The true prophecies or prognostications of Michael Nostradamus, physician to Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX. Kings of France, and one of the best astronomers that ever were. / A work full of curiosity and learning. Translated and commented by Theophilus de Garencieres, Doctor in Physick Colleg. Lond.

by Nostradamus

LXVI.

French.

Sous les antiques edifices Vestaux,

Non esloignez d’Aqueduct ruiné,

De Sol & Lune sont les luissans metaux,

Ardente Lampe Trajan d’or buriné.

English.

Under the ancient edifices of the Vestals,

Not far from an Aqueduct ruinated,

Are the bright mettals of Sun and Moon,

A burning Lamp of Trajan of ingraven gold.

ANNOT.

Monsieur Catel in his second Book of Languedoc Chap. V. saith, that there was a famous Aqueduct, which the Romans builded from the River Gar to the Town of Nismes, which at present is ruinated.

Secondly, Near the Town there was a famous Temple dedicated to Diana, where there is a Spring of water so great, that it seemeth rather a Lake then a Fountain.

Thirdly, I find that the Emperour Adrian caused a Temple to be built in the honour of Plotina Trajan’s wife.

Fourthly, He relateth that Jean Poldo found in the Town of Aix a Marble with this inscription: Plotina Trajanis uxor, summa honestate & integritate fulgens, sterilitatis defectu sine prole fecit conjugem, qui ejus opera Adrianum adoptatum in Imperio Successorem habuit, a quo in beneficii memoriam Nemausi æde sacra maximo Sumptu, sublimique structura, ac Hymnorum cantu decorata, post mortem donata est: That is to say, Plotina, Trajans wife, famous for her honesty and integrity, was barren and left no Children to her Husband, which she perceiving, intreated the Emperour to adopt Adrian for his Son, and to make him his Successor in the Empire, which being come to pass, the new Emperour in acknowledgement of such a benefit, did build her a Temple of a magnificent Structure, and caused it to be Consecrated with Musick after her death.

Fifthly, The said Author saith, that this Marble was taken out of that Temple, when the River of Gardon did so overflow, as we have said.

By all this we see, that there was a Temple of Vestals at Nismes, Diana the Maid being their chief Patroness, which is made now a Nunnery, called la Fontaine. There is also to be seen the Temple of Plotina, Trajans wife, built by Adrian his Successor. And as it was the manner of the Ancients to put some of those inextinguishable Lamps in their Graves; it is very likely, there was one of them in this Temple, and because it should be known whose Grave it was, he caused Trajans name to be Engraven in the foot of the said Lamp.

Let us explain now the Stanza: Under the Ancient Vestal buildings of the Temple of Diana, not far from the ruined Aqueduct, which carrieth the water from the River Gar to Nismes, shall be found shining mettals of Sol and Luna, that is, Meddals of gold and silver, with a burning Lamp of gold, wherein the name of Trajan was Engraven. Histories make mention of several burning Lamps in this manner, that have been found still burning in the ground, and not consumed, though they had been there above 500 years; certainly the Oil of it must have been incombustible, and could be extracted out of nothing but gold, quia nil dat quod non habet.