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EMBLEMA VIII.

Princeps subditorum incolumitatem
procurans.

The Prince caring for the safety of his subjects

Titanii[1] quoties conturbant aequora fratres,
Tum miseros nautas anchora iacta iuvat.
Hanc pius erga homines Delphin[2] complectitur, imis
Tutius ut possit, figier illa vadis.
Quam decet haec memores gestare insignia Reges,
Anchora quod nautis, se populo esse suo.

Whenever the brothers of Titan race churn up the seas, then the dropped anchor aids the wretched sailors. The dolphin that cares for man wraps itself round the anchor so that it may grip more securely at the bottom of the sea. - How appropriate it is for kings to bear this symbol, mindful that what the anchor is to sailors, they are to their people.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C4r f7r]

Das VIII.

Ein Fürst der seinen Underthonen nutz
und heil schafft.

Dolphin wrapped round an anchor
[Click on image to enlarge]

So offt Astrei Sön das Meer
Ungstüm machen und treiben sehr
Als dann sencken den Ancker tieff
Ins Meer die Schiffleut on verdrieß
Umb den wickelt sich der Delphin stet
So grosse lieb zum Menschen tret
Damit das halten thu im grundt
Dest steiffer und nicht wanck zstundt
Solchs wol die grossen Herren solln
So Land und Leut regieren wölln
Mercken, daß irn Underthon all
Seyen der Ancker in unfall.

Notes:

1.  ‘The brothers of Titan race’, i.e. the winds: Aurora, daughter of the Titan Hyperion, was the mother of the West, North and South winds. See Hesiod, Theogony 378-80.

2.  The dolphin was supposed to guide the anchor to a good resting place. It was always friendly to man ([A67a159]). In general, see Erasmus, Adagia 1001, Festina lente.

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EMBLEMA IIII.

Nunquam procrastinandum.

Never procrastinate.

Alciatae gentis insignia sustinet Alce[1]
Unguibus & μηδὲν fert ἀναβαλλόμενος.
Constat Alexandrum sic respondisse roganti
Quî tot obivisset tempore gesta brevi?
Nunquam (inquit) differre volens:[2] quod & indicat Alce
Fortior haec dubites, ocyor anne siet.[3]

An elk bears the insignia of the family Alciato - between its hooves it carries (the motto) “Postponing nothing”. Alexander, as is well known, thus answered one who asked him how he had performed so many exploits in a short time: “By never wanting”, he said, “to postpone”. ‘Elk’ in fact indicates this - you may well ask whether it is strong or fast.

Das IIII.

One auffschub und verzug.

Das Alciatisch Gschlecht Wappn ziert
Ein Elend der in klauwen fiert
Diesen Verß und diß Reymen bloß
Midèn Anafallómenos
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C1v f4v] Also soll geantwortet han
Der groß Alexander eim Man
Der in fragt wier in kurtzer zeit
So viel außgricht hett grosse streit
Sprach er ich hab verzogen nie
Mit willen nichts, das anzeigt hie
Der Elend an welchem man schwandt
Ob er sterckr odr schneller sey zhandt.

Notes:

1.  An elk, representing the family name, is carved on Alciato’s tomb in Pavia.

2.  nunquam...differre volens, ‘By never wanting...to postpone’. The Latin words translate Alexander’s Greek motto, quoted in line 2. See Erasmus, Adagia, 3400 (Nunc tuum ferrum in igne est, ‘Strike while the iron is hot’), where Alexander’s saying is quoted.

3.  Alce, ‘Elk’. The Greek word ἀλκή means not only ‘elk’ but ‘strength’. The animal ‘elk’ was famed for its speed: see Pliny, Natural History, 8.16.39.

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