Link to an image of this page [o1r p209]
Contra.[1]
A contrary view.
[=68]
Vesparum quòd nulla unquam Rex spicula siget [=figet]
.[2]
Quodque aliis duplo corpore maior erit,
Arguet imperium clemens, moderataque regna.
Sanctaque iudicibus credita iura bonis.
The king of the wasps will never implant any sting and will be twice as big as the rest. This will be a sign of mild dominion, a disciplined kingdom, and inviolable law entrusted to good judges.
1. It is to be noted that in this edition, as in the 1546, Maledicentia and Contra are treated as one emblem whereas in other editions Contra is treated as an emblem in its own right called Principis Clementia.
2. According to Pliny, Natural History, 11.21.74, wasps do not have ‘kings’: it is the ‘mother’ wasps that are without stings. On the other hand, the ‘king’ bee (the ancients believed the queen bee to be male) and its lack of sting, or refusal to use its sting, was often mentioned; e.g. Aelian, De natura animalium, 5.10; Pliny, ibid., 17.52. For the analogy with kingship, see e.g. Seneca, De Clementia, 1.19; Erasmus, Adagia, 2601 (Scarabaeus aquilam quaerit).
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- poison ~ product of animal [25F(+92)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- insects: wasp (+ animals used symbolically) [25F711(WASP)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- virtues of the ruler [44B10] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ruler and his subjects [44B1270] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Indulgence, Clemency; 'Clemenza', 'Clemenza & Moderatione', 'Indulgenza' [57A73(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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Section: LE PRINCE. View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [M2v p180]
La clemence du Prince.
Ce que le Roy des guespes rien ne poingt,[1]
(Quoy qu’il soit grand.) Et d’aguillon n’ha poinct
Monstre ung Seigneur doulx aulx siens, comme amys:
Et les sainctz droictz à gens de bien commis.
Le Roy des Guespes, & aveilles
est deux fois plus grand, & fort
que les aultres, & si n’ha point
d’aguillon picquant, & vene-
neux, comme les aultres. Ainsi
ung bon Prince plus est puis-
sant, plus est clement, & moins
nuysant, tel que fut le Magni-
ficque Jule Caesar.
1. According to Pliny, Natural History, 11.21.74, wasps do not have ‘kings’: it is the ‘mother’ wasps that are without stings. On the other hand, the ‘king’ bee (the ancients believed the queen bee to be male) and its lack of sting, or refusal to use its sting, was often mentioned; e.g. Aelian, De natura animalium, 5.10; Pliny, ibid., 17.52. For the analogy with kingship, see e.g. Seneca, De Clementia, 1.19; Erasmus, Adagia, 2601 (Scarabaeus aquilam quaerit).
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- poison ~ product of animal [25F(+92)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- insects: wasp (+ animals used symbolically) [25F711(WASP)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- virtues of the ruler [44B10] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ruler and his subjects [44B1270] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Indulgence, Clemency; 'Clemenza', 'Clemenza & Moderatione', 'Indulgenza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57A73(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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