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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [G7v p110]

Semper praesto esse infortunia.

Misfortune is always at hand

XLVII.

Three women playing at dice
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Ludebant parili tres olim aetate puellae
Sortibus, ad Stygias quae prior iret aquas.
Ast cui iactato malè cesserat alea talo,
Ridebat sortis caeca puella suae:
Cùm subitò icta caput labente est mortua tecto,
Solvit & audacis debita fata ioci.
Rebus in adversis mala sors non fallitur: ast in
Faustis, nec precibus, nec locus est manui.[1]

Once three girls of the same age were amusing themselves, casting lots to see which of them would be the first to go to the waters of the Styx. When the dice were cast, the throw fell out unluckily for one of them, but she laughed with blind contempt at the fate predicted for her. Then suddenly she died, struck on the head as the roof fell in, and so paid the fated penalty for her bold mockery. In misfortune, a bad omen cannot be eluded, but even in prosperity neither prayers nor action have any place.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [G8r p111]

Ungluck ist alweg gegenwertich.

XLVII.

Es losten gleicher gspilen drey,
Woelch vor solt leyden todes gwalt:
Die verlur achts fur spotterey,
Ward ier doch gleich ier loß bezalt:
Dann wie das dach des hawß einfalt,
Sie nur allein erschlagen ward:
Wie kumbt ungluck so gwiß und bald,
So sich gluck falt, oder lang hart.

Notes:

1.  This is a translation of Anthologia graeca 9.158.

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  • (private) prayer; 'Oratione', 'Preghiere', 'Preghiere a Dio' (Ripa) [11Q2] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Weakness, Powerlessness, Helplessness; 'Infermità' (Ripa) [54AA7] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Luck, Fortune, Lot; 'Fato', 'Fortuna', 'Fortuna aurea', 'Fortuna buona', 'Fortuna pacifica overo clemente', 'Sorte' (Ripa) [54F12] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Turn of Fate, Wheel of Fortune (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54F121(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Adversity, Misfortune, Bad Luck; 'Fortuna infelice', 'Infortunio' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept)§ [54FF11(+4):51A4(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Mortality, Extinction of Life [58BB1] Search | Browse Iconclass

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C3v]

EX BELLO PAX.

Peace succeeding to war

Bees round a helmet
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En galea intrepidus quam miles gesserat, & quae
Saepius hostili sparsa cruore fuit.
Parta pace apibus tenuis concessit in usum,
Alveoli atque favos grataque mella gerit.
Arma procul iaceant, fas sit tamen sumere bellum,
Quum aliter pacis non potes arte frui.[1]

See here a helmet which a fearless soldier previously wore and which was often spattered with enemy blood. After peace was won, it retired to be used as a narrow hive for bees; it holds honey-combs and nice honey. - Let weapons lie far off; let it be right to embark on war only when you cannot in any other way enjoy the art of peace.

Notes:

1.  Cf. Anthologia graeca, 6.236, where bees nest in what were once the beaks (projections at the prow) of war-galleys.

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