A happy star in those fate-filled heavens | Quella felice stella, e in ciel fatale |
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A happy star in those fate-filled heavens accompanied the high birth of Caesar, great Augustus: whence he ruled the world, lived nobly and is today immortal; she -- now in a kinder mood -- guided great Charles' destinies, so strongly I hope to see him -- to speak frankly -- be made a god among us who is mortal man; so that if the former deserved high honors for defeating Indians, Medes, Britons, Scythians, Cantabrians, and the bold Gauls, the latter who has now conquered two worlds, united such discordant wills in peace, merits yet greater praise and respect. |
Quella felice stella, e 'n ciel fatale che fu compagne al nascimento altero del gran Cesare Augusto, onde l'impero del mondo tenne, e visse alto e immortale; quella, ma più benigna, al bel natale fu guida dal gran Carlo, et tal ch'io spero maggio vederlo, per dir meglio il vero, e fatto un dio fra noi d'uomo mortale; che se per vincer gli Indi, e i Medi, e i Sciti, e i Cantabri, e i Britanni, e i Galli audaci meritò quel aver tant'alti onori questo, ch'omai duo mondo ha vinto, e uniti tanti voler discordi in tante paci, merita maggior lodi e onor maggiori. |
The modern consensus appears to be that this poem refers to the battle of Pavia (1525) in line 12 (two worlds refers to France and Germany or Francois I and Charles V). The argument is that the star which presided over the birth of Caesar Augustus also smiled upon the birth of Charles V; if his predecessor acquired fame through military victories in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, Charles V will gain greater honor through faciliating peace after victory. For variants, further commentary and paraphrase see 1995 Bullock p. 112n. See also Chimenti, pp. 38-39.