Finis Coronat Opus
Dennis
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De Vere:
But I hope better (though I cast the worst), howsoever, for FINIS
CORONAT OPUS, and then everything will be laid open, every doubt
resolved into a plain sense.
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[=37] Cecil Papers 181/99: Oxford to Cecil, [January 1602].
It is now almost a year sithence, by the promises of your help and
assistance, when the escheat of Danvers was found nothing for her
Majesty (26 shillings excepted), that I did undertake to recover it.
Now, brother, I do not by these letters make challenge of your words
for, if you list to forget them, my putting in remembrance will be
bitter, and to small purpose. Only this now is mine intention, not to
tell any new thing, but that which is already known unto you. The
matter, after it had received many crosses, many inventions of delay,
yet at length hath been heard before all the judges (judges, I say,
both unlawful and lawful, for so may I affirm sith Walmsley, who had
matched in the house of Danvers, besides some other, were admitted to
the deciding of the cause, notwithstanding long sithence I did except
against him, and it was then thought reasonable), but now time and
truth have unmasked all difficulties and I do understand the judges
are, if they will be indifferent, to make a good report to her
Majesty. Yet (I know not by what unfortunate star), there are so many
disposed to withstand it as the truth, much oppressed by the friends
of the contrary part, is likely, if not wholly to be defaced, yet so
extenuated as the virtue thereof will be of little effect. Now
forsomuch as I understand it is meant to delay the report, to the end
to get a composition of her Majesty and so to bring all my hope in her
Majesty's gracious words to smoke, I am earnestly to solicit her to
call for the report, which I should not have needed to do if gospel
had been in the mouths of the Lord Chief Justice and the Attorney, who
did assure me that, at the next hearing, which then was appointed the
second day of this term, it should have a full end. Now the matter
depending in this sort, I find my state weak and destitute of friends
for, having only relied always on her Majesty, I have neglected to
seek others, and this trust of mine, many things considered, I fear
may deceive me. Another confidence I had in yourself, in whom (without
offence let me speak it) I am to cast some doubt by reason as, in your
last letters I found a wavering style much differing from your former
assurances, I fear now to be left in medio rerum omnium certamine et
discrimine which, if it so fall out, I shall bear it, by the grace of
God, with an equal mind sith time and experience have given me
sufficient understanding of worldly frailty. But I hope better (though
I cast the worst), howsoever, for FINIS CORONAT OPUS, and then
everything will be laid open, every doubt resolved into a plain sense.
In the mean season, I now, at the last (for now is the time), crave
this brotherly friendship that, as you began it for me with all
kindness, so that you will continue in the same affection to end it.
And so I will end, these things only desiring you to remember, that
you may know I do not forget how honourably you dealt with her Majesty
at what time you first moved her, showing how, out of nothing to her
(for so in manner it was found), if by mine industry I could of this
nothing make something, she should yet give a prop and stay to my
house. Again I know and well perceive how that this escheat of Danvers
shall be made a great matter, to cross my good hap and to obscure the
rest of the lands which descend from the mother on [the] Latimer side
to her Majesty, which is as clear her Majesty's as this. Last of all,
I shall desire you to remember that I craved of this escheat only what
I could recover in Wiltshire and Gloucester shires, leaving to her
Majesty the lands of Oxford, Leicester, Northampton and Yorkshire,
which is of much more value. In the beginning the whole was thought
desperate, and yet you shall see now the law to be clear of the
Queen's side, notwithstanding it hath endured all the crosses that can
be possible; yea, moreover, I will say to you that I must inform, this
case hath opened her right to a far greater matter than this of
Danvers, if her Majesty's right and interest be not cunningly
suppressed, and therefore I hope her Majesty, after so many gracious
words which she gave me at Greenwich upon her departure, exceeding
this which I expect, will not now draw in the beams of her princely
grace to my discouragement and her own detriment. Neither will I
conceive otherwise of your virtue and affection towards me now, at the
end, than I apprehended all good hope and kindness from you in the
beginning. Thus with a lame hand to write I take my leave, but with a
mind well disposed to hope the best of my friends till otherwise I
find them, which I fear nothing at all, assuring myself your words and
deeds dwell not asunder.
Your loving brother-in-law.
Edward Oxenford
*To my very well beloved brother-in-law Sir Robert Cecil, of her
Majesty's Privy Council, and Principal Secretary.
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Ovid, Heroides- Exitus acta probat. - The end proves the deeds.
Finis coronat opus. - The ending crowns the work. (Earliest mention?)
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Finis coronat opus.Latin
Next proverb
Proverb
Proverb Finis coronat opus.
Language Latin
Multilingual variants
English All's well that ends well.
The end crowns the work.
In the evening one may praise the day.
French La fin couronne l'œuvre.
Tout est bien, qui finit bien.
German Nur das Ende krönt das Werk.
Ende gut – alles gut.
Das Ende bewährt alle Dinge.
Italian La fine corona l'opera.
Lithuanian Viskas gerai, kas gerai baigiasi.
Russian Конец – делу венец.
Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается.
Spanish El fin corona la obra.
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"You shall know them by their fruits"
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Dennis
Dennis
La fin couronne les oeuvres.
The Second part of King Henry the Sixth
Act 5, Scene 2
CLIFFORD
What seest thou in me, York? why dost thou pause?
YORK
With thy brave bearing should I be in love,
But that thou art so fast mine enemy.
CLIFFORD
Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem,
But that 'tis shown ignobly and in treason.
YORK
So let it help me now against thy sword
As I in justice and true right express it.
CLIFFORD
My soul and body on the action both!
YORK
A dreadful lay! Address thee instantly.
They fight, and CLIFFORD falls
CLIFFORD
La fin couronne les oeuvres.
Dies
YORK
Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still.
Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will!
Exit
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HELENA:
Yet, I pray you:
But with the word the time will bring on summer,
When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns,
And be as sweet as sharp. We must away;
Our wagon is prepared, and time revives us:
All's well that ends well; still the fine's the crown;
Whate'er the course, the end is the renown.
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Troilus and Cressida
Hector
The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost
A drop of Grecian blood: the end crowns all,
And that old common arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it."
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2 Henry IV
PRINCE HENRY
By this hand thou thinkest me as far in the devil's
book as thou and Falstaff for obduracy and
persistency: let the end try the man. But I tell
thee, my heart bleeds inwardly that my father is so
sick: and keeping such vile company as thou art
hath in reason taken from me all ostentation of sorrow.
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http://www.mun.ca/alciato/whit/w230.html
Whitney's Choice of Emblemes 230
Tempus omnia terminat
The longest daye, in time resignes to nighte.
The greatest oke, in time to duste doth turne.
The Raven dies, the Egle failes of flighte.
The Phoenix rare, in time her selfe doth burne.
The princelie stagge at lengthe his race doth ronne.
And all must ende, that ever was begonne.
Even so, I, here doe ende this simple booke,
And offer it unto your Lorshippes sighte:
Which, if you shall receive with pleasinge looke,
I shall rejoyce, and thinke my labour lighte.
And pray the Lorde your honour to preserve,
Our noble Queene, and countrie long to serve.
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Two paths:
http://www.emblems.arts.gla.ac.uk/french/emblem.php?id=FBOa006
http://www.emblems.arts.gla.ac.uk/french/facsimile.php?id=sm415_c3r
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Let the end TRY the man:
Dryden
To speak justly of this whole matter; 'tis neither height of thought
that is discommended, nor pathetick Vehemence, nor any nobleness of
expression in its proper place; but 'tis a false measure of all these,
something which is like 'em· and is not them: 'tis the Bristol-stone,
which appears like a Diamond; 'tis an extravagant thought, instead of
a sublime one; 'tis roaring madness instead
of vehemence; and a sound of words, instead of sence. If Shakespear
were stript of all the Bombast in the passions, and dress'd in the
most vulgar words, we should find the beauties of his thoughts
remaining; if his embroideries were burnt down, there would still be
silVER at the bottom of the melting-pot: but I fear (at least, let me
fear it for my self) that we who Ape his sounding words, have nothing
of his thought, but are all out-side; there is not so much as a dwarf
within our Giants cloaths. Therefore, let not Shakespear suffer for
our sakes; 'tis our fault, who succeed him in an Age which is more
refin'd, if we imitate him so ill, that we coppy his failings only,
and make a virtue of that in our Writings, which in his was an
imperfection.
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Dennis