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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M8v p192]

Dulcia quandoque amara fieri.

Sweetness turns at times to bitterness

LXXXIX.

Young child (Cupid?) being stung by bees, running to his mother.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Matre procul licta paulùm secesserat infans
Lydius[1], hunc dirae sed rapuistis apes.
Venerat hic ad vos placidas ratus esse volucres,
Cùm nec ita immitis vipera saeva foret.
Quae datis ah dulci stimulos pro munere mellis,
Proh dolor, heu sine te gratia nulla datur.[2]

A Lydian babe had strayed some way off, leaving his mother at a distance, but you made away with him, you dreadful bees. He had come to you, thinking you harmless winged creatures, yet a merciless viper would not be as savage as you. Instead of the sweet gift of honey, ah me, you give stings. Ah pain, without you, alas, no delight is granted.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [N1r p193]

Doulceur porte bien amertume.[3]

LXXXIX.

Cupido peu loing de sa mere,
Mouche a miel pour oysel prenant,
Sentit tost sa morsure amere:
Si crie, & fuyt incontinent.
Venus rit, puis dit, maintenant
Si mouche a miel fut amoureuse,
Tel douleur ne te fut donnant,
Sans toy toute chose est fascheuse.
Aultrement
Cupido pour ses appetitz
Vers des mouches a miel alla:
Qui[4] cuidoit oyseletz petitz:
Et moult entour elles vola.
D’elles est mors: il crye hala.
Sa mere entend dou vient la plaincte:
Ha mignard (dit elle) vela,
Vous faictes bien de pire attaincte.

Notes:

1.  This is based on Anthologia graeca 9.548 , where a baby, called Hermonax, is stung to death. See also Anthologia graeca 9.302 for another epigram treating the same incident.

2.  In the 1536 edition, a version of this text is attached to the following emblem.

3.  Corrected from the 1536 edition.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [N5v p202]

In eum qui sibi ipsi damnum
apparat.

One who brings about his own downfall

XCI.

A wolf cub being suckled by a goat.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Capra lupum non sponte meo nunc ubere lacto,
Quod malè pastoris provida cura iubet.[1]
Creverit ille simul, mea me post ubera pascet,
Improbitas nullo flectitur obsequio.[2]

I am a goat giving suck against my will - to a wolf. The improvident kindness of the shepherd makes me do this. Once the wolf has grown, after feeding at my teats, he will then eat me. Wickedness is never deterred by services rendered.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [N6r p203]

Von den so in selbs ungluck erziehen.

XCI.

Ich arme Gayß einn wolff erner,
Darzu mich selber dringt mein hiert,
Der nit verstet mein groß beschwer:
Dan so der wolff erzogen wierd,
Ist mier gewiser tod beschiert.
Dan wie sehr und lang man verert,
Wie vil und hoch man hilfft und ziert
Einn schelm, so ist er unverkert.

Notes:

1.  This is a translation of Anthologia graeca 9.47. For the content cf. Aesop, Fables 313-5.

2.  ‘Wickedness is never deterred by services rendered’. See Erasmus, Adagia 1086, Ale luporum catulos.

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