Courage de toutes les heures
We were intrigued by this heart-shaped sundial carved in stone on an historic house in the town center of Mortagne-au-Perche, then learned that there are two others similar to this one on churches in the Perche departement. All three date to the mid-17th century. The sundial's time lines mark 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with small diamonds interspacing the Roman numerals to indicate the half hours.
In Old French corage (courage) came from the Latin cor for heart; in the 17th century, coeur was used synonymously in the figurative sense with courage.
Vocabulary
un cadran solaire: a sundial
©2012 P.B. Lecron
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