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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M1r p177]

Frontis nulla fides.

The face (or brow) is not to be trusted.

Achilli Statio Lusitano.[1]

Seated man painting on a canvas held up by another man. A horned bull’s head is visible from behind a pillar and in the background a dog is biting at the heals of a fleeing man.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Cunctis Deus creavit
Quaecunque terra, & undis,
Signum dedit, pateret
Natura singulorum ut.
Latratibus canis sic
Suae indicem dat irae
Taurus monet furorem
Quòd cornuis petendo
Laedat, venena caudis
Serpens gerit, timendus
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M1v p178]Et scorpius cavetur.
Est nuda frons, sed index
Mortalibus negatus,
Ut nosse quis bonus sit
Nequeas, tibi à maloque
Dum tempus est cavere.
Dextra tenet tabellam
Rasam, notis nec ullis
Insignem, amicus ut sit
Qualis tuus, colis quem
Tot sedulus per annos.
Scribas mihi potes si,
Num candidè, dolo ne
Tecum egit, at recusas.

God created everything on earth and all the seas, and gave a sign, so that the nature of each might be evident. The dog thus, by barking, gives indication of its wrath, the bull warns of his rage for he hurts by attacking with his horns; the snake bears poison in his tail, and the fearsome scorpion is avoided. The brow is empty, but but mortal men are denied a secure sign, so that you cannot know who is good until it is time for you to be careful of the bad man. He holds in his right hand a blank slate, empty of all signs, [to show] what kind of man that friend is, whom you have attentively cultivated for all these years. Write for me, if you can, whether he treats you honestly or dishonestly, but you refuse.

Notes:

1.  Aquiles Estaço: Portuguese philologist and writer (d. 1581).

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