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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [Ccc2v f386v as 384]

IN DONA HOSTIUM.

On the gifts of enemies.

Emblema 166.

Two soldiers exchanging gifts of a sword and a belt.
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Bellorum caepisse ferunt monumenta vicissim
Scutiferum Aiacem, Hectoraque Iliacum.
Balthea Prìamides, rigidum Telamonius ensem,
Instrumenta suae cepit uterque necis.
Ensis enim Aiacem confecit, at Hectora functum
Traxere Aemoniis cingula nexa rotis.
Sic titulo obsequii, quae mittunt hostibus hostes
Munera, venturi praescia fata ferunt.[1]

The story tells that shield-bearing Ajax and Hector of Troy exchanged souvenirs of battle. Priam’s son took the sword-belt, Telamon’s descendant the rigid sword, each accepting the instrument of his own death. For the sword destroyed Ajax, and the belt, attached to Thessalian wheels, dragged the dead Hector. So the gifts which enemies give to enemies, seemingly doing honour, knowing what is to come, bring doom.

Notes:

1.  See Homer Iliad 7.299, for the occasion in the Trojan War when Hector (the Trojan hero, son of Priam) and Ajax (Telamon’s descendant, one of the best fighters on the Greek side) met in single combat and afterwards, the honours being even, exchanged gifts. (Ajax was carrying the vast shield for which he was famed). Later, he committed suicide by falling on the sword he received from Hector (see [A15a028] n. and [A15a174] n.). Hector was later killed in single combat by Achilles (prince of Thessaly, the Greek champion), who desecrated the body by tying it behind his chariot (it is suggested here that he used the sword-belt Hector had received from Ajax) and dragging it about before the eyes of the Trojans. See [A15a152].

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [N4r p199]

In eum qui truculentia suorum perierit.

On one who perished through the savagery of his own people

EMBLEMA CLXVI.

A dolphin lying dead on the shore.
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Delphinem invitum me in littora compulit aestus,
Exemplum infido quanta pericla mari.
Nam si nec propriis Neptunus parcit alumnis,
Quis tutos homines navibus esse putet?[1]

I am a dolphin whom the tide drove ashore against my will, an example showing what great dangers there are in the treacherous sea. For if Neptune does not spare even his own nurslings, who can think that men are safe in ships?

Notes:

1.  This is based on Anthologia graeca 7.216 (two lines omitted).

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