DATE: 2063
QUATRAIN: 1/63
LES FLEAUX PASTES DIMINUE LE OMONDE,
LONG TEMPS LA PAIX TERRRES INHABITEES
SEUR MARCHERA PAR CIEL, SERRE, MER, ET ONDE:
PUIS DE NOUVEAU LES GUERRES SUSCITEES
*
WITH THE PLAGUE OVER, THE EARTH SHRINKS
PEACE WILLL EIGN FOR A GOO WHILE
PEOPLE WILL TRAVEL THROUGH THE SKY LIKE BIRDS,
AND BY SEA AND WAVE
BEFORE WAR ONCE AGAIN IS CALLED FOR.
Following the terrible epidemic of 2062, which has decimated the world population, things will return to normal. There will be peace.Travel will recommence.The world serre in line 3 is of particular interest here, because in Old French it means the "talon of a bird", giving a an image of people traveling through the air as if carried by a hawk One trusts it 's not invidious to remind readers, at this point, that there was no such concept as "air travel" in Nostradamu's time. Here, he is simply taking it for granted,as if his a sight of the future with he accepted completely, almost as if i visions had vouchsafed hit were an everyday matter.
The war in line 4, of course, is the global war due in 2070.It is interesting to note Nostradamus's use of the word seur, meaning seur, "by the sweat of one's brow". The juxtaposition of that word with serre, the talon of a bird, is undoubtedly intentional and implies human, rather that godlike, in our mastering of the elements.
Summary
The earth's population has drastically shrunk, thanks to the worldwide epidemic of 2062. There is a period of calm and harmony in the world, possibly as a result of collective shock.
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