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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [I3v p134]

In senatum boni principis.

On the senate of a good prince

LIX.

Handless figures sitting before figure of god
[Click on image to enlarge]

Effigies manibus truncae ante altaria divûm
Hîc resident, quarum lumine capta prior.
Signa potestatis summae, sanctique senatus
Thebanis fuerant ista reperta viris.[1]
Cur resident? quia mente graves decet esse quieta
Iuridicos, animo nec variare levi.
Cur sine sunt manibus? capiant ne xenia, nec se
Pollicitis flecti muneribusve sinant.
Caecus at est princeps, quòd solis auribus absque
Affectu, constans iussa senatus agit.

Figures without hands sit here before the altars of the gods. The chief of them is deprived of sight. These symbols of the supreme power and of the reverend senate were discovered by men of Thebes. - Why do they sit? - Because lawgivers should be serious, of a calm mind, and not change with inconstant thoughts. - Why have they no hands? - So that they may not take gifts, nor let themselves be influenced by promises or bribes. But the president is blind, because the Senate, by hearing alone, uninfluenced by feeling, impartially discharges what it is bidden to do.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [I4r p135]

Ain frommer Furst, und seine rat.

LIX.

Hye sihst eins fromen Fursten rat,
Warumb sitzt er? das zaigt verstand,
Und stet gmuet daß ein weyser hat.
Was deutt das sye haben kain hand?
Das sye gab und schanck mueßig gand.
Warumb ist der Furst selber blind?
Das er ansech kains menschen stand,
Und richt wie er in rat befindt.

Notes:

1.  This is Thebes in Egypt. See Plutarch, De Iside et Osiride 10; also Erasmus, Adagia 2601, Scarabaeus aquilam quaerit.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [I4v p136]

In deprehensum.

Caught!

LX.

Figure holding an eel with leaves
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Iamdudum quacunque fugis te persequor, at nunc
Cassibus in nostris denique captus ades.
Amplius haud poteris vires eludere nostras,
Ficulno anguillam strinximus in folio.[1]

For a long time now I have been pursuing you wherever you flee; but now you are here, at long last caught in our net. You will no longer be able to elude our power - we have gripped the eel tight in a fig-leaf.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [I5r p137]

Ein ergriffner.

LX.

Wilt das dier ein Al nit entwisch,
Faß in gar wol in Feygen blat,
Nit anders helt man disen fisch.
Manch schalck ist auch so gschwind und drat,
Das er sich schwimbt aus allem bad:
Doch bhangt ein soelcher Fuchs zu loetzt
Und wierd begriffen in der that,
Wo man in mit seins gleichen hoetzt.

Notes:

1.  The rough surface of the fig-leaf made it suitable for gripping slippery objects. See Erasmus, Adagia 395, Folio ficulno tenes anguillam.

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