Switch to Dual Emblem Display

« Previous EmblemNext Emblem »
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [O1v p210]

Levitas secura.

Untroubled lightness

Two mens heads bobbing above waves, behind them a causeway has fallen into the sea.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Fluctibus immensis parva est iactata tabella,
Sed levitas tuto littore sistit onus.
Altera difficili premitur dum pondere, cedens
Nil undis, fundum mox subitura petit.
Vanus, adulator, mendax, variusque per orbem,
Noxia declinat, dum levis aura[1] agitat.
Sed quos relligio constans, moresque probati
Invidiae obiiciunt, prompta pericla vorant.

In the boundless waves of the sea a small piece of wood is tossed, but the lightness puts the burden on the safe coast. Another, while pressed by a difficult weight, yielding nothing to the waves, will soon go under and reach the bottom. The unreliable man, the flatterer, the liar, the waverer diverts his harmful business around the world, so long as the light breeze keeps him in motion. However, those whose stable religion and esteemed character cause envy, are devoured by rapid dangers.

Notes:

1.  aura has connotations of fickleness, and is for instance also used in aura popularis for ‘the breath of favour’.

« Previous EmblemNext Emblem »

Related Emblems

Iconclass Keywords

Relating to the image:

Relating to the text:

Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.

 

Back to top