M. (11th century) — line-by-line translation and adapted parallel
| Translation (English) | Adapted (different nouns/context, preserving manuscript format and punctuation exactly) |
|---|---|
| M. Since concerning the city of both. | M. Regarding the market of both. |
| Earthly and heavenly, namely with their proper limits. Henceforth I see that I must discuss, and first must be set forth, as much as the rationale for ending this work allows, the arguments of mortals. | earthly and stellar, proper boundaries thereafter I see debate s first must be set out how much the method of closing this project permits, proofs schol- ars. |
| By which they themselves strove to make beatitude in the misfortune of this life, so that from their vain things our hope is in what differs from what God gave us. | which for themselves joy to make in this season's misfortune strove, so that from their stalls vain our hope what differs than what the patron gave us. |
| And the thing itself — this is true beatitude which it will give — not only by divine authority. | & res ipsa this is true contentment which will grant i not only by governmental authority divine. |
| But when reason is also applied, what kind, because of the unbelieving, we can apply, becomes clear. | but applied also method whatever because of skeptics we can apply, become clear. |
N. (14th century copy) — line-by-line translation and adapted parallel
| Translation (English) | Adapted (different nouns/context, preserving manuscript format and punctuation exactly) |
|---|---|
| N. Since concerning the city of both, namely the earthly and the heavenly. | N. Regarding the guild of both mundane namely and sublime. |
| I see that I must from now on debate; first things must be set forth as much as the nature of finishing this work allows. | indebted borders thereafter to me I see debating t first to be set forth how much the effort of this finishing I make allows . |
| The arguments of mortals, by which they themselves strove to make beatitude in the misfortune of this life • | arguments teach- ers, by which to themselves joy to create in this lifetime's misfortune strove • |
| So that from their vain things our hope may be distinguished from what God has given us, and the thing itself — that is true beatitude — which will give, not only by divine authority • | so that from their goods vain our hope how it differs / than fate gave us and the matter itself / this is true well-being / which will grant / not only by mandate divine • |
| But when reason is also applied, what sort (because of the unbelieving) we can apply becomes clear- | but applied also reason / such because of doubters we can (apply) become-clear- |
Notes:
- The left column gives a natural English rendering of each line/sentence as it appears in the manuscript witness.
- The right column gives a deliberately different context and vocabulary while keeping the manuscript's punctuation marks, spacing cues, bullets, slashes, parentheses and hyphenation positions as presented in each original line — this highlights how the punctuation and layout operate independently of particular lexical choices.