Quot columnis regnum iusti regis sustentatur.
The Eight Pillars of a Just Kingdom
A wise king's kingdom is sustained by eight virtues that establish it in this age and lead it to eternal glory.
But beyond all this, one more thing needs to be understood: as the wise tell us, there are eight columns that powerfully sustain the kingdom of a just king. The first column is truthfulness in all royal matters; the second is patience in every undertaking; the third is generosity in granting favors; the fourth is persuasiveness or affability in speech; the fifth is the correction and breaking down of evildoers; the sixth is friendship with and honor shown to the good; the seventh is the lightness of tribute laid upon the people; the eighth is fairness in judgment between rich and poor. These, then, are the eight columns that establish the kingdom of a just ruler in this age and lead it to the eternal stability of glory.
The Columns That Hold the Realm
Without these virtues no royal court can stand, and the commonwealth, like Mount Zion, is made firm by them.
No construction holds its form stable through the ages if it isn't supported by its own props. These things can establish temples shining with light, but neither the royal court nor the kings themselves can stand firm without them.1 Thus the public realm demands that a just ruler stand on his own columns, with God propitiated. The first column shines beautiful with the splendor of truth, and the second, patient, properly holds guiding rule. The third, flowing with bounty, gives gifts by merit with an open hand, and the fourth, with flattering speech, sounds sweet words.2 The fifth restrains the wicked and flashes with wondrous zeal; the sixth rejoices, powerful to exalt the good. The seventh gently lightens the people's tribute, and the eighth guides the scales of justice.3 Sustained by these solid columns, the commonwealth stands firm, just as Mount Zion remains stable and unmoved by them.✦4
Read the original Latin
Sed inter haec illud quoque sciendum est, quoniam, ut sapientes perhibent, sunt octo columnae, quae fortiter regnum iusti regis sustentant. Prima columna veritas est in omnibus rebus regalibus, secunda columna patientia in omni negotio, tertia largitas in muneribus, quarta persuasibilitas seu affabilitas in verbis, quinta malorum correctio atque contritio, sexta bonorum amicitia atque exaltatio, septima columna levitas tributi in populos, octava aequitas iudicii inter divites et pauperes. Haec sunt itaque octo columnae, quae regnum iusti principis et in hoc saeculo stabilitant atque ad aeternae stabilitatem gloriae perducunt.
Fabrica nulla tenet stabilem per tempora formam, Si non fulturis nixa sit illa suis. Haec stabilire queunt splendentia lumine templa, Aula nec et regum his sine firma potest. Iusti rectoris propriis sic stare columnis Publica res poscit propitiante Deo. Prima columna micat veri speciosa decore, At patiens regimen rite secunda tenet. Tertia largiflua meritis dat munera dextra Quartaque blandiloquax dulcia verba sonat. Quinta malos reprimit miro zeloque coruscat, Gaudet sexta potens magnificare bonos. Septima clementer populi levigatque tributum, Ast octava regit iustitiae trutinam. Nititur his solidis res publica fulta columnis, Sicuti mons Sion his stabilisque manet.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.124.1 — A Song of Ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side - let Israel say it now -
Notes
- 1 ↩The unusual combination 'nec et' is rendered as 'neither... nor' to capture the negative-additive force.
- 2 ↩blandiloquax rendered 'with flattering speech' — the term carries a mixed sense of charm and smooth address.
- 3 ↩levigatque rendered 'lightens' — can also mean 'smooths'; in context of tribute, 'lightens the burden' fits.
- 4 ↩The final clause 'his stabilisque manet' is rendered to convey that Zion remains stable through these supports; the exact referent of 'his' is slightly ambiguous (the columns or the virtues).
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