Link to an image of this page [B2r p19]
Paupertatem summis ingeniis
obesse ne provehantur.[1]
Poverty prevents the advancement of the best of abilities
Dextra tenet lapidem, manus altera sustinet alas,
Ut me pluma levat, sic grave mergit onus.
Ingenio poteram superas volitare per arces,
Me nisi paupertas invida deprimeret.
My right hand holds a rock, the other bears wings. As the feathers lift me, so the heavy weight drags me down. By my mental gifts I could have flown through the heights of heaven, if malign poverty did not hold me back.
1. For the sentiment cf. Juvenal, Satires 3.164-5: ‘it is hard for people to rise when straitened circumstances stand in the way of their natural abilities.’
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Relating to the image:
- God the Father as bearded old man, usually with crown or tiara or sceptre and/or globe [11C23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- blessing (either of things or persons), e.g. by anointing [11Q7562] Search | Browse Iconclass
- animals (+ wings of an animal) [25F(+342)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- boulder, stone [25H1124] Search | Browse Iconclass
- high clouds [26A1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- standing on one leg [31A2313] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward (+ reaching for somebody or something, seizing something, touching) [31A2511(+934)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards (+ holding something) [31A2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- standing on one leg, the other leg held sideways, bent [31A26242] Search | Browse Iconclass
- floating in the air [31A2763] Search | Browse Iconclass
- child [31D112] Search | Browse Iconclass
- border, ribbon, braid [41D2653] Search | Browse Iconclass
- crown (symbol of sovereignty) [44B191] Search | Browse Iconclass
- orb (symbol of sovereignty; sphere with cross on top) [44B193] Search | Browse Iconclass
- carrying something [46C121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- tools, aids, implements ~ crafts and industries: rope [47D8(ROPE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- nude with wings [5(+1311)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Progression, Forward Movement (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51L4(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Rest, Immobility, Stasis (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51LL1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Regression, Backward Movement (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51LL4(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Talent (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52A13(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Hindrance, Obstruction (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54EE2(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Poverty; 'Povertà', 'Povertàdel doni', 'Povertàin uno ch'habbia bell'ingegno' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55BB1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Ambition; 'Ambitione', 'Amor di Fama' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56F11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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