[Bob Ireland]

The quatrain referred to is I-29 of The Centuries:
  Quand le poisson terrestre et aquatique
  Par forte vague au gravier sera mis,
  Sa forme étrange suave et horrifique,
  Par mer aux murs bien tôt les ennemis.

The translation presented above seems to begin to unravel in line three. It is difficult to interpret suave as 'oily'; it derives from Latin suavis meaning 'sweet' or 'pleasant'. I suppose in some contexts it might imply 'oil', but it is a stretch.

Also, to interpret mer as 'seawater' is a bit of a stretch, but possible. 'Steadily' and 'climb' simply do not appear in the OF text.

[Bob Ireland]

Ooops! Forgot to give you the ping; see my #106 ... and thanks for the heads up.