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Section: CONCORDIA (Concord). View all emblems in this section.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [D1r p49]

Firmissima convelli
non posse.

The firmest things cannot be uprooted.

A tree being blown by winds (heads in clouds) and losing its leaves
[Click on image to enlarge]

Oceanus quamvis fluctus pater excitet omnes:[1]
Danubiumque omnem barbare Turca bibas.[2]
Non tamen irrumpes perfracto limite: Caesar
Dum Charlus populis bellica signa dabit.[3]
Sic sacrae quercus[4] firmis radicibus astant,
Sicca licet venti concutiant folia.

Though Father Ocean rouses all his waves, though, barbarous Turk, you drink the Danube dry, yet you shall not break through the boundary and burst in, while Emperor Charles shall give to his peoples the signal for war. Even so, holy oaks stand firm with tenacious roots, though the winds rattle the dry leaves.

Notes:

1.  This poem is based on Anthologia graeca 9.291, which refers to a threat to ancient Rome from invading German tribes.

2.  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.

3.   Caesar...Charlus, i.e. Emperor Charles V, led the charge to recover the lost territory.

4.  ‘holy oaks’. Oaks were holy because sacred to Zeus, especially at his sanctuary at Dodona in Greece. See [A51a199]. The image of the dry leaves is already present in the Greek poem, but see also Vergil, Aeneid 4.441-4.

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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(DANUBE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • (story of) Oceanus [91B112] Search | Browse Iconclass

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Section: CONCORDE. View all emblems in this section.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [E1v p66]

Les tresfermes choses, ne povoir
estre arrachées.

The wind blowing hard on an oak tree.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Quoy que la mer tous ses grandz flotz hors jecte
Et le grand Turc le Danube à sec mette:[1]
Point toutesfois n’entrera conquereur,
Tant que Caesar Charles soit Empereur.[2]
Ainsi sur pied les grandz chesnes demeurent,[3]
Quoy que les vents tombent fueilles, qui meurent.

Cest Embleme est faict à l’honneur de L’empereur
Charles cinquiesme, qui garda le grand Turc de
passer à Vienne en Austriche.

Notes:

1.  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 charge to recover the lost territory.

3.  Oaks were holy because sacred to Zeus, especially at his sanctuary at Dodona in Greece. ([FALb188]). The image of the dry leaves is already present in the Greek poem, but see also Vergil, Aeneid 4.441-4.

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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(DANUBE)] Search | Browse Iconclass

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