Link to an image of this page [A8v p16]
In Silentium.
Silence
Cùm tacet, haud quicquam differt sapientibus amens,
Stultitiae est index linguaque voxque suae.
Ergo premat labias, digitoque silentia signet,
Et sese Pharium vertat in Harpocratem[1].
When he is silent, the fool differs no whit from the wise. It is tongue and voice that betray his stupidity. Let him therefore put his finger to his lips and so mark silence, and turn himself into Egyptian Harpocrates.
Link to an image of this page [B1r p17]
A Silence.
Quand ung ignorant ne dit mot,
Il est bien pareil au scavant:
Et nest de saigesse remot,
Sinon quant il parle souvent:
Ta bouche ayt donc le doy devant,
Pour tenir de parler science.[2]
Ou seras Harpocras suyvant,
Dont lymage monstroit silence:
1. Harpocrates, also known as Horus, was the son of the Egyptian divinity Isis. He avenged the murder of his father Osiris by Set/Typhon. He is often represented as an infant with his finger held to his mouth as a sign of silence and economy of words. See Plutarch, De Iside et Osiride 68.
2. The last 3 lines differ significantly from the 1536 edition.
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Relating to the image:
- lectern [11Q71455] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hand(s) towards the mouth [31A2536] Search | Browse Iconclass
- index finger forwards, pointing, indicating [31A25552] Search | Browse Iconclass
- putting a finger to the lips, 'Silentium'; 'Silentio' (Ripa) [31B623591] Search | Browse Iconclass
- study; 'studiolo'; library [41A251] Search | Browse Iconclass
- window [41A33] Search | Browse Iconclass
- table [41A711] Search | Browse Iconclass
- shelves, rack, sideboard [41A712] Search | Browse Iconclass
- cover for table, etc. [41A713] Search | Browse Iconclass
- flame [41B121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- candle [41B31] Search | Browse Iconclass
- scholar in his study [49C32] Search | Browse Iconclass
- book [49M32] Search | Browse Iconclass
- book - MM - book open [49MM32] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Harpocrates [96A33] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Wisdom; 'Sapienza', 'Sapienza humana', 'Sapienza vera' (Ripa) [52A51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Ignorance; 'Ignoranza', 'Ignoranza di tutte le cose', 'Ignoranza in un ricco senza lettere' (Ripa) [52AA5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Folly, Foolishness; 'Pazzia', 'Sciocchezza', 'Stoltitia' (Ripa) [52AA51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Taciturnity; 'Secretezza', 'Secretezza overo Taciturnità' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52DD3(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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