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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [E6v p76]

De los Astrologos.

Ottava rhima.

Icarus falling into the sea.
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Icaro que subir hasta el sublime
Cielo queriendo, dentro el mar cayste:[1]
Mira que aquella cera aqui te imprime
De quien antes de aora muerto fuiste,
Para que por tu exemplo mas se estime
La sciencia por la qual tu te perdiste.
Mas nadie juzgue hasta que lo entienda,
Porque cayrą soltando mas la rienda.

Notes:

1.  Cf. Anthologia graeca 16.107, a poem on a bronze statue of Icarus, translated by Alciato at Selecta epigrammata (Cornarius, ed.) p.333. Icarus and his father Daedalus (see [A49a008]) escaped from King Minos of Crete on wings of feathers and wax. Icarus was over-bold and flew too near the sun; when his wings melted, he crashed into the Icarian Sea and was drowned. See Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.183ff. Icarus, like Phaethon (see [A49a064]) was a type of those who do not keep to their proper station.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [H6v p124]

A minimis quoque timendum.[1]

Beware of even the weakest foe

LIIII.

Scarab beetle fighting an eagle
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Bella gerit Scarabaeus & hostem provocat ultrņ,
Robore & inferior, consilio superat.
Nam plumis Aquilae cląm se neque cognitus abdit,
Hostilem ut nidum summa per astra petat:
Ovaque confodiens, prohibet spem crescere prolis:
Hocque modo illatum dedecus ultus abit.[2]

The scarab beetle is waging war and takes the challenge to its foe. Though inferior in physical strength, it is superior in strategy. It hides itself secretly in the eagle’s feathers without being felt, in order to attack its enemy’s nest across the lofty skies. It bores into the eggs and prevents the hoped-for offspring from developing. And then it departs, having thus avenged the insult inflicted on it.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [H7r p125]

Man solle ihm auch vor den we-
nigsten furchten.

LIIII.

Vor zeiten wie Esopus schreybt,
Der Schroter mit dem Adler strit,
Dem er sich in das gfider kleybt
Heimlich, und kam gefaren mit
Ins Adlers nest, dem er on bit
Gar listig all sein ayer brach:
Drumb halt mit groß und klaynen frid,
Zu schwach ist niemand zu der rach.

Notes:

1.  Before the 1536 edition, Wechel editions used an earlier version of the woodcut in which the beetle had no horns.

2.  For the feud between the eagle and the beetle, see Aesop, Fables 4; Erasmus, Adagia 2601, Scarabaeus aquilam quaerit.

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