Carta ao Filho César

Francês: http://esoterism.com/nostradamus/lettre-cesar_1.html
Inglês: http://www.foi.hr/~emaretic/prophecy/cesar.html
Português: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Zone/4588/carta.html

Texto OriginalTradução para o
Francês Moderno
Tradução para o Inglês Tradução para o Português

PREFACE DE M. MICHEL NOSTRADAMVS A SES PROPHETIES

PREFACE DE M. MICHEL NOSTRADAMUS A SES PROPHÈTIES

PREFACE BY MICHEL NOSTRADAMUS TO HIS PROPHECIES

PREFÁCIO DE MICHEL NOSTRADAMUS PARA AS SUAS PROFECIAS

Notes to the English translation:

This is an accurate translation of the Preface by M. Nostradamus to his Prophecies. He wrote it as a letter to his son César. For purposes of discussion this preface, "The letter to his son César", can be referred to simply as "César". For example, one might write, "In César, Nostradamus writes ...". Editorial [comments] were added by Jean-Charles De Fontbrune. The lineage and other notes specific to this reproduction are provided at the end of the text. Line breaks added for easier reading.

1. "le commun advènement", the Vulgar Advent, or the accession of the people to power, is generally taken by commentators to refer first to republicanism (via the French Revolution), then to its development towards and change into communism. (Tr.)

2. Nostradamus here compares his work, the twelve Centuries, to the Twelve Labours of Hercules, in order to stress their difficulty and importance.

3. Moon and Sun are constant symbols in Nostradamus of the republic and the monarchy respectively, hence the alchemic imagery also has a political aspect here.

4. Reference to "toute la concavitè de la lune". Cf. note 3 above.

5. Ether: originally personified as a deity of the upper atmosphere, and later confused with Zeus. (DL7V).

6. Water and flooding are often as a symbol of revolution in Nostradamus.

7. The French text refers to Aquarius, i.e. the water-bearer. Cf. note 6 above.

8. Golden Age: rule of Saturn, the happy, peaceful time, to commemorate which the Romans celebrated with Saturnalia.

9. 1555 + 177 = 1732, the exact date when Rousseau arrived in Paris, Nostradamus considered Rousseau the father of revolutionary and atheistic ideas.

10. Breath or inspiration, oracular possession.

11. Upheavals and revolution. Cf. notes 6 and 7 above.

Abbreviations:   
Cf. "confer", Latin, compare.
DL7V "Dictionnaire Larousse", 7 vol.
etc. et coetera, French, and others.
i.e. "id est", Latin, that is.
M. Michel or Monsieur.
Tr. translator.
vol. volumes.