Ethica

  Ethics
   

 Vita haec est via
sive bivium
simile litterae Pythagoricae Y
latum sinistro tramite
angustum dextro.
Ille vitii est hic virtutis.

Linque sinistram
aversare vitium.
Aditus speciosus
sed exitus
turpis et praeceps.

Dextera ingredere
utut spinosa
nulla via invia.
Sequere hic via ducit
per angusta ad augusta.

Tene medium
et rectum tramitem
ivis tutissimus.

Compesce
freno equum ferocem affectus
ne praeceps fias.

This life is a way
through crossroads
like Pythagorean letter Y
broad on the left
narrow on the right.
That belongs to vice, this to virtue.

Leave the left way
turn away from vice.
The entrance is specious
but the exit
is turpid and precipitous.

Follow the right [way]
though thorny
no way is unpassable.
Follow [where] this road leads
through difficutlies to glory.

Keep the middle
and straigt path
which is (eo, ivis) safest (tutus, safe).

Bridle in
the wild horse of passion
least you fall down headlong.