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Natura Amoris [1]


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Natura Amoris.translation
I.
Berna. & de dig. Amor.
ARs est artium, ars amoris; cuius magisterium
ipsa sibi retinuit natura, & Deus auctor natu-
ræ: ipse enim Amor à creatore inditus (nisi natu-
ralis eius ingenuitas, adulterinis aliquibus affe-
ctibus præpedita fuerit) ipse inquam se docet, sed
docibiles sui, docibiles Dei: sed postquā legē Dei
amisit ab homine est docēdus. nō est autem docē-
dus vt sit tanquam qui non sit; sed vt purgetur, &
quomodo purgetur; vt proficiat, & quomodo
proficiat; vt solidetur, & quomodo solidetur do-
cendus est. translation

Etymologia Amoris.
Amorem, Hebræi Oheb dicunt; à verbo Ahab,
amauit, dilexit: quod cognationem habet cum
Abah, voluit, & Iahab, appetiuit: quod enim ama-
mus, volumus & appetimus. translation

Definitio Amoris.
Aug. lib. de anim. Francis Petrar. de grat. Amor.
Amor est animæ rationalis affectus, per quem
ipsa aliquid cum desiderio quærit & appetit ad
fruendum; per quem & fruitur eo, & cum qua-
dam suauitate interiori amplectitur & conseruat
adeptum.
Amor latens est ignis; gratum vulnus; dulcis
amaritudo; delectabilis morbus; sapidum vene-
num; iucundum supplicium; blanda mors. translation

Diuisio Amoris.
Aug. sup. Psal. D. Thom.
Amor diuiditur in Amorem Dei, seu diui-
num; & Amorem sæculi seu humanum.
In Amorem amicitiæ, & Amorem concupis-
centiæ.translation

[2a] ↓

Ars est artium, Ars Amoris. Bern1. translation

Amour est l'art des arts, car en son artifice
L'esprit le plus sçauant, se treuue estre nouice.

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Nature de l'Amour.
I.
Puis que l'Amour est Dieu & cause de soy mesme,
Lecteur, tu ne le peux diffinir, si tu n'ayme,
Et resens ce qu' Amour opere dās les cœurs,
En voicy neantmoins toute la conoissance,
Qu' enseignent les effects de son abstruse essance
En ces tableaux diuers formez de ses langeurs.

No tiene retrato Amor.
Porque le muda el conceto.
Qualquier singular efeto.

De liefd' en heeft gheen seker beelt/
Een yder maeckt het soo hy queelt.

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2

[2a]

3

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Translations

The nature of love.
The art of love is the arts of arts. Nature kept to itself authority over it, and God is the master of nature. For love itself was planted in us by the Creator (except if its natural ingenuousness be hampered by adulterous emotions), love itself, I tell you, teaches itself, but those who can teach themselves can be taught by God. But since it abandoned God's law, it is to be taught by man. But it is not be taught so, that it is as it were something that it is not. But it has to instructed so, that it is purified, and how this is achieved; so, that it progresses and how it does; so, that it is made solid, and how this is done.
Etymology
The Jews call love 'oheb', from the verb 'ahab', he loved/to love2, because it is related to 'abah', he wished/to wish, and 'iahab', he strove/to strive. Because, of course, what we love we want and we strive to get.
Definition of love
Love is an emotion of the rational soul, through which soul itself searches with desire for something and strives after it so as to enjoy it. Through this love also enjoys it and with a kind of inner tenderness embraces it and preserves it once it has been attained.
Love is hidden fire, a welcome wound, sweet bitterness, delightful illness, tasty poison, agreeable punishment, charming death.
Division of love
Love is divided into God's love (or divine love) and into love of the world or the love of mankind.
Into the love of friendship and into the love of desire.

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Literature


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    References, across this site, to this page:


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    Iconclass

    Blindfolded Cupid and a boy with quiver and bow are pointing at a flaming heart, pierced by arrows and with a crown hovering above it

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    Comments

    commentary

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    Notes

    1
    Probably: Bernard of Clairveaux.
    2
    "amauit": a classical Hebrew verb has no infinitive and as a general reference the third person masc. sing. is used, rendered here literally by 'amauit'. The idiomatically correct Latin equivalent in this context would have to be 'amare'.