Section: VITA (Life). View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [L2v p164]
In vitam humanam.
On human life
Plus solito humanae nunc defle incommoda vitae,
Heraclite: scatet pluribus illa malis.
Tu rursus (si quando aliās) extolle cachinnum
Democrite: illa magis ludicra facta fuit.
Intereą haec cernens meditor, qua denique tecum
Fine fleam, aut tecum quomodo splene iocer.[1]
Weep now, Heraclitus, even more than you did, for the ills of human life. It teems with far more woes. And you, Democritus, if ever you laughed before, raise your cackle now. Life has become more of a joke. Meanwhile, seeing all this, I consider just how far I can weep with you, how laugh bitterly with you.
1. This is a translation of Anthologia graeca 9.148. For Heraclitus, cf. [A50a016]. For the contrast between the despairing tears of Heraclitus (who withdrew from human society) and the sardonic laughter of Democritus when faced with the folly of men, see, among many sources, e.g. Juvenal, Satires 10, 28ff.
Related Emblems
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Relating to the image:
- groups of plants (herbs) [25G13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees (+ young plant) [25G3(+361)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rocks [25H112] Search | Browse Iconclass
- boulder, stone [25H1124] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on an elevation [31A2352] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head turned to the right [31A2422] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head bent forward; bowing [31A244] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards [31A2515] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the chest (+ holding something) [31A25161(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other (+ sitting) [31A2621(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hand towards the forehead - AA - both arms or hands [31AA2533] Search | Browse Iconclass
- weeping [31B6214] Search | Browse Iconclass
- laughing [31B62321] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- old man [31D16] Search | Browse Iconclass
- young versus old age; young and old [31D5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- optimist and pessimist (human types) [32A30] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bad companions [33A59] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear (+ men's clothes) [41D221(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- gear for legs and feet (+ men's clothes) [41D233(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- unequal couple, ill-matched couple [42D31] Search | Browse Iconclass
- book [49M32] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Mirth, Hilarity (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56B11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Pain, Sorrow, Sadness; 'Dolore', 'Dolore di Zeusi' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56BB1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Heraclitus, the weeping philosopher, and Democritus, the laughing philosopher [98B(HERACLITUS)51] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- the course of life symbolized [11R3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Choice; 'Elettione' (Ripa) [53A11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Vicissitudes of Life [54F122] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Joke; 'Giuoco (dall'antico)' (Ripa) [56B131] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Human Life; 'Vita humana', 'Vita inquieta', 'Vita e l'animo' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [58B21(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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