Le Serpent Rouge

by Pierre Feugere, Louis Saint-Maxent and Gaston De Koker

17 January 1967

Three Translations Compiled and Compared

from Rennes-le-Château Home Page Website

 

  • W&H: Translation by Marcus Williamson and Corella Hughes

  • W: Translation by David Wood

  • vB: Translation by Elizabeth van Buren


 


1 Aquarius

Comme ils sont étranges les manuscrits de cet Ami, grand voyageur de l’inconnu, ils me sont parvenus séparément, pourtant ils forment un tout pour lui qui sait que les couleurs de l’arc-en-ciel donnent l’unité blanche, ou pour l’Artiste qui sous son pinceau, fait des six teintes de sa palette magique, jaillir le noir.

W&H: How strange are the manuscripts of this Friend, great traveller of the unknown, they appeared to me separately, yet they form a whole for him who knows that the colours of the rainbow give a white unity, or for the Artist for whom the black springs out from under his paintbrush, made from the six colours of his magic palette.

W: How strange are the manuscripts of this friend, great traveller of the unknown. They come together as white light but for one who knows separately, they are the colours of the rainbow; for the artist these six colours unite like magic in his palette and form black.

vB: How strange are the manuscripts of my friend, great traveller of the unknown. They appear to me separately, but they seem as one to him that knows that the colours of the rainbow gives a single white light, or to the artist who, in his magic palette, mixes six tints to make black.



2 Pisces

Cet Ami, comment vous le présenter ? Son nom demeura un mystère, mais son nombre est celui d’un sceau célèbre. Comment vous le décrire ? Peut-être comme le nautonnier de l’arche imperissable, impassible comme une colonne sur son roc blanc, scrutant vers le midi, au-delà du roc noir.

W&H: This Friend, how to introduce him to you? His name remained a mystery, but his number is that of a famous seal. How to describe him to you? Perhaps like the pilot of the indestructible [imperishable] ark, impassive like a column on his white rock scanning towards the south [midday] beyond the black rock.

W: This friend, how would you know him? His name is a mystery but his number is that of a famous seal. How can one describe him? Maybe like the pilot of the everlasting Ark of Noah, impassive like a pillar on his white rock looking beyond the black rock towards the south.

vB: This friend, how would one present him? His name is a mystery, but his number is that of a famous seal. How can one describe him? Maybe as the pilot of this everlasting Ark of Noah, impassive like a pillar on his white rock looking forward towards the south, beyond the black rock.



3 Aries

Dans mon pélérinage eprouvant, je tentais de me frayer à l’epée une voie à travers la végétation inextricable des bois, je voulais parvenir à la demeure de la BELLE endormie en qui certains poètes voient la REINE d’un royaume disparu. Au désespoir de retrouver le chemin, les parchemins de cet Ami furent pour moi le fil d’ Ariane.

W&H: During my testing pilgrimage I tried to clear a path with the sword crossing the inextricable vegetation of the woods, I wanted to reach the residence of the sleeping BEAUTY in whom certain poets saw the QUEEN of a past realm. In desperation of finding my way again the parchments of this Friend were for me, the thread of Ariadne.

W: In my arduous search I was trying to hack a way with my sword through the dense vegetation of the woods. I wanted to reach the place of the "Sleeping BEAUTY" in which some poets can see the QUEEN of a lost kingdom. Desperate to find the way I was aided by the parchments of my friend, they were for me like the thread of ARIADNE.

vB: In my difficult pilgrimage I was trying to hack my way through the dense vegetation of the woods with my sword. I wanted to reach the abode of the sleeping BEAUTY in whom some poets can see the QUEEN of a lost kingdom. Desperate to find the way, I was aided by the parchments of my friend, being for me like Ariadne’s thread.



4 Taurus

Grâce à lui, désormais à pas mesurés et d’un oeil sur, je puis decouvrir les soixante-quatre pierres dispersées du cube parfait que les Frères de la BELLE du bois noir échappant à la poursuite des usurpateurs, avaient semées en route quant ils s’enfuirent du Fort blanc.

W&H: Thanks to him, from now on by measured steps and a sure eye, I can discover the sixty-four dispersed stones of the perfect cube that the brothers of the BEAUTY of the black wood escaping in the pursuit of the usurpers, had scattered on their way whilst they fled from the white Fort.

W: Thanks to him, from now on with a watchful eye I could make steady progress. I can find the 64 scattered stones of the perfect cube which the Brothers of the BEAUTY of the black wood had scattered when they fled from the white fort while they were being persued [sic] by the usurpers.

vB: Thanks to him, henceforth with measured steps and a sure eye, I am able to discover the dispersed sixty-four stones of the Brothers of the BEAUTY of the black wood, escaping the pursuit of usurpers, had sown along the way as they fled from the white Fort.



5 Gemini

Rassembler les pierres éparses, oeuvrer de l’équerre et du compas pour les remettre en order régulier, chercher la ligne du méridien en allant de l’Orient à l’Occident, puis regardant du Midi au Nord, enfin en tous sens pour obtenir la solution cherchée, faisant station devant les quatorze pierres marquées d’une croix. Le cercle étant l’anneau et couronne, et lui le diadème de cette REINE du Castel.

W&H: To reassemble the scattered stones, work with the square and compass to put them back in regular order, look for the line of the meridian in going from the East to the West, then looking from the South to the North, finally in all directions to obtain the desired solution, stopping in front of the fourteen stones marked with a cross. The circle being the ring [coil of snake] and the crown, and to him the diadem of this QUEEN of Castel.

W: Reassemble the scattered stones and, working with square and compass, put them back in order; find the line of the meridian in going from East to West, then looking from South to the North and finally in all directions to find the looked-for solution. Station yourself in front of the fourteen stones making a cross. The circle is the ring and crown and the crown forms the diadem of the Queen of the Castle.

vB: To reassemble the scattered stones, to work with square and compass to put them in regular order, to find the line of the meridian in going from East to West, then looking from the South to the North, then finally in all directions to discover the solution, stationing oneself in front of the fourteen stones marked with a cross. The circle being the ring and the crown, and he being the diadem of the Queen of the castle.



6 Cancer

Les dalles du pavé mosaïque du lieu sacré pouvaient-être alternativement blanches ou noires, et JESUS, comme ASMODEE observer leurs alignments , ma vue semblait incapable de voir le sommet où demeurait cachée la merveilleuse endormie. N’étant pas HERCULE à la puissance magique, comment déchiffrer les mystérieux symboles gravés par les observateurs du passé. Dans le sanctuaire pourtant le bénitier, fontaine d’amour des croyants redonne mémoire de ces mots : PAR CE SIGNE TU le VAINCRAS.

W&H: The stones of the mosaic paving of the sacred place could be alternatively black or white, and JESUS like ASMODEUS, observing their alignment, my view seems incapable of seeing the summit where the marvellous sleeping one remained hidden. Not being HERCULES with magic power, decode the mysterious symbols carved by the observers of the past. In the sanctuary however the stoup, fountain of love of the believers, reminds us of these words: BY THIS SIGN YOU SHALL CONQUER.

W: The Mosaic tiles of this sacred place alternate black or white and JESUS, like ASMODEUS observes their alignments. I seem incapable of seeing the summit of the secret place of the Sleeping Beauty. Not being HERCULES with magical power how do I solve the mysterious symbols engraved by the witnesses of the past. In the sanctuary however, is the font, fountain of love, of those who believe reminding us of these words "BY THIS SIGN YOU WILL CONQUER."

vB: The mosaic tiles of this sacred place are alternatively black and white, and Jesus, like Asmodeus regards their alignments. My view seems incapable of seeing the summit where dwells hidden the marvellous beauty. Not being Hercules with magical powers how can I solve the mysterious symbols engraved by witnesses of the past. However, in the sanctuary is the font, fountain of love for those who believe, reminding us of these words, BY THIS SIGN YOU WILL CONQUER him.



7 Leo

De celle que je désirais libérer, montaient vers moi les effluves du parfum qui imprégnèrent le sépulchre. Jadis les uns l’avaient nommée : ISIS, reine des sources bienfaisantes, VENEZ A MOI VOUS TOUS QUI SOUFFREZ ET QUI ETES ACCABLES ET JE VOUS SOULAGERAI, d’autres : MADELAINE, au célèbre vase plein d’un baume guérisseur. Les initiés savent son nom véritable : NOTRE DAME DES CROSS.

W&H: From her that I wanted to free, rose towards me the emanations of perfume which permeate the sepulchre. Once some called her: ISIS, queen of the beneficent springs, COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO SUFFER AND WHO ARE OVERWHELMED AND I WILL COMFORT YOU, otherwise: MADELEINE, with the famous vase full of healing balm. The initiates know the true name: NOTRE DAME DES CROSS.

W: I am aware of the scent of the perfume which impregnates the sepulchre of the one I must release. Long ago her name was ISIS, Queen of the benevolent springs, COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Others knew her as MAGDALENE with the celebrated vase full of healing balm. The initiates know her to be NOTRE DAME DES CROSS.

vB: The scent of the perfume of the her whom I wish to liberate, mounts upwards towards me. Long ago she was named Isis, queen of the benevolent spring, COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL COMFORT YOU. Others knew her as MAGDALENE with the celebrated vase of healing balm. The initiates knew her true name OUR LADY OF THE CROSSES.



8 Virgo

J’étais comme les bergers du célèbre peintre POUSSIN, perplexe devant l’enigme : "ET IN ARCADIA EGO..."! La voix du sang allait-elle me rendre l’image d’un passé ancestral. Oui, l’éclair du génie traversa ma pensée. Je revoyais, je comprenais ! Je savais maintenant ce secret fabuleux. Et merveille, lors des sauts des quatre cavaliers, les savots d’un cheval avaient laissé quatre empreintes sur la pierre, voilà le signe que DELACROIX avait donné dans l’un des trois tableux de la chapelle des Anges. Voilà la septième sentence qu’une main avait tracée : RETIRE MOI DE LA BOUE, QUE JE N’Y RESTE PAS ENFONCE. Deux fois IS, embaumeuse et embaumée, vase miracle de l’éternelle Dame Blanche des Légendes.

W&H: I was like the shepherds of the famous painter POUSSIN , confused in front of the enigma: "ET IN ARCADIA EGO..."! The voice of the blood [race] would it show me the image of an ancestral past. Yes, the light of the genius crossed my mind. I saw again, I understood! I knew now this fabulous secret. And marvellous, when from the leaps of the four horsemen, the shoes of one horse had left four imprints on the rock, here is the sign which DELACROIX had given in one of the three pictures from the chapel of angels. Here is the seventh sentence which a hand had traced: DELIVER ME FROM THE MIRE, SO THAT I DO NOT STAY THERE SINKING. two times IS, embalmer and embalmed, miraculous vase of the eternal White Lady of Legends.

W: I was like the shepherds of the celebrated painter POUSSIN puzzled by the enigma of "ET IN ARCADIA EGO." Would the voice of the blood form an image of our ancestral past. Yes, a light of inspiration floods my mind; now I understand. I know now the fabulous secret and what is more amazing is that when the four knights moved, one of the horses left four hoofprints in the rock. Here is the sign which DELACROIX has given in one of the three paintings in the Chapel of Angels. There is the seventh sentence which a hand has traced: "DELIVER ME OUT OF THE MIRE, AND LET ME NOT SINK." Two times I.S. embalming and embalmed. Miraculous vessel of the eternal White Lady of Legends.

vB: I am, like the celebrated painter Poussin, puzzled by the enigma "ET IN ARCADIA EGO." Would the voice of the blood form an image of our ancestral past. Yes, a light of inspiration floods my mind; now I understand. Now I the fabulous secret. And what is more amazing is that when the four knights moved, one of the horses left four hoofprints in the rock. Here is the sign which DELACROIX has given in one of the three paintings in the chapel of the Angels. There is the seventh sentence which a hand has traced: DELIVER ME FROM THE MIRE, AND LET ME NOT SINK. Two times IS embalmer and embalmed, miraculous vessel of the eternal White Lady of Legends.



9 Libra

Commencé dans les ténèbres, mon voyage ne pouvait s’achever qu’en Lumière. A la fenêtre de la maison ruinée, je contemplais à travers les arbres dépouillés par l’automme le sommet de la montagne. La croix de crète se détachait sous le soleil du midi, elle était la quatorzième et la plus grande de toutes avec ses 35 centimètres! Me voici donc à mon tour cavalier sur le coursier divin chevauchant l’abîme.

W&H: Started in the shadows, my journey could only be finished in light. At the window of the ruined house I gazed across the trees stripped by autumn to the summit of the mountain. The cross of crete stood out under the midday sun, it was the fourteenth and the biggest of all with its 35 centimetres! Here I am therefore on my horse ride [tour] on a divine steed crossing the abyss.

W: I began my journey in shadows and completed it in the light. At the window of the ruined house I look across the trees denuded by Autumn. At the summit of the mountain, the cross stood out from the crest of the midday sun. It was the fourteenth and highest of all with 35cm. Here, then, is my knight’s tower on the circuit of the divine horseman of the abyss.

vB: I began my journey in shadows, and completed it in the light. At the window of the ruined house, I look across the trees denuded by autumn to the summit of the mountain. The cross stood out from the crest under the midday sun, it was the fourteenth and largest of all with 35cm. Here then am I at my knight’s tower on the divine steed spanning the Abyss.



10 Scorpio

Vision céleste pour celui qui me souvient des quatres oeuvres de Em. SIGNOL autour de la ligne du Méridien, au choeur même du sanctuaire d’où rayonne cette source d’amour des uns pour les autres, je pivote sur moi-même passant du regard la rose du P à celle de l’S, puis de l’S au P ... et la spirale dans mon esprit devenant comme un poulpe monstrueux expulsant son encre, les ténèbres absorbent la lumière, j’ai le vertige et je porte ma main à ma bouche mordant instinctivement ma paume, peut-être comme OLIER dans son cerceuil. Malédiction, je comprends la vérité, IL EST PASSE, mais lui aussi en faisant LE BIEN, ainsi que xxxxxxxx CELUI de la tombe fleurie . Mais combien ont saccagé la MAISON, ne laissant que des cadavres embaumés et nombres de métaux qu’ils n’avaient pu emporter. Quel étrange mystère recèle le nouveau temple de SALOMON édifié par les enfants de Saint VINCENT.

W&H: Celestial vision for him who remembers the four works of Em. Signol around the Meridian line, to the choir itself from the sanctuary from which beams this source of love from one to another, I turn around passing the site of the rose of the P to that of the S, then from the S to the P . . . and the spiral in my mind becoming like a monstrous Octopus expelling its ink, the shadows obscure the light, I am dizzy and I hold my hand to my mouth biting instinctively my palm, perhaps like OLIER in his coffin. Curses, I understand the truth, HE IS GONE, but to him too in doing THE GOOD, like HIM of the flowery tomb. But how many have sacked the HOUSE, leaving only the embalmed corpses and numerous metal objects which they could not carry? What strange mystery conceals the new temple of SOLOMON built by the Children of Saint Vincent?

W: There is a celestial vision for the one who recalls the four tasks of EM. SIGNOL around the line of the meridian; the same Choir (heart) of the sanctuary from which radiates the source of love for one another. I turn looking at the rose of P then to that of the S. Then from the S to the P until my mind is dizzy. The spiral in my mind becomes like a monstrous octopus expelling its ink, the shadows absorb the light. I put my hand to my mouth, biting my palm, maybe like OLIER in his coffin. Curses, I know the truth, HE HAS PASSED, in doing GOOD as did HE of the flowery tomb. But how many have pillaged the HOUSE, leaving only embalmed corpses and a number of metal things they could not carry? What strange mystery is concealed in the new Temple of SOLOMON, built by the children of ST. VINCENT?

vB: Here is a celestial vision for the one who follows the four works of Em. SIGNOL around the line of the meridian, even at the heart of the sanctuary from where radiates the source of brotherly Love. I turn about on myself, casting a look at the rose of "P" to that of the "S", then from "S" to "P" . . . And the spiral in my mind becomes a monstrous octopus expelling its ink, the shadows absorb the light; I become giddy, and I carry my hand to my mouth, instinctively, perhaps like OLIER in his coffin. Damnation, I know the truth, HE HAS PASSED, but he has also in doing GOOD, as did HE of the flowery tomb. But how many have pillaged the HOUSE, leaving only embalmed corpses and numbers of metal things that they could not carry? What strange mystery is concealed in the new Temple of SOLOMON built by the children of St Vincent?



11 Ophiuchus/Serpent

Maudissant les profanateurs dans leurs cendres et ceux qui vivent sur leurs traces, sortant de l’abîme où j’étais plongé en accomplissant le geste d’horreur : "Voici la preuve que du sceau de SALOMON je connais le secret, que xxxxxxxxxxx de cette REINE j’ai visité les demeures cachées." A ceci, Ami Lecteur, garde toi d’ajouter ou de retrancher un iota ... médite, Médite encore, le vil plomb de mon écrit xxxx contient peut-être l’or le plus pur.

W&H: Cursing the profaners in their ashes and those who live in their tracks, leaving the abyss where I was plunged in finishing the gesture of horror: "Here is the proof that I knew the secret of the Seal of SOLOMON, that of this QUEEN I have visited the hidden residences." To this, Dear Reader, be careful not to add or remove an iota . . . meditate, meditate again, the vile lead of my writing contains perhaps the purest gold.

W: Cursing the profane in their ashes and those who follow their ways; returning from the darkness while making the gesture of horror at the abyss into which I had plunged. Here is the proof that I knew the secret of the Seal of SOLOMON and I had visited the secret places of this QUEEN. Take Heed my friend, do not add or take away one iota; think and think again, the base lead of my words may contain the purest gold.

vB: Cursing the profane in their ashes and those who follow in their ways, returning from the abyss into which I had plunged while making the gesture of horror; here is the proof that I knew the secret of the seal of SOLOMON, that I have visited the secret places of this QUEEN. To this, my friend, do not add or take away one iota . . . think and think again, the base Lead of my words may contain the purest gold.
 

 


12 Sagittarius

Revenant alors à la blanche coline, le ciel ayant ouvert ses vannes, il me sembla près de moi sentir une présence, les pieds dans l’eau comme celui qui vient de recevoir la marque du baptème, me retournant vers l’est, face à moi je vis déroulant sans fin ses anneaux, l’énorme SERPENT ROUGE cité dans les parchemins, salée et amère, l’énorme bête déchainée devint au pied de ce mont blanc, rouge en colère.

W&H: Returning then to the white hill, the sky having opened its gates, it seems there is a presence near me, the feet in the water like him who has just been baptised, turning myself again towards the east facing me I saw unrolling without end, his coils, the enormous SERPENT ROUGE cited in the parchments, salty and bitter, the enormous beast unleashed became at the foot of this white hill, red with anger.

W: Returning again to the white hill, the sky opens its floodgates. Close to me a presence, its feet in the water, like one who has just received the mark of baptism, I turn away again to the east, facing me I see unwinding endlessly by his coils, the enormous RED SERPENT mentioned in the documents, rigid and bitter, the huge, unleashed beast at the foot of the white mountain beast becomes scarlet with anger.

vB: Returning again to the white hill, the sky opening its floodgates I seem to sense close to me a presence, its feet in the water, like one who is going to receive the sign of baptism, I turn towards the East, and see facing me, unwinding endlessly its coils, the enormous RED SERPENT mentioned in the parchments, salty and bitter, the huge, unleashed beast becomes red with anger at the foot of the white mountain.
 

 


13 Capricorn

Mon émotion fut grande, "RETIRE MOI DE LA BOUE" disais-je, et mon réveil fut immédiat. J’ai omis de vous dire en effet que c’était un songe que j’avais fait ce 17 JANVIER, fête de Saint SULPICE. Par la suite mon trouble persitant, j’ai voulu après réflexions d’usage vous le relater un conte de PERRAULT. Voici donc Ami Lecteur, dans les pages qui suivent le résultat d’un rêve m’ayant bercé dans le monde de l’étrange à l’inconnu. A celui qui PASSE de FAIRE LE BIEN !

W&H: My emotion was great "DELIVER ME FROM THE MIRE" I said, and I awoke immediately. I haven’t told you in fact that this was a dream that I’d had this 17th JANUARY, feast day of Saint SULPICE. Afterwards my trouble persisting, I wanted after reflection to tell you a story by PERRAULT. Here then, Dear Reader, in the pages which follow the result of a dream having soothed me into the world of the strange and unknown. GOOD comes to him THAT DOES GOOD.

W: My emotions are elated, DELIVER ME OUT OF THE MIRE, immediately I woke up, my dream is over. I meant to tell you that it was a dream I had on this 17th JANUARY, the day of Saint SULPICE, but the nightmare persisted. On reflection, I wish I had told it to you as a fairytale by PERRAULT. In the pages which follow, dear reader, are the results of a dream which nursed me from the bizarre to the unknown. LET HE WHO HAS THE UNDERSTANDING USE IT WITH WISDOM.

vB: My emotions are elated, DELIVER ME OUT OF THE MIRE I say, and immediately I awaken. I have omitted to tell you that it was a dream I had on the 17th of January, the day of Saint SULPICE. On reflection, my trouble persisting, I wish I wish that I told you as a Fairytale by PERRAULT. Here then, dear reader, in the pages that follow the result of a dream which nursed me from the strange to the unknown. TO HIM WHO PASSES IN DOING GOOD.