Le tableau des riches inventions qui sont representees dans le songe de Poliphile

having two faces of populos young people, joined inseparably at the top of the point of the fountain's pipe. Here is one of the perfect goals of felicity; here is the beginning of rest after the terrible labors that one has suffered. For whoever can recover a small blossom from these flowers will draw abundant fruits from them, and will have the sacred pledge and the holy earnest money that must be offered to Olocliree Polia to participate in her good graces. Whoever tastes the liquor of this fountain will be assured of being able to support all the burning pains where one must harden oneself following the traces of love. And whoever can excite from the burning moisture of this drop the living flame that flashes from it at times like lightning, will be able to light his torch which will lead him into the secret cabinet where the contentment of the happy enjoyment of Olocliree is received.

We were always going forward, devouring with greedy eyes everything that had the appearance of beauty or a likeness hiding secrets, when the beautiful Nephés the Soul-guide, my sweet sister (by alliance and in fact, as she declared to me when we were alone), came to interrupt us. In this she made a manifest demonstration of the truth of our kinship, which cannot lie. Thus, conversing with us with a beautiful sort of artifice, she gave to each some manner of occupation, so that it was easy for us to separate ourselves from the group. Therefore, having crossed a small portique that was not perceived by the others—who went searching for us, wandering here and there in this cave where infinite pleasures made them almost forget our absence—we entered into the inner court, all polished with glass, both in the lake and its surroundings. I was following my intentions, advancing my sight everywhere, when suddenly I saw coming out from the Eastern side a magnificent appearance of a venerable man, excellent in form and stature. I trembled a little, yet with ease, for what I saw was agreeable, and the good of my heart made my soul gently tingle in this suspense.

My good Nephés informed me of what I perceived: "This," she said to me, "is the notable and great philosophical Phecel a name derived from the Greek for fear or phantasy who comes with leave from the great Archee to instruct you and inform you of the desires of your heart. If you had attempted this adventure without communicating with so many people, you would have been enlightened long ago. But O simple in affections, where have you learned that the practice of love should be risked in a group? Do you not know that love, being unique, wants subjects who have intentions only for themselves? Look, to have a good encounter, it was necessary to keep to oneself. Hereafter, at your trial, the others will be instructed. Time has slipped away and you have remained without a good resolution until this hour. Even now, poor thing, you could not understand me; you were dying of envy to bring the others with you, and it

almost happened that I was forced to abandon you to the vain pleasure you took in being with them, to make a show that you knew well how to be a lover. Let that never be; rather, from this hour, be unique to yourself. Then the secrets will run to you in force, because they do not love the wind. The honors of the world are a profanation to them, and the fruits of our loves are ashamed of the presence of the common people, who are profane for the most part. Do you want that which is unique to belong to any but the unique heart?" By this, many, indeed all wise hearts will understand, if they are capable of the benefits of Heaven.

The fright that this specter had caused me unexpectedly did not touch my heart as much as this remonstrance. By it, I was as if withdrawn from the stunning of an idle sleep that the shame of sadness can cause. I did not know if this discourse was a sentence to reject me from my pretensions, and I almost abandoned my courage to let it slip away unworthily, had I not remembered that love exercises the hearts that have assurance in diverse ways, and that despising the degenerate, it profits only the valiant. I turned everything to good, assuring myself that my good Nephés was remonstrating to instruct me and not to estrange me. Then, approaching the great Phecel, I felt a little fearful emotion at this phantom image. However, I resolved myself, remembering that I had previously learned that he only accommodates himself to those who know him, and only familiarizes himself with those who know how to practice him with good grace.

And to be among those, I considered him in profile, and his face seemed so austere that if I had not collected myself within to overcome the disgrace that pressed me with fear and defiance, I would have been so enveloped in astonishment that I would have lost the desire to go further. I looked at him from a three-quarter view, and I found his face to be nothing but threats of inconvenience, presentations of boredom, and loss of hopes. At last, seeing him from the front, and then the frights leaving my previously astonished soul, I had the leisure and occasion to observe his grace, his proportions, his air, and all that was remarkable about him. I recognized him with a serene brow and a gesture so gracious that I was much more assured than I had been in pain before meeting him. This was to me an advantageous omen of prosperity, a happy assurance of consolation, and a sure certainty of constant felicity. Then, finding myself so well with the Prince of Imaginations, I made myself attentive to notice him and to hear the maxims he uttered, as if in haste. This was because he does not want to communicate for long, estimating it unworthy of his greatness to be prolix in speech and too close to the profanation of advancing a little more than moderately little. In speaking with grace, he [told] me...