A. E. Bond's 1887 translation of the important bits of the Tractatus, Betts' translation by based on Bond, along with the Latin for a few sentences (part of the description of the work by the British Museum), are posted by Michael J. Hurst at http://pre-gebelin.blogspot.com/2012/03 ... ribus.html. But now we have the Latin for all the passages there plus some more.
First there is the title. I get "Treatise of morals and instruction of human conduct, that is, the game of cards moralized". Betts, for "De Moribus et Disciplina Humane Conversationis," had "Treatise Of Morals and Everyday Ethical Instruction". That is basically the same but not quite so literal.
The first passage that Franco quotes is the postscript:
My guess at a literal translation would be:Anno domini m°cccc°29° finitus est liber iste per manus Petri Johannis Hüller alias de Wiscellach civis et scolaris Basiliensis. Sabbato post festum Assumptionis beatissime et gloriosissime virginis marie hora vesperarum. Deo gracias. Dentur pro penna scriptori celica regna.
This is of course the date of the copy, not of the original. Let me know what I have misunderstood.The year of our lord 1429 is this book finished, by the hand of Petrus Johannis Hüller, otherwise citizen of Wischellach and scholar of Basel. Saturday after the feast of the Assumption of the blessed and most glorious Virgin Mary, hour of vespers. Thanks be to God. Let the scribe’s pen be given for the heavenly realms.
Franco's longest quote is from P. Bidev, Die Schachallegorie von Jacobus de Cessolis und die Spielkartenallegorie von Johannes von Rheinfelden, Igalo 1982, to which he says he has made minor corrections based on the online reproduction of the manuscript, the one Huck called attention to last year. Here is the quotation, which I will examine in more detail afterwards. In Bidev's rendition it is a kind of table of contents:
In the above, I do not know where Bidev got the words in parentheses, which introduce the three parts. All I can find that corresponds to these parenthetical remarks is what the British Museum quoted in its summary of their copy:C. 3r: (Prima pars huius tractatus erit de materia ludi in se.) Et in capitulo primo erit mencio de materia ludi et de diversitate instrumentorum.
C. 7v: In secundo capitulo declarabitur quod in ludo isto connotantur actus morum virtutum et viciorum.
C. l0r: In tertio capitulo declarabitur quod ludus iste valeat pro allevacione et requie laboratorum.
C. 12r: In quarto capitulo demonstrabitur quod ludus iste hominibus ociosis est utilis et quod valeat pro solacio eorum.
C. 16r: In quinto capitulo ludus iste comparabitur statui mundi currentis quo ad actus nature simul et morum.
C. 25v: In sexto capitulo manifestabitur quelibet pars aliquota numeri sexagesirni et proprietates ipsorum numerorum.
C. 38r: (In ista secunda parte huius presentis tractatus que est de principibus seu nobilibus qui sunt in curia regis erunt quinque capitula.) Primum capitulum erit de rege et eius bonis condicionibus.
C. 65r: Secundum capitulum erit de regina et eius honestis moribus.
C. 81v: Tertium capitulum est de principali principe et eius diligenti providencia.
C. 100r: Quartum capitulum est de regimine principali et eius decenti prudencia.
C. 104v: Quintum capitulum est de principe milicie et eius excellenti experiencia,
C. 117r e 117v: (In tertia parte huius presentis tractatus erunt 12 capitula.)
Primum capitulum est de vulgaribus puta de mechanicis in generali et in confuso.
C. 120r: Secundum capitulum est de hoc quod artes mechanice non fuissent in paradiiso.
C. 134r: Tercium capitulum est quod ut rex in mensa panem habeat indiget pistore molitore et agricolis,
C. 139r: Quartum capitulum quod ut rex vinum habeat indget cupario et vindemiatore cellerario seu pincernis.
C. 145r: Quintum capitulum quod ut rex cibum regium habeat indiget mercatore carnifice piscatore venatore et cocis.
C. 149v: Sextum capitulum quod ut rex vestes decentes habeat indiget sartore textore tinctore et qui lanam et fila tribuat.
C. 153r: Septimum capitulum est quod ut rex calceos habeat decentes indiget cerdone carnifice pastore et qui calceos suat.
C. 157v: Octavum capitulum est quod ut rex pellicia et varium habeat indiget venatore carnifice pastore et qui indumenta ex pellibus faciat.
C. 160v: Nonum capitulum est de fabris eorumque materiis et instrumentis,
C. 167r: Decimum capitulum est de medicis eorumque regimine et medicinis.
C. 171r: Undecimum capitulum est de aliis operariis puta de carpentariis cementariis pictoribus et lapicidis.
C. 176r: Duodecimum capitulum est de sellatoribus equorumque pastoribus navibus et nautis.
Or, in Betts' translation (actually Bond's, since Betts has made no changes):In quo quidem tractatu intendo facere tria: primo, ludum cartularum in se describere, quo ad materiam et modum ludendi; secundo, ipsum ludum ad mores trahere seu nobilibus dare nomina viuendi; et tercio, ipsos populares instruere seu eos informare de modo virtuose operandi.
This corresponds closely to the Latin, although a more literal translation of the second part would be " to draw morals for the game itself or give to nobles the names to be lived".And in this treatise I propose to do three things: first, to describe the game of cards in itself, as to the matter and mode of playing it; second, to moralize the game, or teach noblemen the rule of life; and third, to instruct the people themselves, or inform them of the way of labouring virtuously....
In contrast, Bidev has:
My translation:Prima pars huius tractatus erit de materia ludi in se... In ista secunda parte huius presentis tractatus que est de principibus seu nobilibus qui sunt in curia regis erunt quinque capitula... In tertia parte huius presentis tractatus erunt 12 capitula.
The first corresponds well to the first part of the British Museum's first sentence. The second corresponds in part to the second part of the BM's first sentence. The third is quite different from the third part of BM's first sentence. I would guess that these sentences preface John's summaries of each part.The first part of this treatise will be of the subject of games in itself... In this second part of this present treatise, which is of princes or nobles who are in the royal court, will be five chapters... In the third part of this present treatise will be twelve chapters.
For the six chapters of the first part, we have:
And Betts' translation:Et in capitulo primo erit mencio de materia ludi et de diversitate instrumentorum.
C. 7v: In secundo capitulo declarabitur quod in ludo isto connotantur actus morum virtutum et viciorum.
C. l0r: In tertio capitulo declarabitur quod ludus iste valeat pro allevacione et requie laboratorum.
C. 12r: In quarto capitulo demonstrabitur quod ludus iste hominibus ociosis est utilis et quod valeat pro solacio eorum.
C. 16r: In quinto capitulo ludus iste comparabitur statui mundi currentis quo ad actus nature simul et morum.
C. 25v: In sexto capitulo manifestabitur quelibet pars aliquota numeri sexagesirni et proprietates ipsorum numerorum.
Except for the first sentence, this corresponds closely to the Latin. The only thing I notice is the absence of anything corresponding to "mental" before "alleviation".In the first will be stated the subject of the game and the diversity of instruments. In the second will be set forth that in this game there is a moral action of virtues and vices. In the third it will be suggested that it is of service for mental relief and rest to the tired. In the fourth it will be shown that it is useful for idle persons, and may be a comfort to them. In the fifth will be treated the state of the world, as it is, in respect to morals. In the sixth will be demonstrated the aliquot parts of the number sixty, and the properties of numbers.
Bidev, as we have seen, goes on to give John's detailed descriptions of the second and third parts. I have not found translations of these summaries. I go line by line. Please tell me where I have gone wrong.
from which I get:C. 38r: (In ista secunda parte huius presentis tractatus que est de principibus seu nobilibus qui sunt in curia regis erunt quinque capitula.)
The second sentence:In this second part of this present treatise, which is of princes or nobles who are in the king's court, there will be five chapters.
In other words:Primum capitulum erit de rege et eius bonis condicionibus.
Third sentence:The first chapter will be of the king and his good circumstances.
orC. 65r: Secundum capitulum erit de regina et eius honestis moribus.
4th sentence:The Second Chapter will be of the queen, and her honorable conduct.
Then:C. 81v: Tertium capitulum est de principali principe et eius diligenti providencia.
(The third chapter is of the chief prince and his diligent providence.
Then:C. 100r: Quartum capitulum est de regimine principali et eius decenti prudencia.
(The fourth chapter is of the principal regimen (?) and its fitting prudence.)
So how many cards is this per suit? Is it just King, Queen, Knight? Or is there a prince? A princess or queen's attendant? That would make five, if "regimine" could possibly be such. However the word appears again, in part 3, where it clearly means "regimen". Also, the fourth chapter, about the "regimine" is significantly shorter than the others. So I would guess 4 courts.C. 104v: Quintum capitulum est de principe milicie et eius excellenti experiencia.
(The Fifth Chapter is of the Knights to the sovereign, and of excellent experience.)
Then comes part three, the rest of the suit cards. There are 12 chapters. You will notice that except for the second chapter, each is fairly short compared to those for the nobles. I give the Latin again, with my guesses as to the translations:
The 12th doesn't look right. Maybe it should be saddle-makers, horse-trainers, shepherds, ship-builders and sailors. This is the 3rd time for shepherds, who don't really fit the rest; maybe they don't go there at all. So is this 12 cards in 4 suits? The 2nd chapter of part 3, by far the longest, doesn't seem to be about a different profession than the 1st chapter, but rather a theological exposition. So maybe 11. With 4 courts and 11 ordinary cards per suit, that would make 15x4=60 altogether.C. 117v-117r. Primum capitulum est de vulgaribus puta de mechanicis in generali et in confuso.
(The first chapter is of the purely ordinary, of the mechanical in general and in confusion.)
C. 120r. Secundum capitulum est de hoc quod artes mechanice non fuissent in paradiiso.
(The second chapter is of the fact that the mechanical arts were not in paradise.)
C. 134r. Tercium capitulum est quod ut rex in mensa panem habeat indiget pistore molitore et agricolis.
(The third chapter is that so that the king have bread at table, he needs bakers millers and farmers.)
C. 139r: Quartum capitulum quod ut rex vinum habeat indget cupario et vindemiatore cellerario seu pincernis.
(The fourth chapter, so that the king have wine, he needs vat-maker and grape-gatherer, wine-maker or cup-bearers.)
C. 145r: Quintum capitulum quod ut rex cibum regium habeat indiget mercatore carnifice piscatore venatore et cocis.
(The fifth chapter, so that the king have royal food, he needs merchant, butcher, fisherman and cooks.)
C. 149v: Sextum capitulum quod ut rex vestes decentes habeat indiget sartore textore tinctore et qui lanam et fila tribuat.
(The sixth chapter. so that the king have suitable clothes, he needs tailor, weaver, dyer, and those who bestow wool and thread.)
C. 153r: Septimum capitulum est quod ut rex calceos habeat decentes indiget cerdone carnifice pastore et qui calceos suat.
(The seventh chapter is, so that the king have suitable shoes, he needs cerdone (?), butcher, shepherd, and those who sew (?) shoes.)
C. 157v: Octavum capitulum est quod ut rex pellicia et varium habeat indiget venatore carnifice pastore et qui indumenta ex pellibus faciat.
(The eighth chapter is that, so that the king have various furs [fur coats], needs hunter, butcher, shepherd and those who make clothing from skins.)
C. 160v: Nonum capitulum est de fabris eorumque materiis et instrumentis,
(The ninth chapter is of craftsmen of things (?) and instruments.)
C. 167r: Decimum capitulum est de medicis eorumque regimine et medicinis.
(The tenth chapter is of the governance of physicians, their regimens and medicines.)
C. 171r: Undecimum capitulum est de aliis operariis puta de carpentariis cementariis pictoribus et lapicidis.
(The eleventh chapter is of other workers, such as carpenters, masons, painters and stone-cutters.)
C. 176r: Duodecimum capitulum est de sellatoribus equorumque pastoribus navibus et nautis.
(The twelfth chapter is of saddles, horses, shepherds, ships and sailors.)
This result doesn't fit the description of 60 card decks that John gives later, which have 5 courts and 10 number cards. Here is Betts' translation of that part; I do not have the Latin.
I am left wondering, what deck is John moralizing? I sorely would like the Latin, if only to see what corresponds to the "attendants" of the queens.Also there are some who make the game with four kings, eight marschalli and the other common cards, and add besides four queens with four attendants; so that... the number of cards will then be sixty. This manner of distributing the cards and this number pleases me most, for three reasons: first, because of its greater authority; second, because of its royal fitness; and third, because of its more becoming courteousness.
Franco has one more quotation, translated fairly well by Betts and Bond, except for omitting the first two sentences. The passage is the one immediately before what I just quoted. It famously lists a variety of types of deck:
I have translated the first two sentences and the words "and matter" in the last sentence. I am not sure what difference this addition makes, but it is there in the text. Unfortunately there is nothing about queens' "attendants", only "with theirs in the same manner" (eodem modo cum suis), which I take to mean that she has two 'marschalli'. Again, none of these decks corresponds to the deck John is moralizing, now not even to the number of cards.C. 3r. Incipit tractatus de moribus et disciplina humane conversationis. Et in capitulo primo erit mencio de materia ludi et de diversitate instrumentorum. Circa ludum qui ab hominibus ludus cartularum appellatur diversi diversimode ipsas cartulas depingunt et alio et alio modo ludunt in ipsis. Nam communis forma et sicut primo pervenit ad nos est talis quod quatuor reges depinguntur in quatuor cartulis quorum quilibet sedet in regali solio. Et aliquod certum signum quilibet habet in manu. Ex quibus signis aliqua reputantur signa, bona, alia auten malum significant. Sub quibus duo marschalchi sunt quorum primus sursum signum tenet in manu eodem modo ut rex, alius autem idem signum tenet pendenter in manu. Postea sunt alie decem cartule eiusdem quantitatis et forme ab extra. In quarum prima predictum signum regis ponitur semel, infra bis et sic consequenter de aliis usque ad decimam cartulam inclusive, in qua decies predicta signa regum ponuntur. Et sic quilibet rex est met(?) tertiusdecimus. Et erunt in simul cartule omnes quiquaginta due. Postea sunt alii qui eodem modo ludum faciunt de reginis et cum tottidem cartulis ut de regibus iam dictum est. Similiter sunt alii qui cartulas seu ludum sic ordinant quod sunt duo reges cum marschalchis aliisque cartulis suis <sequentibus prelato. Et sic variatur ludus iste in forma et materia a multis>. Et due regine eodem modo cum suis. Item aliqui recipiunt V reges, alii sex quilibet cum marschalchis, aliisque cartulis suis secundum quod cuilibet prelato. Et sic variatur ludus iste in forma et materia a multis.
(c. 3r. ...Begins the treatise of morals and instruction in human conduct. And in the first chapter will be stated the matter of games and its various instruments. In the game which men call the game of cards they paint the cards in different manners, and they play with them in one way and another. For the common form and as it first came to us is thus, viz. four kings are depicted on four cards, each of whom sits on a royal throne. And each one holds a certain sign in his hand, of which signs some are reputed good, but others signify evil. Under which kings are two ' marschalli,' the first of whom holds the sign upwards in his hand, in the same manner as the king ; but the other holds the same sign downwards in his hand. After this are other ten cards, outwardly of the same size and shape, on the first of which the aforesaid king's sign is placed once; on the second twice; and so on with the others up to the tenth card inclusive. And so each king becomes the thirteenth, and there will be altogether fifty-two cards. Then there are others who in the same manner play, or make the game, of queens, and with as many cards as has been already said of the kings. There are also others who so dispose the cards or the game that there are two kings, with their ' marschalli' and other cards, and two queens with theirs in the same manner. Again, some take five, others six kings, each with his 'marschalli' and his other cards, according as it pleases them, and thus the game is varied in form [and matter] by many.