Rollock's second poem on de Medici, written on the appearance of a comet (a sign of ill-omen) in 1577, is less colourful than his first (see d2_RolH_015), but has a powerful sting in its tail. It argues that because of the misfortune de Medici has wrought on France she should not be scared to die but should be more frightened, on behalf of the tribulations her people have endured on account of her political actions, to live any longer. Metre: elegiac couplets.
De cometa, qui apparuit anno 1577, a Catharinam Medices, reginam Galliae
[p384]
De cometa, qui apparuit anno 1577, a Catharinam Medices, reginam Galliae
Spargeret ardentes dum tristis in aethera crines
venturique daret signa cometa mali;
ecce suae regina timens male conscia vitae,
credidit invisum poscere fata caput.
Quid, regina, times? Nobis mala si qua minatur,
longa timenda tua est, non tibi vita brevis.
[p384]
On the comet, which appeared in the year 1577, to Catharine Medici, queen of France
Tail burning while it spreads sorrows through the air the comet gives signs of evil to come; behold the queen, wickedly aware of her life and becoming frightened, who believed that the fates demanded her hated head. Why, queen, are you afraid? If the comet threatens evils for us, you should be afraid of your life being long, not short.
