Georgius Agricola

“ It has but little intrinsic value for it is not poetry of a very high order, and to make it acceptable English would require certain improvements, for which only poets have license. A “free” translation of the last few lines indicates its complimentary character :
“He doth raise his country's fame with his own
And in the mouths of nations yet unborn
His praises shall be sung ; Death comes to all
But great achievements raise a monument
Which shall endure until the sun grows cold.” ”

“ Explorare, usum quem sibi uena ferat.
Non labor ingenio caret hic, non copia fructu,
Est adaperta bonæ prima fenestra spei.
Ergo instat porro grauiores ferre labores,
Intentas operi nec remouere manus.
Vrere sive locus poscat, seu tundere uenas,
Siue lauare lacu præter euntis aquæ.
Seu flammis iterum modicis torrere necesse est,
Excoquere aut fastis ignibus omne malum,
Cum fluit æs riuis, auri argentique metallum,
Spes animo fossor uix capit ipse suas. ”

“ Quæ si cuncta uelim tenui percurrere uersu,
Ante alium reuehat Memnonis orta diem.
Postremus labor est, concretos discere succos,
Quos fert innumeris Teutons terra locis.
Quo sal, quo nitrum, quo pacto fiat alumen,
Vsibus artificis cum parat ilia manus:
Nec non chalcantum, sulfur, fluidumque bitumen,
Massaque quo uitri lenta dolanda modo. ”