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Section: PERFIDIA (Treachery). View all emblems in this section.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [D5v p58]

Dolus in suos.

Treachery against one’s own kind.

Several birds diving into a net held by men behind a tree
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Altilis allectator anas, & caerula pennis
Adsueta ad dominos ire redire suos.
Congeneres cernens volitare per aëra turmas
Garrit: in illarum se recipitque gregem,
Praetensa incautas donec sub retia ducat.
Obstrepitant captae, conscia at ipsa silet.
Perfida cognato se sanguine polluit ales,
Officiosa aliis, exitiosa suis.[1]

The well-fed decoy duck with its green-blue wings is trained to go out and return to its masters. When it sees squadrons of its relations flying through the air, it quacks and joins itself to the flock, until it can draw them, off their guard, into the outspread nets. When caught they raise a protesting clamour, but she, knowing what she has done, keeps silence. The treacherous bird defiles itself with related blood, servile to others, deadly to its own kind.

Notes:

1.  Cf. Aesop, Fables, 282, where the decoy birds are pigeons.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M4r f79r]

EMBLEMA CXXI.

Aliquid mali propter vicinum malum.[1]

Misfortune caused by a bad neighbour

Διαλογιστικῶς

In dialogue form.

Two pots, one metal, one clay, floating together in a stream
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Raptabat torrens ollas, quarum una metallo,
Altera erat figuli terrea facta manu.
Hanc igitur rogat illa, velit sibi proxima ferri,
Iuncta ut praecipites utraque sistat aquas:
Cui lutea, Haud nobis tua sunt commercia curae,
Ne mihi proximitas haec mala multa ferat.
Nam seu te nobis, seu nos tibi conferat unda,
Ipsa ego te fragilis sospite sola terar.

A stream was carrying along two pots, one of which was made of metal, the other formed by the potter’s hand of clay. The metal pot asked the clay one whether it would like to float along close beside it, so that each of them, by uniting with the other, could resist the rushing waters. The clay pot replied: The arrangement you propose does not appeal to me. I am afraid that such proximity will bring many misfortunes upon me. For whether the wave washes you against me or me against you, I only, being breakable, will be shattered, while you remain unharmed.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M4v f79v]

Das CXXI.

Ein böses umb der Nachbauwern
willen.

In einem starcken Bach daher
Rauschen zwen Häfen ongefer
Der ein auß Ertz der ander war
Gemacht vom Häfner auß Thon klar
Der auß Ertz den Irrdin ansprach
Daß er wolt schwimmen bey im nach
Damit sie kündten dester baß
Widerstandt thun dem Wasser graß.
Dem antwort wider der Irrdin
Deiner Nachbarschafft ich hab kein gwin
Und frag nit nach der gmeinschafft dein
Damit sie mich nit bring in pein
Dann so das Wasser mich an dich
Stieß, oder wider dich an mich
So bleibestu gantz unversert
Ich aber würd gar zertrimmert.

Notes:

1.  See Avianus, Fables 11; Erasmus, Adagia 32, Aliquid mali propter vicinum malum.

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