Folio 33v - the palm tree, continued.De cedro; Of cedars
Again of the palm-tree
'I will go up to the palm-tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof' (Song of Solomon, 7:8). The palm, near the ground, is slender and rough; towards the sky, it is thicker and beautiful. It is, therefore, difficult to climb, but the fruit is sweet. The effort of climbing is lessened when you can smell the scent of the fruit. The difficulty of climbing is removed by sweetness of its taste.
The palm-tree is Christ; the fruit, his salvation: 'I am the salvation of the people' (see Psalms, 35:3), and 'O taste and see that the Lord is good' (Psalms, 34:8). The hope of salvation is in the wood of the cross. Climb the palm, therefore, that is, strive for the victory of the cross. By climbing the ladder of the cross, you will attain the victor's throne. You. too, can carry your cross and follow Christ. Anyone who mortifies his flesh, carries the cross.
The palm adorns the victor's hand, and the righteous man carries the palm of victory in the hand of victory, won by his virtuous conduct. There are said to be three things over which the righteous man must win victory. The world, the flesh and the Devil. He triumphs over the world when he scorns it with its delights. He overcomes the flesh when he subdues it by his abstinence. He conquers the Devil and forces him to submit when he banishes him from his life. He who triumphs over these three things by virtuous conduct, therefore, bears the palm of victory in his hand.
Of the cedar and the sparrows that nest in its branches
When the words 'cedar' and 'Lebanon' are placed together, it is in a good sense. As Solomon says in the Song of Songs: 'his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars' (5:15).
Lebanon is a mountain of Phoenicia at the northern limit of Judaea. Its trees surpass the timber of other trees in height, appearance and strength. By Mount Lebanon we can doubtless understand excellence in virtues. It stands at the northern limit of Judaea, to prevent the Devil from entering by means of temptation the minds of those who are sincerely praising the Lord. Its trees surpass others in height, appearance and strength, as every faithful soul surpasses others in the exalted nature of its desire, the splendour of its chastity and the strength of its constancy.
By the cedar we understand Christ. He is the tall cedar of Lebanon, similar in form to the hyssop
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Commentary
Text
The palm tree. The cedar and the sparrows in its branches.
Comment
Two corrections in left margin: 'cum' [correcting ‘dum’) ; 'que'. Initials type 2.
Folio Attributes
- Transcription and Translation
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Transcription
Item de palma\ Ascendam in palmam et apprehendam \ fructus eius. Palma iuxta terram gracilis et aspera, versus ce\lum grossior et pulchra. Est igitur ascensus difficilis, sed fructus dulcis.\ Minuitur ascendentis labor, dum sentitur odor. Difficultatem as\census aufert dulcedo gustus. Palma est Christus, fructus salus:\ Salus inquit populi ego sum. Gustate et videte quoniam suavis est\ dominus. Spes salutis in ligno crucis. Ascende igitur in palmam, id est at\tende crucis victoriam. Per scalam siquidem crucis, ascendes ad\ solium victoris. Tolle et tu crucem tuam et sequere eum. Qui\ affligit carnem, tollit crucem. Palma manum victoris or\nat, et iustus palmam victorie, in manu victorie bene operando\ portat. Tria dicuntur esse de quibus iustus victoriam debet adquire\re. Mundus, caro, diabolus. Iustus mundum vincit, dum \ eum suis oblectationibus contempnit. Carnem superat, dum eam\ per abstinentiam domat. Diabolum domat et eum sibi subicit,\ dum a suis finibus expellit. Palmam igitur in manu gestat, qui de\ his tribus bene operando triumphat.\ De cedro et passeribus qui in ramis cedri nidificant\ In bona significatione cedrus et libanus quando \ ponuntur, sic in canticis canticorum per Salomonem dicitur: Spes [PL, species] eius ut\ Libani, electus ut cedri. Libanus Fenicis est mons terminus Judee\ contra septemtrionem. Arbores illius proceritate specie et robore ce\terarum silvarum ligna precellunt. Per montem Libanum sane intel\ligere possumus eminentiam virtutum. Terminus est Judee con\tra septemtrionem ne diabolus mentes vere confitentium intret\ per temptationem. Arbores illius proceritate specie et robore alias ar\bores precellunt, dum quelibet fideles anime proceritate desiderii,\ specie castitatis, robore perseverantie, alias antecedunt. Per cedrum\ intelligimus Christum. Hec est cedrus alta Libani conformata ysopo\Translation
Again of the palm-tree 'I will go up to the palm-tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof' (Song of Solomon, 7:8). The palm, near the ground, is slender and rough; towards the sky, it is thicker and beautiful. It is, therefore, difficult to climb, but the fruit is sweet. The effort of climbing is lessened when you can smell the scent of the fruit. The difficulty of climbing is removed by sweetness of its taste. The palm-tree is Christ; the fruit, his salvation: 'I am the salvation of the people' (see Psalms, 35:3), and 'O taste and see that the Lord is good' (Psalms, 34:8). The hope of salvation is in the wood of the cross. Climb the palm, therefore, that is, strive for the victory of the cross. By climbing the ladder of the cross, you will attain the victor's throne. You. too, can carry your cross and follow Christ. Anyone who mortifies his flesh, carries the cross. The palm adorns the victor's hand, and the righteous man carries the palm of victory in the hand of victory, won by his virtuous conduct. There are said to be three things over which the righteous man must win victory. The world, the flesh and the Devil. He triumphs over the world when he scorns it with its delights. He overcomes the flesh when he subdues it by his abstinence. He conquers the Devil and forces him to submit when he banishes him from his life. He who triumphs over these three things by virtuous conduct, therefore, bears the palm of victory in his hand. Of the cedar and the sparrows that nest in its branches When the words 'cedar' and 'Lebanon' are placed together, it is in a good sense. As Solomon says in the Song of Songs: 'his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars' (5:15). Lebanon is a mountain of Phoenicia at the northern limit of Judaea. Its trees surpass the timber of other trees in height, appearance and strength. By Mount Lebanon we can doubtless understand excellence in virtues. It stands at the northern limit of Judaea, to prevent the Devil from entering by means of temptation the minds of those who are sincerely praising the Lord. Its trees surpass others in height, appearance and strength, as every faithful soul surpasses others in the exalted nature of its desire, the splendour of its chastity and the strength of its constancy. By the cedar we understand Christ. He is the tall cedar of Lebanon, similar in form to the hyssop
