettre par escrit, pource que les regnes, sectes, et regions feront changes si opposites; voire au respect du present diametralement, que si ie venois à reserer ce qu’à l’advenir sera ceux du regne, secte, religion, et foy, trouveroient si mal accordant à leur fantasie auriculaire, qu’ils viendroyent à damner ce que par les siecles advenir on cognoistra estre veu et apperceu.

I have wished to keep silent and leave unwritten, because of the injury not only of the present time but also of the greater part of the future, to put it in writing; because kingdoms, sects, and regions will undergo changes so opposed — indeed diametrically opposed with respect to the present — that if I were to record what in time to come will be of reign, sect, religion, and faith, they would find it so ill-suited to their “auditory fancy” that they would condemn what future centuries will recognize as seen and perceived.

Considerant aussi la sentence du vray Sauveur.

Considering also the saying of the true Savior.

Nolite sanctum dare canibus, nec mittatis margaritas ante porcos, ne conculcent pedibus et conversi dirumpant vos.

Do not give what is holy to dogs, nor cast pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and turn and tear you.

Qui a esté la cause de faire retirer ma langue au populaire, et la plume au papier, puis me suis voulu estendre declarant pour le commun advenement, par obstruses et perplexes sentences des causes futures, mesmes les plus urgentes, et celles que j’ay apperçeu, quelque humaine mutation qu’advienne ne scandaliser l’auriculaire fragilité, et le tout escrit sougz figure nubileuse, plus que du tout prophetique,

Which has been the cause for withdrawing my tongue from the populace, and my pen from paper; then I wished to extend myself, declaring for the common future, by obscure and perplexing sentences concerning future causes — even the most urgent — and those I have perceived, so that whatever human mutation may occur, it does not scandalize fragile ears; and all written under cloudy figure, more than entirely prophetic,

comgien que, Abscondisti haec à sapientibus, et prudentibus, id est, potentibus et regibus, et enucleasti ea exiguis et tenuibuis:

although: You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, that is, from the powerful and kings, and you have revealed them to the small and humble.

et aux Prophetes par le moyen de Dieu immortel, et des bons Anges ont receu l’esprit de vaticination, par lequel ils voyent les choses loingtaines, et viennent à prevoir les futurs advenemens: car rien ne se peut parachever sans luy, ausquel si grande est la puissance, la bonté aux subiects, que pendant qu’ils demeurent en eux, toutesfois aux autres effects subiects pour la similitude de la cause du buon genius; celle chaleur et puissance vaticinatrice s’approche de nous: comme il nous advient des rayons de Soleil, qui viennent iettant leur influence aux corps elementaires, et non elementaires.

and the prophets, by means of the immortal God and the good angels, received the spirit of divination, by which they see distant things and come to foresee future events; for nothing can be completed without Him, in whom power is so great, and goodness toward subjects, that while they remain in Him, He nonetheless produces other effects in subjects by the likeness of the cause of the good genius; this heat and vaticinating power draws near to us, as happens with the rays of the Sun which cast their influence upon elemental and non-elemental bodies.

Quant à nous qui sommes humains, ne pouvons rien de notre naturelle cognoissance et inclination d’engin, cognoitre des secets obstruses de Dieu le Createur.

As for us who are human, we can know nothing, from our natural knowledge and inclination of mind, of the obscure secrets of God the Creator.

Quia non est nostrum noscere tempora, nec momenta etc.

For it is not ours to know times, nor moments, etc.

Combien qu’aussi de present peuvent advenir et estre personnages, que Dieu le Createur aye voulu reveler par imaginatives impressions, quelques secrets de l’advenir, accordez à l’astrologie iudicielle, comme du passé, que certaine puissance et volontaire faculté venoit par eux, comme flambe de feu apparoit, que luy inspirant on venoit à iuger les divines et humaines inspirations.

Although also at present there may arise and exist persons whom God the Creator has wished to reveal, by imaginative impressions, certain secrets of what is to come, in accord with judicial astrology — as with the past — such that a certain power and voluntary faculty comes through them, as a flame of fire appears; and by inspiring them, one comes to judge divine and human inspirations.

Car les oeuvres divines, que totament sont absolues, Dieu les vient parachever: la moyenne qui est au milieu les Anges : la troisiesme les mauvais.

For divine works, which are wholly complete, God comes to accomplish: the middle means are the angels; the third are the evil ones.

Mais mon fils ie te parle icy un peu trop obstrusement: mais quant aux occultes vaticinations qu’on vient à recevoir par le subtil esprit du feu, qui quelquesfois par l’entendement agité contemplant le plus haut des astres, comme estant vigilant, mesmes qu’aux prononciations, estant surprins escrits prononçant sans craincte moins attainct d’invercande loquacité : mais quoy tout procedoit de la puissance divine du grand Dieu eternel de qui toute bonté procede.

But, my son, I speak to you here a little too obscurely; yet as for occult vaticinations which one comes to receive through the subtle spirit of fire — which sometimes, by the understanding set in motion, contemplating the highest of the stars as if vigilant, even at utterances — being seized, writing and pronouncing without fear, scarcely touched by shameless loquacity; but in any case, all proceeded from the divine power of the great eternal God from whom all goodness proceeds.

Encores mon fils, que i’aye inseré le nom de Prophete, ie ne me veux attribuer tiltre de si haute sublimité pour le temps present : car qui Propheta dicitur hodie, olim vocabatur videns : car Prophete proprement mon fils, est celuy qui voit choses loingtaines de la cognoissance naturelle de toute creature.

Moreover, my son, although I have inserted the name of “Prophet,” I do not wish to attribute to myself a title of so high a sublimity for the present time; for he who is called propheta today was formerly called videns (“seer”); for a prophet, properly, my son, is he who sees things far from the natural knowledge of every creature.

Et cas advenant que le Prophete moyennant la parfaicte lumiere de la prophetie luy appaire manifestement des choses divines, comme humaines, que ce ne se peut faire, veu que les effects de la future prediction s’estendent loing.

And if it happens that to the prophet, by the perfect light of prophecy, divine things as well as human things appear manifestly, this cannot be done in full, since the effects of future prediction extend far.

Car les secrets de Dieu incomprehensibles, et la vertu effectrice contingent de longue estendue de la cognoissance naturelle, prenant leur plus prochain origine du liberal arbitre, faict apparoir les causes qui d’elles mesmes ne peuvent acquerir celle notice pour estre cogneues, ne par les humains augures, ne par autre cognoissance, ou vertu occulte, comprinse soubz la concavité du Ciel mesme, du faict present de la totale eternité, qui vient en soy embrasser tout le temps.

For the secrets of God are incomprehensible, and the effecting virtue — contingent and of long extent beyond natural knowledge — taking its nearest origin from free will, makes causes appear which of themselves cannot acquire that notice to be known, neither by human auguries, nor by other knowledge or occult virtue contained under the concavity of Heaven itself, from the present act of total eternity which comes to embrace all time within itself.

Mais moyennant quelque indivisible eternité, par comitiale agitation Hiraclienne, les causes par le celeste mouvement sont cogneues.

But by means of some indivisible eternity, by a Heraclitean commotional agitation, the causes are known through the celestial motion.

Ie ne dis pas, mon fils, afin que bien l’entendez, que la cognoissance de ceste matiere ne se peut encores imprimer dans ton debile cerveau, que les causes futures bien loingtaines ne soient à la cognoissance de la creature raisonnable : si sont nonobstant bonnement la creature de l’ame intellectuelle des choses presentes loingtaines ne luy sont du tout ne trop occultes, ne trop reserees :

I do not say, my son, so that you understand well, that knowledge of this matter cannot yet be imprinted in your weak brain, nor that future causes very far off are not within the knowledge of the reasonable creature; nevertheless, for the creature of the intellectual soul, distant present things are not altogether too occult, nor too reserved;

mais la parfaicte des causes notices ne se peut acquerir sans celle divine inspiration : veu que toute inspiration prophetique reçoit prenant son principal principe mouvant de Dieu le Createur, puis de l’heur et de nature.

but the perfect knowledge of causes cannot be acquired without that divine inspiration; since every prophetic inspiration receives its principal moving principle from God the Creator, then from fortune and from nature.

Parquoy estant les causes indifferentes indifferemment produictes, et non produictes, le presage partie advient, ou a esté predict.

Therefore, causes being indifferent and indifferently produced or not produced, the presage in part comes to pass, or has been predicted.

Car l’entendement creé intellectuellement ne peut voir occultement, sinon par la voix faicte au lymbe, moyennant la exigue flamme en laquelle partie les causes futures se viendront à incliner.

For the understanding, created intellectually, cannot see occultly except by a voice made at the limbo, by means of the small flame in which part the future causes will come to incline.

Et aussi mon fils, ie te supplie que jamais tu ne vueilles employer ton entendement à telles resveries et vanitez qui seichent le corps et mettent à perdition l’ame, donnant trouble au foible sens : mesmes la vanité de la plus qu’execrable magie reprouvee iadis par les sacrees escritures, et par les divins canons, au chef duquel est exepté le iugement de l’Astrologie iudicielle :

And also, my son, I beg you that you never wish to employ your understanding in such daydreams and vanities which dry the body and bring the soul to perdition, troubling weak sense — especially the vanity of the most execrable magic, formerly reproved by sacred scriptures and by the divine canons, from which is excepted the judgment of judicial astrology;

par laquelle et moyennant inspiration et revelation divine par continuelles supputations, avons nos propheties redigé par escrit.

by which — and by means of divine inspiration and revelation through continual computations — we have set our prophecies down in writing.

Et combien que celle occulte Philosophie ne fusse réprouvée, n’ay oncques voulu presenter leurs effrenees persuasions, combien que plusieurs volumes qui ont esté cachez par longs siecles me sont esté manifestez.

And although that occult philosophy was not reproved, I have never wished to present their unbridled persuasions, although many volumes hidden for long centuries were made manifest to me.

Mais doutant ce qui adviendroit, en ay faict apres la lecture present à Vulcain que cependant qu’il les venoit à devorer, la flamme leschant l’air rendoit une clarté insolite, plus claire que naturelle flamme, comme lumiere de feu de clytre fulgurant, illuminant subit la maison, comme si elle fut esté en subite conflagration.

But fearing what might happen, after reading I delivered them to Vulcan (the fire); and while it came to devour them, the flame licking the air gave an unusual brightness, clearer than natural flame, like the light of a flashing fire of lightning, suddenly illuminating the house as if it were in sudden conflagration.

Parquoy afin qu’à l’advenir ne fussiez abuzé, perscrutant la parfaicte transformation tant seline que solitaire, et soubz metaux incorruptibles, et aux ondes occultes, les ay en cendres convertis.

Therefore, so that in time to come you would not be abused by scrutinizing the perfect transformation, both lunar and solitary, and under incorruptible metals and occult waves, I converted them to ashes.

Mais quant au iugement qui se vient parachever, moyennant le jugement celeste, cela te veux le manifester : parquoy avoir cognoissance des causes futures, reiettant loing les phantastiques imaginations qui adviendront limitant la particularité des lieux par divine inspiration supernaturelle : accordant aux celestes figures, les lieux, et une partie du temps de proprieté occulte par vertu, puissance, et faculté divine, en presence de laquelle les trois temps sont comprins par eternité, revolution tenant à la cause passee, presente et future : quia omnia funt nuda et aperta, etc.

But as for the judgment that comes to be accomplished by means of the celestial judgment, this I wish to make known to you: thus, to have knowledge of future causes, casting far away the fantastical imaginations that will occur, limiting the particularity of places by supernatural divine inspiration; matching the places to the celestial figures, and a part of time to occult property by divine virtue, power, and faculty — in the presence of which the three times are comprised by eternity, the revolution holding to the past, present, and future cause: for all things are naked and open, etc.

Parqoy, mon fils, tu peux facilement, nonobstant ton tendre cerveau, comprendre que les choses qui doivent advenir, se peuvent prophetizer par les nocturnes et celestes lumieres, qui sont naturelles, et par l’esprit de prophetie :

Therefore, my son, you can easily, notwithstanding your tender brain, understand that the things which must come to pass can be prophesied by nocturnal and celestial lights, which are natural, and by the spirit of prophecy;

non que ie me vueille attribuer nomination n’y effect prophetique, mais par revelee inspiration, comme homme mortel, esloigné non moins de sens au Ciel, que des pieds en terre. Possum non errare, falli, decipi, suis pecheur plus grand que nul de ce monde, subiet à toutes humaines afflictions.

not that I wish to attribute to myself a name or prophetic effect, but by revealed inspiration, as a mortal man, removed no less in sense toward Heaven than with feet on earth. I can not err; I can be mistaken; I can be deceived; I am a sinner greater than any in this world, subject to all human afflictions.

Mais estant surprins par fois la sepmaine limphatiquant, et par longue calculation, rendant les estudes nocturnes de souaves odeur, i’ay composé Livres de propheties contenant chacun cent quatrains astronomiques de propheties, lesquelles i’ay un peu voulu rabouter obscurement : et sont perpetuelles vaticinations, pour d’icy à l’annee 3797.

But being seized at times in the week by a kind of “lymphatic” state, and by long calculation, rendering nocturnal studies of sweet odor, I composed books of prophecies, each containing one hundred astronomical quatrains of prophecies, which I wished to join a little obscurely; and they are perpetual vaticinations, from here until the year 3797.

Que possible fera retirer le front à quelques uns, en voyant si longue extension, par soubz toute la concavité de la Lune aura lieu et intelligence : et ce entendant universellement par toute la terre les causes mon fils.

Which may cause some to draw back their brow on seeing so long an extension, having place and meaning under the whole concavity of the Moon; and this understood universally throughout the whole earth — the causes, my son.

Que si tu vis l’aage naturel et humain, tu verras devers ton climat, au propre Ciel de ta nativité, les futures adventures prevoir.

And if you live to natural and human age, you will see, toward your climate, under the very heaven of your nativity, the future events foreseen.

Combien que le seul Dieu eternel soit celuy seul qui cognoit l’eternité de sa lumiere, procedant de luy mesme, et ie dis franchement qu’a ceux à qui sa magnitude immense, qui est sans mesure et incomprehensible, a voulu par longue inspiration melancolique reveler, que moyennant icelle cause occulte manifestee divinemernt, principalement de deux causes principales, qui sont comprinses à l’entendement de celuy inspiré qui prophetise,

Although the eternal God alone is the only one who knows the eternity of His light, proceeding from Himself, I say frankly that to those to whom His immense magnitude — without measure and incomprehensible — has wished, by long melancholy inspiration, to reveal, that by means of that occult cause divinely made manifest, chiefly there are two principal causes comprised in the understanding of the inspired one who prophesies,

l’unes est qui vient à infuser, esclaircissant la lumiere supernaturelle, au personnage qui predit par la doctrine des Astres, et prophetise par inspiree revelation, laquelle est une certaine participation de la divine eternité, moyennant laquelle le Prophete vient à iuger de cela que son divin esprit luy a donné par le moyen de Dieu le Crateur, et par une naturelle instigation : c’est à scavoir que ce que predit, est vray, et a prins son origine ethereement :

the one is that which comes to infuse, illuminating the supernatural light, into the person who predicts by the doctrine of the stars and prophesies by inspired revelation — which is a certain participation in divine eternity — by means of which the prophet comes to judge that which his divine spirit has given him through God the Creator, and by a natural instigation: namely, that what he predicts is true and has taken its origin etherially;

et telle lumiere et flamme exigue est de toute efficace, et de telle altitude non moins que la naturelle clarté, et naturelle lumiere rend les Philosophes si asseurez, que moyennant les principes de la premiere cause ont attainct à plus profondes abysmes des plus hautes doctrines.

and such a light and small flame is wholly efficacious, and of such altitude that — no less than natural clarity and natural light — it renders philosophers so assured that, by means of the principles of the first cause, they have reached deeper abysses of the highest doctrines.

Mais à celle fin mon fils, que ie ne vague trop pronfondement pour la capacité future de ton sens, et aussi que ie treuve que les lettres feront si grande et incomparable iacture,

But to that end, my son, that I do not wander too deeply for the future capacity of your sense, and also because I find that letters will suffer so great and incomparable a loss,

que je treuve le monde avant l’universelle conflagration advenir tant de deluges et si hautes inundations, qu’il ne sera guiere terroir qui ne soit couvert d’eau : et sera par si longtemps, que hors mis enographies et topographies que le tout ne soit pery :

that I find the world, before the universal conflagration to come, will have so many floods and such high inundations that there will scarcely be land that is not covered with water; and it will be for so long that, except for “enographies” and topographies, everything will perish;

aussi avant et apres telles inundations, en plusieurs contrees, les pluyes seront si exigues, et tombera du Ciel si grande abondance de feu et de pierre candantes, qui n’y demeurera rien qu’il ne soit consommé : et cecy advenir en brief, et avant la derniere conflagration :

also before and after such inundations, in several regions, the rains will be so scant, and there will fall from Heaven so great an abundance of fire and burning stones, that nothing will remain that is not consumed; and this will come to pass shortly, and before the last conflagration;

Car encores que la planete de Mars paracheve son siecle et à la fin de son dernier periode si le reprendra il : mais assemblez les uns en Aquarius par plusieurs annees, les autres en Cancer par plus longues et continues.

For although the planet Mars completes its century, and at the end of its last period it will take it up again; but some gathered in Aquarius for several years, others in Cancer for longer and continuous.

Et maintenant que sommes conduicts par la Lune, moyennant la totale puissance de Dieu eternel, qu’avant qu’elle aye paracheve son total circuit, le Soleil viendra, et puis Saturne.

And now that we are led by the Moon, by means of the total power of the eternal God, that before it has completed its total circuit, the Sun will come, and then Saturn.

Car selon les signes celestes, le regne de Saturne sera de retour, que le tout calculé, le monde s’approche, d’une anaragonique revolution :

For according to the celestial signs, the reign of Saturn will return; and with all calculated, the world approaches an “anaragonic” revolution.

et que de present que cecy i’escrits avant cent septante sept ans trois mois unze iours par pestilence, longue famine, et guerres, et plus par les inondations le monde entre cy et ce terme prefix, avant et apres par plusieurs fois, sera si diminué, et si peu de monde sera,

and that, from the present when I write this, within one hundred seventy-seven years, three months, eleven days, by pestilence, long famine, and wars — and even more by inundations — the world between now and that prefixed term, before and after several times, will be so diminished, and there will be so few people,

que l’on ne trouvera qui vueille prendre les champs, qui deviendront libres aussi longuement, qu’ils sont esté en servitude : et ce quant au visible iugement celeste,

that one will not find anyone who wishes to take up the fields, which will become free as long as they have been in servitude; and this, as to the visible celestial judgment,

qu’encores que nous soyons au septiesme nombre de mille qui paracheve le tout, nous approchant du huictiesme, où est le firmament de la huictiesme sphere, qui est en dimension latitudinaire, où le grand Dieu eternel viendra parachever la revolution :

that although we are in the seventh number of a thousand which completes the whole, approaching the eighth, where is the firmament of the eighth sphere, which is in latitudinal dimension, where the great eternal God will come to complete the revolution;

où les images celestes retourneront à se mouvoir, et le mouvement superieur qui nous rend la terre stable et ferme, non inclinabitur in saeculum saeculi : hors mis que son vouloir sera accomply, mais non point autrement :

where the celestial images will return to move, and the superior motion which renders the earth stable and firm will not be inclined forever and ever; except that His will shall be accomplished, but not otherwise;

combien que par ambigues opinions excedantes toutes raisons naturelles par songes Mahometiques, aussi aucunes fois Dieu le Createur par les ministres de ses messagiers de feu, en flamme missive, vient à proposer aux sens exterieurs, mesmement à nos yeux, les causes de future prediction, significatrices du cas futur qui se doit à celuy qui presage manifester.

although by ambiguous opinions exceeding all natural reasons by “Mahometan dreams,” also at times God the Creator, by ministers of His messengers of fire, in a sent flame, comes to present to the external senses — especially to our eyes — the causes of future prediction, signifying the future case which must be manifested to the one who presages.

Car le presage qui se faict de la lumiere exterieure vient infailliblement à iuger parties avecques, et moyennant le lume exterieur :

For the presage made from exterior light comes infallibly to judge parts together with, and by means of, the exterior light;

combien vrayement que la partie qui semble avoir par l’oeil de l’entendement, ce qui n’est par la lesion du sens imaginatif, la raison est par trop evidente, le tout estre predict par afflation de divinité, et par le moyen de l’esprit Angelique inspire à l’homme prophetisant, rendant oinctes de vaticinations le venant à illuminer,

although truly, as for the part which seems to have, by the eye of understanding, what is not (because of a lesion of the imaginative sense), the reason is too evident: that all is predicted by a divine afflation, and by means of the angelic spirit inspired into the prophesying man, rendering him anointed with vaticinations as it comes to illuminate him,

luy esmouvant le devant de la phantasie par diverses nocturnes apparitions, que par diurne certitude prophetise par administration Astronomique, conioincte de la sanctissime future prediction, ne considerant ailleurs qu’au courage libre.

stirring before him the forefront of fantasy by diverse nocturnal apparitions; and by daytime certainty he prophesies by astronomical administration, joined to the most holy future prediction, considering nowhere else than the free courage.

Viens à ceste heure entendre, mon fils, que ie trouve par mes revolutions, qui sont accordantes à revelee inspiration, que le mortel glaive s’approche de nous maintenant, par peste, guerre plus horrible qu’à vie de trois hommes n’a esté, et famine, lequel tombera en terre, et y retournera souvent :

Come now to understand, my son, that I find by my revolutions — which accord with revealed inspiration — that the mortal sword approaches us now, by plague, by war more horrible than in the life of three men it has been, and by famine; which will fall upon the earth and return there often;

car les Astres s’accordent à la revolution, et aussi a dit : Visitabo in virga ferrea iniquitates eorum, et in verberibus percutiam eos, car la misericorde de Dieu ne sera point dispergee un temps, mon fils, que la pluspart de mes Propheties seront accomplies, et viendront estre par accomplissement revoluês.

for the stars agree with the revolution, and also it is said: I will visit their iniquities with an iron rod, and with blows I will strike them; for the mercy of God will not be scattered for a time, my son, such that the greater part of my prophecies will be fulfilled, and will come to be turned over into fulfillment.

Alors par plusieurs fois durant les sinistre tempestes.

Then, many times during the sinister storms.

Conteram ego, dira le seigneur, et consringam, et non miserebor, et mille autres adventures qui adviendront par eaux et continuelles pluyes,

I will crush, says the Lord, and I will constrain, and I will not have mercy, and a thousand other events which will come by waters and continual rains,

comme plus à plain i’ay redigé par escrit aux miennes autres Propheties qui sont composees tout au long, in soluta oratione, limitant les lieux, temps, et le terme prefix que les humains apres verront, cognoissant les adventures advenues infailliblement,

as more fully I have set down in writing in my other prophecies which are composed at length, in plain (unmetred) speech, limiting the places, times, and the prefixed term which humans afterwards will see, knowing the events that have occurred infallibly,

comme avons noté par les autres, parlans plus clairement, nonobstant que soubz nuee seront comprinses les intelligences : sed quando submovenda erit ignorantia, le cas sera plus esclaircy.

as we have noted by the others, speaking more clearly, notwithstanding that the understandings will be contained under a cloud; but when ignorance must be removed, the case will be more clarified.

Faisant fin, mon fils, pren donc ce don de ton pere Michel NOSTRADAMUS, esperant toy declarer une chacune Prophetie des quatrains cy mis. Priant au Dieu immortel, qu’il te vueille prester vie longue, en bonne et prospere felicité.

Making an end, my son, take then this gift from your father Michel Nostradamus, hoping to declare to you each prophecy of the quatrains placed here. Praying to the immortal God that He may grant you long life, in good and prosperous felicity.

De Salon ce 1. De Mars 1555.

From Salon, this 1st of March, 1555.