Link to an image of this page [E8r p79]
Que las cosas muy firmes no se pueden
arrancar.
Ottava rhima.
Aun qu’el Oceano se embravezca tanto
Que d’el furor rebiente conçevido
Haziendo con braveza a’l mundo espanto,
Y de ti sea Turco el Rhin[1] sorbido
No pasaras de raya el pie,
por quanto
Tiempo traxere campo el invençido
Carlos,[2] que como enzina no se muda [M]
Aunque la foja el viento la sacuda.
[Marginalia - link to text]Carlos Quinto. Emperador
1. The Spanish implies that the Turks were threatening the Rhine. The Turks invaded along the Danube and reached Hungary, winning the battle of Mohacs in 1526. When Alciato was writing, they continued to threaten Vienna and Central Europe.
2. Emperor Charles V led the campaign to recover the lost territory.
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- trees: oak (+ plants used symbolically) [25G3(OAK)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees: oak (+ withering, leaves or flowers falling off) [25G3(OAK)(+35)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- coast [25H13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sea (seascape) [25H23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- winds [26C] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- head (human) [31A221] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- sailing-ship, sailing-boat (+ under way, at sea (~ travelling)) [46C24(+63)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- Asiatic races and peoples: Turks [32B33(TURKS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Constancy, Tenacity; 'Costanza', 'Tenacità' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [53A21(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Stability, Firmness; 'Fermezza', 'Stabilimento', 'Stabilità' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [53A22(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Invincibility (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54A71(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- historical person (with NAME) other representations to which the NAME of a historical person may be attached (with NAME of person) [61B2(CHARLES V [of Holy Roman Empire])3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(RHINE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (story of) Oceanus [91B112] Search | Browse Iconclass
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Link to an image of this page [N5r p201]
A minimis quoque timendum.
Beware of even the weakest foe
EMBLEMA CLXVIII.
Bella gerit scarabaeus, & hostem provocat ultrò:
Robore & inferior, consilio superat.
Nam plumis aquilae clam se neque cognitus abdit,
Hostilem ut nidum summa per astra petat.
Ovaque confodiens, prohibet spem crescere prolis:
Hocque modo illatum dedecus ultus abit.[1]
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.
1. For the feud between the eagle and the beetle, see Aesop, Fables 4; Erasmus, Adagia 2601, Scarabaeus aquilam quaerit.
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- insects (with NAME) (+ variant) [25F711(SCARABEUS)(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- nest, den, burrow [25F(+421)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- egg [25F(+91)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Ingenuity; 'Ingegno' (Ripa) [52A43] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Secrecy, Latency, Concealment; 'Secretezza' (Ripa) [52DD1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Fear, Dread; 'Paura', 'Timidità o Timore', 'Timore' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56DD1(+4):51GG1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Revenge, Requital, Retaliation; 'Vendetta' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57AA741(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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