The Nostradamus Address

The translations presented in this Address are founded upon the original 1568 French Edition (Lyon) of Les Propheties De M. Michel Nostradamus which records Nostradamus’ Complete and Original Prophecies consisting of 10 Centuries of 942 Quatrains. Especial thanks to the owner Mario Gregorio for allowing me the use of the original editions and other relevant documents of the period and also for his valued assistance.

Nostradamus’ Prophecies have been in continual regular print since first publication of ‘Les Propheties’ in 1555. Many editions have been produced by various and sometimes the same printing houses that human error in the process of typesetting has undoubtedly played its part. This has resulted in subtle and sometimes significant differences when the published editions are compared with one another. As such these variances needed to be studied, analysed and noted before proceeding with the work of serious translation.

Presuming that Nostradamus would have mostly checked each new printing for accuracy, it is likely that when each edition was published he would have made corrections or even modifications for amendment and inclusion within the next publication. In addition to this there are also differences that need to be compared and considered in the pursuit of a better understanding and in determining the intended meaning of each Quatrain.

In my opinion the 1568 published edition was the most suitable original source document on which to base this analysis as it was the closest available publication following Nostradamus’ death in 1566 and it is also the earliest surviving omnibus edition of the original and complete 942 Quatrains under investigation. Using this edition as the prime source document upon which to make comparison, it was then used to compare all Quatrain differences with the earliest first publication of each respective Quatrain of which an example of the notable differences is as the comparative translations below:

C1. Q87 1568. [1555]
En nosigée [Ennofigée] feu du centre de terre,[]
Fera trembler autour [au tour] de cite [cité] neuue, [neufue:]
Deux grãds rochers long [lõg] tep [teps] feront [serõt] la Guerra [guerre],
Puis Arethuse [Arethusa] rougira nouueau fleuue.

First English translation:

Ennosigée, Fire of the Centre of the Earth,
Shall make quake about the New City,
Two great Rocks shall a great while War one against the other,
After that, Arethusa shall colour red a new river.

Second English translation:

Earth shaking fire from the centre of the earth,
Makes tremble the tower of the new city,
Two great rocks making war, a long time,
Arethusa colouring a new river red.

The original French Quatrains of the 1568 Edition have been compared with the 453 Quatrains of the earlier original First Edition of 1555 (Lyon) and with Quatrains 454 to 742 of the original 1557 (Lyon) edition. For analytical cross referencing purposes all differences in word, spelling and punctuation are noted and marked accordingly and integrated within each Quatrain for easy comparison.

The first English translation of ‘The Comparative Translations’ is the generally accepted interpretation of the French Original as being the most representative English translation in circulation today, but still retains much of its ‘Old English’ feel and some spelling of the period.

The second English translation presented is deliberately redacted and contracted to a succinct format and also intending to give a sense of immediacy and more representative in the present tense. To aid better understanding all superfluous elements and poetic rendition have also been extracted from each Quatrain that could otherwise detract from the actual meaning intended, which may have perhaps been lost or obscured when poeticised and written of later. This redaction of the Quatrains is therefore intended to be more representative of Nostradamus’ actual visionary experiences as they occurred to him thereby adding a truer element of authenticity and accuracy. As Nostradamus himself states ” Indeed, someone, who would do well to blow his nose, may reply that the rhythm is as easy as the sense is difficult” implying that poetic elements could distract and detract from true meaning.

Although these comparative translations are comprehensive they are designed to be easily read and compared and offer the reader a richer and more complete basis upon which to reach their own conclusions.

Neither the author, director or producers make any warranty of any kind, expressed or otherwise for the expressed views or predictions of Nostradamus nor do they necessarily subscribe to them. The author, director and publisher have made every effort to maintain the accuracy of the original prophecies and quatrains of Nostradamus and interpretations are offered in good faith. Discrepancies may occur and no guarantee is implied or inferred with regard to their predictive ability.

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