Cambridge, Trinity College MS O.5.32
Title
Images Source
https://mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/O.5.32
Manuscript
About the Manuscript
This 14th-15th-century parchment manuscript, entitled “Prognostica. Medica” and assigned number 1313 in the James Catalogue of Western Manuscripts, is in the Trinity College Library, Cambridge. It contains several prognostic texts, including a system of divination in French and a text called the book of Hermes the Philosopher discussing stars and precious stones. The verse lunary in French is following by a prayer to the Virgin Mary, a table of lucky and unlucky days of the month, and a tract on medicine in French and Latin.
For further details on the contents and bibliography of this manuscript, and a digital version, visit this link.About the Lunary
Content
This version is similar other Collective Lunaries in the corpus, namely Oxford, Digby 86 and Rawlinson Poetry 241. (For further discussion, see in particular About the Lunary, for the Oxford texts as well as BnF Fr 837)
Each lunar day begins with a general prediction and continues with the usual topics: nativities, birthmarks, illness outcomes, dreams, and thefts, more or less in that order.
The general daily predictions for each day describe whether it will be a good day or a bad day to start things, such as marriages (line 34), schooling children and even beating them (353), and wearing new clothes (33). We find reference to general misbehaving (248), swearing oaths (75), making amends for evil deeds (248), and even instigating wars among people (32, 149).
In the nativity forecasts, boys and girls are each assigned a variety of good or bad personality traits, and we learn how these traits will translate in their lived experience: The child will be a robber but will not be found guilty (349) or he will be a cheat and proud/And will not be able to live long (291-92). A few professions are mentioned, such as farmer (326) for a boy, wool worker for a girl (266), and even medical aptitude is noted: La meschine ert sage et divine Et savera mout de medicine (431-32). However, more predictions describe whether people will be rich, acquire wealth (440), or struggle in poverty and die young.
Rank and personal relations within society are valued: brave, wise and respected members in the community obtain approval (16, 134) whereas selfish, covetous or proud troublemakers do not. On one occasion, a lucky and rich boy is predicted to be “topmost among many people” (98) [1], using the word sovereign. This might have meant he would rise politically perhaps.
Two references to nobility are hard to decipher. Here a baroun, or nobleman, is said to sexually assault (foutre) [2] a young girl (39, 343). The fact that this has no deleterious effects on her success in life seems noteworthy. One girl is described as chaste and hardworking after that event, and loving in all things (345-46), whereas the other, “will be beautiful and generous forever” (39-40). Is this an indication that having a noble “take” your young daughter assures her of a bright future?
Birthmarks are given very specific locations, from forehead (120, 237) to backside (226), and everywhere in between.
The medical forecasts are brief (the sick will recover, languish or die) and occasionally refer to the use of medicine for healing (132, 312). Bloodletting is encouraged at certain times and on certain days, but on the wrong ones can lead to madness (322) or even death (364). Combining bloodletting with purging urine is encouraged (130) on the Seventh Moon Day, and replacing it with a prayer to God (163-164) on the Ninth.
Dreams are said to be realized or not, with advice about whether they should be told or not (86, 286). The number of days until dreams are realized are often foretold (129, 161, 212, 227, 287, 295, 315).
Fugitives and stolen objects will either be discovered and returned.
Scribal Voice
As in other lunaries, the scribe sometimes interjects personal commentaries.
Given that this text is ascribed to Solomon the Wise, as the messenger of Nostre Seignur (lines 5-8), it is not surprising to see “if God wills” (si Dieu plest) (163, 228, 316) added to recommendations, and other assurances given : Dieux de touz mals nous delivrera (164), priez a Dieu que a bien tournera (298). At the end, the scribe prays, ending with Amen. (452).
There are occasional interruptions of the narrative voice, confirming the veracity of the predictions: “You must not doubt what I tell you” (93, 196, 384), or “I must say” (389). And sometimes the reader or user is addressed directly: “[My book] is truthful, you can be sure” (4), and “The Twentys-sixth Moon is like the previous one, dear friends” (397-98).
Footnotes
[1] Visit this link and the following citation (1341-42) les burgeis ount un maire [...] q'est lour sovereigne YBB 16 i Ed III 115
[2] For a comprehensive entry confirming the meaning, visit this link
Transcription
Transcription
[1]f 25v, 1
[C] [2] y comence une sommarye
Qe l'em apele la lunarie
Pur voir de sunges et d'autre rien
Bon est et verroie sachez bien.
Kar Salamon le sage le fist
Si com l'aungle lui aprist.
Qe nostre Seignur lui envoia
Et de sa main mesmes l'escriva.
Quant il est la lune prymere
Totes choses son bons a comencer.10
L'enfant qi adonque nestra
Deboneyres et prodomme serra.
En le surcyl merche avera
Et en la bouche; et si serra
Sages, vaillaunz, et mout preus,
Entre moutz des gentz conuz.
Et longement vivera cil bier
Si peril de ewe pusse eschaper.
La pucele que doncs ert nee
Chaste serra et benuree,20
Beale, courtoise, et enseignee
Et mout avera de sa volontie.
Qi en enfermete loncs cherra
Longement seynz serra.
Chescun sounge a bien tournera
Et de enseyner bon jour serra.
Et si serra bien troveez
Larcine fait a ceste jortz. [3]
La secounde lune est mout favable
Qi riens voet faire est mout amable.30
Qar totes choses sont donques bons a faire.
Fors entre gentz de movoir guerre.
Bon est novele vesture afubler [4]
Et einz bone femme esposer.
N'est pas [bon] de embler
Kar tost le poet l'em trover.
f 25v, 2
L'enfaunt ki adonque fust nee
De touz biens avera a plentee.
Un barum fust [5] a la meschine
Beal et large ert saunz fine.40
De nule sounge ayez poour.
Et seigner est bon en mi jour.
En le tiercz jour de la lune
Riens ne comencez en commune.
De totes choses faire doit l'em garder
Kar rien n'est profitable de comencer.
Larcine adoncs ert aparceu
Et le laroun prys et legerement pendu.
Qi ert susprys de enfermetie
De longe fevre ert travaillee50
Et mouts ennuys eschapera
Ou au drein [6] ne murra.
L'enfaunt qi adonque nestra
Tout autr[e] choses coveitera
Prodomme legierement ne serra
Ne de bone mort ne morra
La meschine covetieresce serra
Et plusurs amys avera.
Et cel jour nul se seignera
En cel jour nuly sey seignera. [7]60
De la lune le quart jor
Totes choses comencez en bon eur.
L'enfaunt qui donques ert nee
Lecheres serra en veritie.
Beal homme et riches serra
Mes a grant travail le porchacera.
La meschine lanouse [8] et coveitouse serra
Et de mal mort au drein morra.
N'est pas bon de embler
Qar tost le porra hom trover.70
Loi malade son lit remuera
Ou sanz faille de ceo mal morra.
f 26r, 1
De sounge nul certeyn poet l'em trover
Et a hure de tierce fait bon seigner.
[L]a lune quinte n'est pas bon deviner
Ne de nul autre chose comencer.
L'enfaunt qi adonques ert nee
De le deable ert travaille.
Et un poy de tenps vivera
Et apres joefnes morra.80
La meschine qi donques ert nee
En ert tost a la mort livree,
Ou si ele vive mavoise serra.
La mort del futif ert meritie,
Or tost ert lie et remenee.
Vostre sounge a nuly moustrez
Kar n'est pas bon pour voz pechez
Si vous seigner voudrez
Devant houre de tierce le fiez.
[E]n la lune sisme est bon de chacer90
Et totes maneres de bestes tuer.
Et autre choses de comencer
N'estut nully a doutier.
L'enfaunt qi serra nee sanz fable
Ert riches, hardy, et profitable.
Merche avera en la destre main
Entre plusurs gent serra soverein.
De toutes choses sera benuree
Et de touz biens avera plentee.
La meschine que doncs nestra100
Richesce ove travaile porchacera
Et quanque faire voudra
Tut sanz faille l'achevira.
Chaste ne sera ele mye
De plusurs avera la compaignye.
A toute gent serra acceptable
Et a touz serra amiable.
Longement vivera
f 26r, 2
Et de touz biens a plente avera.
Et l’eur est saunz ataint embler110
Et d'enfermetee bien eschaper.
Vostre sounge a nully voiletz dire
Ne vous seigner ne vous quire.
[A] la septime lune de comencer
Totes choses n'estoit mye douter.
L'enfaunt que donque nestra
De noble memoire et enletree sera
Riches, fraunk, et mout sage
Et deboneyre et de grant age.
Signe en le frount avera120
Et a Dieu au drein irra.
La pucelle que doncs ert nee
Sages ert et de grant ee.
Mes de plusurs paroles serra
Merche en la mamele avera.
Lui futif tost serra trovee
Et lui malades tost sanee.
Sounges veroies serront
Et apres grant temps avendront.
Bon est de seigner et piz espurger130
Et touz enfermetiez mediciner.
[A]l octisme lune est bon de semer
Et totes choses de remuer.
L'enfaunt ert noble et bien conu
Mes de maligne de [ [9]]ert suspendu
En ewe peril suffrera
Et en le destre costee signe avera.
La meschine ert laboriouse
Et en touz ses amys curiouse.
Signe en le destre surcil avera140
Profitable et hountouse serra.
Le futif n'ert pas nounciee
Ne larcine faite trouve
Lui malade tost morra
26v, 1
Et sounge saunz faille verray serra.
A nuly si a Dieux noun le deit hom moustrer
Emmy le jour est bon de seyner.
[A] la noefisme lune toute rien est bon a faire
Fors entre gentz de mover guerre.
L'enfant de totes gentz grace avera.150
De cler sen et hardif serra
Merche en la destre main avera.
Riche et sages homme serra.
La pucelle ert bele et acceptable.
Chaste, deboneyre et profitable.
Merche come le maul enfant sera
Et de touz biens aplentee avera.
Qi s'en fuist tost ert trovee
Et lui malade tost sane.
Vostre sounge soit a Dieu comandee160
Que dedeinz le douszime jour ert moustre.
En cet jour nul se seynera
Dieux de touz mals nous delivrera.
[A] la disme lune est profitable
De totes choses comencer est salvable.
Enfaunz nestre a aprendre
Et totes choses faire entendre.
L'enfant ert negligent et longement vivera
Et signe en la destre main avera.
Prodomme et amiable serra170
En mer et en terre peril suffrera.
La meschine benigne serra
De richesce a grant plentee avera.
Liu futif apres grant tenps ert trovee
Et larcine ert remenee.
Lui malade ert tost amendee
Ou a la mort tost demenee.
De nule sounge n'eyez cure
Et a seyner est mout bon hure.
[Q]ant la lune est de unze jours180
f 26v, 2
Totes choses sont en lour flours.
De faire et de remuer.
Et totes choses comencer.
Qar quamque l’em a cel jour fra
Bon et estable saunz faile serra.
L'enfaunt de touz assez avera.
El frount ou en l'oil merche avera
Longement vivera
Et grant richesse porchacera.190
Bon aventure avera la meschine
Et a totes genz plerra sanz fine
Merche avera en la mamele
Quoynte et sage ert et bele
Qi d'enfermete ert suspris
De mort ne lui estuyt doter amys.
Ne nul sunge ne vous estuit doter
Q'en tout le jour est bon de seigner.
[D]e la lune le douszime jour
Totes choses soront faites par amour.200
Ne rien ne deit hom lesser
Qe l'em vodra comencer.
L'enfant ert sage et amiable
De longe vie et resonable.
Mout grant travail avera
… [10]
Avenaunte ert la pucele
Et merche avera en la mamele
Lui malade languira
Ou sanz doute tost murra210
Sounge vereye serra
Et denz le vintisme jour avendra.
Tart est bon cel jour de seygner
Pur mesaventure eschuer.
[E]n la treszime lune sanz fauter
Nule rien ne vaut comencer.
L'enfaunt donques nee ert vicious
f 27r, 1
Que tendra point de nuli si ert orguillous
Ne vivera mie longement.
Merche en la ceruel [11] avera entre gentz.220
La meschine ert orgoillouse
Tendre de corps et lecherouse.
Mout avera de gent et tost murra
Ja en sa vie riche ne serra.
Lui malade languira
Et au derreyn seyn serra.
Sounge dedenz quatorze jors avendra
Et si Dieux plest a bien tournera.
Ceo que hom ad veu ne doit hom counter
Et tout le jour est bon de seyner.230
[E]n la quatorszime lune ne deit nul lecer
De totes choses faire et comencer.
L'enfant ert vendour et achatour
De travailler ne lessera nuyt ne jour.
Signe en la coroune avera
Orgoillous ert et poy de tenps vivera.
La meschine en le frount signe avera
Lechere ert et tost murra.
Qi est malade tost ert mort
Ou tos ert sain sanz nul sort.240
Vostre sounge verroie serra
Et ove [12] joie a vous vendra.
Le laroun ne porra eschaper
En cel jour bon est de seygner.
[A] la quinszime lune
Nule chose en comune
Ne doit hom comencer
Fors sous de malfaire retourner.
L'enfant que donque ert nee
Signe avera en le senestre costee.250
Hardi, benigne et almoner serra
Et [de] fer peril de mort suffrera.
La meschine ert chaste et hountouse
f 27r, 2
A mout de gent plerra si ert laboriouse
Ambedeus tost ou joefnes morront
Et pur ceo ja riches ne serront.
Qi ert malades tost morra
Ou apres le tiercz jour garira.
Sounge nule rien est verroy [ne serr]a;
Matyn hom se seynera.260
[A] la lune seszime comunement
Riens a faire comensont la gent.
L'enfant ert povre qi donques nestra
Et signe en la face avera.
La meschine ert hardie et amere
Lanouse [13] et a nuli ert chere
Mes ceo que faire voudra
Tost sanz faile s'eschevira.
Q'en cel jour enmaladira
Si tost ne amend[e] si languira270
De cel enfermete ne eschapera
Sur son lit de ce lu [14] ne remuera.
Vostre sounge apres grant temps avendra
Et a grant bien si Dieu plest tournera.
Bon est ceo jour de seigner
Nule doute ne estuit l’em aver.
La disseptisme lune a faire
Totes choses sont bons fors soul mesfaire.
Nul jour est plus bon houre
D'avoir ascune chose comencee.280
L'enfant qi doncs ert nee
Ert hardi et sage et honuree.
La meschine ert et profitable
Riche, deboneire et amiable.
Sounge dedenz le vintisme jour aparra
Et vous privement sanz destourbaunce avera.
Lui malades a peyne eschapera
Det a seigner nul enprendra.
[A] la disuitisme lune comencer
f 27v, 1
Totes choses sont bones sanz destourber.290
L'enfant baratour et orgoilous serra
Et longement vivre ne porra.
La meschine travail avera
Chaste ert et de jour en jour amendra
Qi unques enfermetee susprendra
Tost ert seyn ou longement girra.
Sounge dedenz le tiercz jour avendra
Et pries Dieu que a bien tournera.
Le futif ne retournera
Devant tierce seigner covendra.300
A la disnoefisme lune n'est mye a doter
De totes choses comencer.
L'enfant ert hardi, benigne et sage
Crestra en grant bien quant vendra a age.
En hautesse grant honur lui avendra
Et signe en le surcil sanz faille avera.
La meschine ert deboneire et sage
Plusurs amys avera en sa joefne age.
Riche ert e avenaunte et blanche
Touz bien lui avendront si ert fraunche.310
Qi ert suspris d'enfermetie
Par medecines tost ert sanee.
Qi s'en fuyst ne retournera
Mes larcine trovee serra.
Songe dedez dys jours aparra
Si Dieu plest bon et verroy serra.
Mes avant que ad ieunes voleit
... [15]
A Dieux le comaundetz Nostre Sire
... [16] 320
En cel jour nul se deit seygner
Qar legerement pout l’em afoler.
La vintisme lune deit l'em garder
De plusurs choses comencer.
L'enfant doncs nee lettree sera
f 27v, 2
Et cotefiour [17] de terre, grant age ven[d] [18] ra
La meschine de bone manere serra
Et des bons mours et lechoins despirra.
Riches legierement ne serront
Mes lour choses lour suffiront.330
Lui futif ert tost remenee
Et larcine ne pout estre celee.
Lui malade sanz morir languirra
Sounge ne countez mye de ce que il avendra.
Tart deit hom cel jour seyner
Et puis se deit hom bien garder.
Quant la lune ert de vint un
Nul oevre ne deit hom faire en commun.
L'enfant ert laroun mes ne my provee
De bon sen ert et bien enlettree.340
Signe en la quice [19] avera
Et de longe vie serra.
Un baroun foutra la pucele [20]
Signe avera en la destre mamele.
Chaste ert et laboriouse
En totes choses amerouse.
Lui futif ert nunciee
Et larcine tost trovee.
Lui malade tost murra
Ou longement languira.350
De songe n'estuyt doter rien
Ne de vous seygner bien.
Quant la lune est de vint et autre
Bon est l'enfant chastier et batre.
N'est pas bon plusurs choses comencer
Mes menue chose faire n'estoit doter.
L'enfant que ert nee grant travail avera
Et tout tenps povre serra.
Et la meschine ensement
Ert de pou de prys entre la gent.360
Lui malade tost eschapera
f 28r, 1
Et vostre songe a joye tournera.
En cel jour nul se seignera
Fors cil que morir voudra.
[Qu]ant la lune est de vint et tierce
Totes choses comencez des meyns. [21]
L'enfant baratour et coveitous,
Et la meschine ert mout lanous. [22]
Et longement en poverte viveront
Et lui malades bien gariront.370
Songes signefiont corouz et tencer
Bien le pensez a gent counter.
En cel jour est bon de seigner.
En la lune vint et quatre pour voir
Totes choses sont bons a comencer.
L'enfant ert fort et hardy
Et la meschine autresi.
Et coveitouse ensement
Et de la compaignye de molt de gent.380
Lui malageous [23] tost tost morra
Ou longement languira.
Songe tournera a bien
De ceo n'estoit doter rien.
Larcine faite sera trovee
Et lui futif remenee.
Devant tierce est bon de seigner
Si le jour soit beal et cher.
De la lune vint et .v. ay a dire
Qar bon est par l'aide nostre Sire.390
L'enfant ert covoitous et grant travail avera.
Et la meschine de mesme la manere serra.
Larcine tost poet l'em troveer,
Mes lui malade ne poet eschaper.
Songes signefiont grant poour
Et tart a seigner ert bon cel jour.
En la lune vint et sys,
E[s]t comme cel devant, beaus amys,
f 28r, 2
L'enfant povre ne riche ne serra
Ne la meschine que donque nestra. 400
Lui malade tost murra
Ou tost de mal amendra.
Songe a joye tournera
Qi de ses enemys garder se voudra
Bon est de s'en seigner
Qi en cel jour se voudra garder.
Quant la lune est de vint et sept
De rien faire n'estoit tenir plet
L'enfant ert quointe et amiable
Honest et sage et resonable.410
Tut dis sans faille riche serra
Et a Dieux au drein irra.
La meschine si ert bele et sage
Riche est sans faile et bel age.
Lui malade a la vie tournera
Et larcine trovee serra.
Songe en mesme le jour avendra
Et a grant joye tournera.
Et tart est bon seigner qi voudra.
… [24]420
La lune de la vint et uitisme
Est si com li vint et septisme
Lui enfes ert negligent et terminable
Et la meschine obedient et amiable
Lui malade tost relevera
Larcine trovee serra.
Et songe a joye tournera
Et nuli en cel jour se seignera.
A la vint et noefisme lune
L'enfant ert sage et prodomme430
Et la meschine ert sage et divine
Et savera mout de medecine.
Lui malade vivera
Et songe a grant joie tournera.
Bon est de seigner qi voudra
Si bien garder sei ne despisera.
f 28v, 2
De la lune le jour trentisme
Est si com de la lune vintisme.
L'enfant ert benygne et benuree
Sage et des bien avera plentee.440
La meschine ert gentile et sage
Douce et franche et de grant age.
Richesse avera a plentee
Grant pris ert de lui et grant deynte.
Lui malade dur mal sentira
Mes de la mort bien eschapera.
Songe devant le disme jour avendra
Et a grant joie tournera.
N'est pas bon cel jour de seyner.
Ne profitable chose n'est pas embler.450
Ore finist la lune seyne yci
Jesu Cristi de nous eyt merci. Amen.
Footnotes
[1] Another transcription of this text is included in Writing the Future: Prognostic Texts of Medieval England, edited by Tony Hunt (Paris, 2013) 110-126.
[2] The scribe has left a rectangular space on the left margin of the beginning verses of each lunar day. In the first few folios, those have been filled with large red initials. From folio 26v onwards, the spaces are unfilled, but a small lowercase letter indicating what was to be inserted can be found in the left margin. I have included those letters in brackets.
[3] By contrast, Hunt gives the reading “foitz”.
[4] Wear new clothes
[5] From foutre, to take sexually. See Day 22, line 343. Baroun refers generically to a person of noble status.
[6] Au derrain: finally
[7] This line is repeated; a scribal lapse.
[8] Meaning ambiguous; could refer to her personality or appearance (Lanouse: langose, Gossip loving or Lainu: wooly, hairy). Otherwise, a profession (laneux: one who works with wool)
[9] Blank space in the MS
[10] Line missing.
[11] Cervel: brain, back of the skull.
[12] Ove: with, through. For more detailed usage, see Anglo Norman Dictionary online.
[13] Meaning ambiguous; could refer to her personality or appearance (Lanouse or langose: Gossip loving or, less likely, Lainu: wooly, hairy). Otherwise, a profession (laneux: one who works with wool)
[14] Celui ?
[15] The line is missing. There is a red dot perhaps indicating an intention to fill it in.
[16] Line missing here also.
[17] Coutiveor: cultivator of land, husbandman
[18] Letter blurred here
[19] Cuisse: thigh
[20] Unusually graphic description of sexual assault perhaps. Baroun refers to a member of the nobility.
[21] Hunt reads: “des mois”
[22] See note 8 above
[23] Malage : sickness, suffering
[24] Line missing.
Translation
Translation
f 25v, 1
Here begins a summary [1]
Which is called the lunary,
To learn about dreams and other things.
It is truthful, you can be sure,
Because the wise Solomon made it,
As the angel taught him.
For our Lord sent it to him
And in his own hand he wrote it.
When the Moon is in the first day
It is good to start all things.10
The child born on this day
Will be debonaire and esteemed,
On his eyebrow he will have a sign
And on his mouth; and he will
Be wise, brave and of great value,
And well known among many people.
And this young man will live long
If he can escape danger in the water.
The girl born on this day
Will be chaste and blessed,20
Beautiful, courtly and well educated,
And her wishes will come true.
Who is ill for a long time
After a long time will be well.
Each dream will turn to good,
And it is a good day to let blood.
And the object stolen today
Will be soon found.
The Second Moon is very favorable
And agreeable for anyone who wants to do anything.30
Because it is good to do all things right now
Except to start a war between people.
It is good to wear new clothes
And marry a good woman
It is not good to steal
Because one can find [the stolen thing] soon.
f 25v, 2
The child born on this day
Will have all good things in abundance
A baron will take [2] the young girl,
Who will be beautiful and generous forever.40
Have no fear of any dream.
And bloodletting is good at midday.
On the third day of the moon
Do not begin anything with anyone else.
One must beware of doing all things
Because it is not useful to begin anything.
The robber will be seen today
And the culprit caught and quickly hung.
Who is taken by illness
Will suffer with great fever50
And will escape many travails,
Or in the end he will die of them.
The child born on this day
Will covet other people’s things.
He will not easily become a wise man
Neither will he die a good death.
The girl born on this day will be covetous
And will have many friends [3].
On this day no one will let blood
And this day no one should let blood.60
About the fourth day of the moon,
All things you may begin happily
The child born on this day will be born
Lecherous, it’s true.
he will be a handsome man and rich
But great troubles will pursue him.
The girl will be a gossip and covetous
And in the end she will die a bad death
It is not good to steal
Because soon [the thief] will be found70
The sick person will move from his bed
Or will die from this illness without fail.
f 26r, 1
One can find no certainty in dreams,
And it is good to let blood at the third hour.
On the fifth moon it is not good to predict [4]
Nor to start any other thing.
The child born on this day
Will be tormented by the devil,
And will live for a short time,
And later die a young man.80
The girl born on this day
Will be quickly delivered to death,
Or if she lives, she will be evil.
The death of the fugitive will be merited
Or he will quickly be captured and returned.
You should tell your dream it to no one
As it is no good for your mistakes [5].
If you wish to let blood
Do it before the third hour.
On the sixth moon it is good to hunt90
And to kill all manner of animals.
And to start all things
Do not doubt this at all.
The child born this day without doubt
Will be rich, brave and useful.
He will have a sign on his right hand
And will be lord over many people.
He will be rewarded in all things
And will have plenty of belongings of all kinds.
The girl born on this day100
Will pursue riches with much trouble,
And whatever she wants to do
She will achieve without a problem;
She will not be chaste at all,
But will enjoy the company of many men.
She will be accepted by all people
And will be pleasant to all.
She will live a long time
f 26r,2
And will have plenty of belongings.
And surely the thief will be caught110
And [a sick person] will easily from illness.
Do not tell your dream to anyone
And do not let blood nor lie in bed.
On the seventh moon it is good
To begin all things, to be sure.
The child born today
Will be of noble customs and well educated
As well as rich, honest and very wise
And debonaire, and [will live] a long life.
He will have his sign on his forehead120
And in the end he will anger [6] God.
The girl born today
Will be wise and long lived,
But she will be too talkative (speak many words)
And have a sign on her breast.
The fugitive will soon be found
And the sick will soon be well.
Dreams will be true
And after a long time will be realized.
It is good to let blood and purge urine130
And medically treat all illnesses.
On the eighth moon it is good to sow seed
And to move all things.
The child born will be noble and well known
But because of evil [ ] he will be suspended [7].
He will suffer peril in the water
And on his right side he will have a sign.
The girl will be hardworking
And attentive [8] to all her friends.
She will have a sign on her right eyebrow140
And will be useful and shameful.
The fugitive will not be denounced
Nor will a stolen object be discovered.
The ill person will soon die
f 26v, 1
And the dream will, without fail, be true,
One should reveal it to no one except God.
At midday it is good to let blood.
The ninth moon it is good to do all things
Except to start wars between people.
The child will receive grace from all people.150
He will have a clear mind and be brave;
The sign will be on his right hand,
He will be a rich and wise man.
The girl will be beautiful and well liked,
Chaste, debonaire and useful.
Her sign will be like the male child’s
And she will have plenty of good things.
Whoever flees will soon be found.
And the sick will quickly get well.
Your dream should be left in God’s hands160
For it will come true on the tenth day.
On this day nobody should let blood.
God will deliver us from all ills.
On the tenth day it is useful to start
All things and salutary to do so.
Children are born to learn
And to understand all things.
The child will be neglectful and will live long
And will have a sign on his right hand.
He will be a brave man and amiable170
Who will suffer perils at sea and on land.
The girl will be benevolent,
She will have a great many riches.
The fugitive will be found after a long time
And the stolen object returned.
The sick will quickly recover
Or taken quickly to death.
Do not worry about any dreams,
And many hours are good for letting blood.
When the moon is in the eleventh day180
f 26v, 2
All things are in their blossoming (flowering)
To start and to change
And to begin all things.
Because whatever one does on this day,
It will without a doubt be good and stable.
The child will have all he needs.
He will have a sign on his forehead or on his eye
And will live long,
And he will pursue great wealth.190
The girl will have great adventures
And will please all people all the time
Her sign will be on her breast,
She will be graceful and wise and beautiful.
Whoever is surprised by illness
His friends should not be fearful of his death.
Neither should you doubt about dreams,
For at all times of day it is good to let blood.
Of the Twelfth day of the moon
All things will be done lovingly.200
One should not omit doing
Whatever one wants to begin.
The child will be wise and amiable,
Of long life and reasonable.
He will have much trouble
…… [9]
The girl will be esteemed
And will have the sign on her breast.
The sick person will languish
Or undoubtedly will quickly die.210
The dream will be true.
And within twenty days will be realized.
It is good to let blood late in the day
To avoid misadventures.
On the thirteenth Moon without a doubt
One must not start anything.
The child born today will be so vicious that
f 27r, 1
Nobody will depend on him because he is so proud;
He will not live long at all.
He will have a sign on the back of his head, visible to others.220
The girl will be proud,
Delicate in her body, and lecherous.
She will have many people(lovers) and will die soon.
She will never be wealthy during her life.
The sick person will languish
And his sign will be on his backside.
The dream will come true in fourteen days.
And God willing it will turn to good.
One should not tell anyone what one has seen,
It is good to let blood all day long.230
On the fourteenth day of the Moon
One must not refrain from doing and beginning all things.
The child will be a seller and buyer,
He will not stop working day and night.
He will have a sign on his crown.
He will be proud and will not live long.
The girl will have a sign on her forehead
She will be lecherous and will die early.
The sick person will die early
Or will soon be well without any luck240
Your dream will be true
And it will come to you with joy.
The robber will be unable to escape
On this day it is good to let blood.
On the fifteenth day of the Moon
Nobody should begin to do
Anything with other people
Except to return payment for an evil deed.
The child born on this day
Will have the sign on his left rib [10]250
He will be audacious, good, and charitable
And he will suffer perils of death [by the sword].
The girl will be chaste and shameful
f 27r, 2
She will please many people for being hardworking
But both the girl and boy will die soon or very young
And for that reason they will never be rich.
Whoever is sick will soon die
Or after the third day he will recover.
One should let blood in the morning.260
During the sixteenth moon normally
People should not start anything.
The child who is born will be poor
And he will have the sign on his face.
The girl will be brave and bitter
She will be talkative [11] and she will not be endeared to anyone.
But whatever one wants to do
He should without fail avoid it.
Who lies ill this day
Will not escape this illness unless he recovers quickly270
He will not move from his bed with this ailment.
Your dream will come true after a long time
And, God willing, it will turn to great good.
This day is good for letting blood
No one should have any doubts about that.
The seventeenth moon is good
To do all things except bad deeds.
There is no happier day
To have started anything.280
The child born on this day
Will be audacious and wise and honored.
The girl will be both useful,
Rich, debonaire and amiable.
The dream will appear with twenty days.
And it will come true for you without trouble.
The sick person will barely escape
And no one should let blood.
The eighteenth Moon is good to begin
All good things without disturbance [12]290
f 27v, 1
The child will be a cheat [13] and proud
And will not be able to live long.
The girl will have troubles;
She will be chaste and will improve day by day.
Whoever is surprised by an illness
Will soon be well or else languish long.
The dream will come true within three days
And pray to God that it will turn to good.
The fugitive will not return;
It is convenient to let blood before the third hour.300
On the nineteenth Moon one should not hesitate
To start all things.
The child will be audacious, good and wise
And he will have wealth when he comes of age.
When he is fully grown great honor will be his
And for sure he will have a sign on his eyebrow.
The girl will be debonaire and wise
She will have many friends in her young age.
She will be rich and fetching and pale,
And all wealth will be hers if she is truthful.310
Whoever is suddenly ill
Will be quickly healed by medicine.
The person who flees will not return
But the stolen object will be found.
The dream will appear within ten days
And God willing will be good and true.
But before he wished to […] to the young
… [14]
Our Lord commended him to God.
… [15]320
On this day nobody should let blood
Because one can easily become mad from it.
The twentieth Moon one must be careful
Not to start many things.
The child born on this day will be well educated
And in his old age he will harvest the land.
f 27v, 2
The girl will behave well and
Have good manners but will despair of lechery.
They [boy and girl] will not be rich easily
But their belongings will be sufficient.330
The fugitive will soon be brought back
And the stolen object cannot be hidden.
The sick person will languish without dying
Do not tell anything of what becomes of the dream.
One must let blood late in the day
And afterwards be very careful.
When the Moon is in the twenty-first day
One should not do any work with others.
He will be reasonable and well-lettered.340
His sign will be on his thigh.
And he will live a long life.
A baron will violate [16] the young girl;
She will have a sign on her breast.
She will be chaste and hardworking,
And loving in all things.
The fugitive will be called out
And the theft quickly discovered.
The sick person will soon die
The child will be a robber but will not be found guilty,
Or else will languish for a long time.350
Do not doubt anything about the dream
Or about letting blood well.
When the Moon is of twenty two [days]
It is good to punish and beat the child.
It is not good to begin many things
But do not hesitate to do small things.
The child born today will have many travails
And will always be poor.
And the girl as well
Will be of little value among the people.360
The sick person will soon escape illness
And today’s dream will turn to joy.
f 28r,1
On this day nobody should let blood
Except he who is seeking to die.
When the Moon is on the twenty-third day
Start to do even the least of things.
The child will be a haggler and covetous,
And the girl will be gossip-loving,
And they [both] will live in poverty for a long time.
And the sick persons will get well.370
Dreams mean anger and disputes,
Think carefully about telling them to others.
On this day it is good to let blood.
On the twenty-fourth day for sure
It is good to start all things.
The child will be strong and audacious
And the girl also.
And she will be covetous too
And she will associate with many people.380
The sick person will die very soon
Or will languish for a long time.
The dream will turn to good
Of this you must not doubt at all.
If a theft is committed, it will be found out
And the fugitive will be brought back.
It is good to let blood before the third hour
If the day is beautiful and appreciated.
Of the twenty-fifth day I have to say
That it is good thanks to the help of our Lord.390
The child will be covetous and will have much trouble.
And the girl will be the same.
The stolen object will soon be found,
But the sick person will not be able to escape.
Dreams mean great fear
And bloodletting should be done late in the day.
On the twenty-sixth day,
It is like the one before, good friends,
The child will not be rich or poor
f 28r, 2
Neither will be girl who is born today.400
The sick will soon die
Or his health will soon improve.
The dream will turn to joy.
One should be wary of one’s enemies.
It is good to let blood
By whomever wants to preserve himself.
When the moon is in the twenty-seventh day
Don’t argue about not doing anything
The child will be prudent and amiable
Honest and wise and reasonable.410
Without a doubt he will be rich.
And he will go to God in the end.
The girls will be beautiful and wise,
And rich and surely in the flower of her youth.
The sick person will change his life
And the stolen object will be found.
The dream will come true the same day
And will turn to great joy.
Whoever wants to let blood, do it late in the day.
… [17]420
The twenty-eighth day
Is similar to the twenty seventh.
The child born will be careless and short-lived,
And the girl will be obedient and amiable.
The sick person will soon get up
The stolen object will be found.
The dream will turn to joy,
And no one should let blood on this day.
On the twenty-ninth moon
The child will be wise and loyal430
And the girl will be wise holy
And will know a lot about medicine
The sick person will live
And the dream will turn to great joy.
It is good to bleed if you want
Also be well aware not to refuse it.
f 28v, 1
Of the moon on the thirtieth day
It is just like the twentieth moon.
The child will be good, happy,
and wise and will have plenty of wealth.440
The girl will be kind and wise,
Sweet and honest, and live to old age.
She will have plenty of wealth.
She will be much prized and have great respect.
The sick person will feel much pain
But will easily escape death.
The dream will come true before the tenth day
And will turn to great joy.
It is not good to let blood today,
Neither is it a useful thing to hide something.450
Now ends the Moon[book], as signed [18] here.
May Jesus Christ have mercy on us.
Amen.
Footnotes
[1] Shortened form of a text.
[2] To take sexually. Another similarly graphic reference to a nobleman’s behavior is found in line 343, the 21st Moon Day. Baron can be used as a generic title of nobility.
[3] Lovers, perhaps
[4] Could also mean “to teach”
[5] “Sins” perhaps
[6] Irrer: to anger.
[7] Hung; suspended from functions or duties?
[8] Curios: attentive, solicitous
[9] Line missing
[10] On his left side?
[11] If referring to character, could mean “talkative” or “ gossip loving”. Otherwise, “someone who works with wool”
[12] Or trouble, worry
[13] Troublemaker
[14] Line missing
[15] Line missing
[16] Same use of verb foutre as in line 39, 2nd Moon Day.
[17] Line missing. No rhyme.
[18] Attested, a sign of authenticity.