Single Emblem View

« Previous EmblemNext Emblem »
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [H7v f50v]

EMBLEMA LXXV.

Custodiendas virgines.

Girls must be guarded

Vera haec effigies[1] innuptae est Palladis: eius
Hic Draco, qui dominae constitit ante pedes.
Cur divae comes hoc animal? Custodia rerum,
Huic data: sic lucos, sacraque templa colit.[2]
Innuptas opus est cura asservare puellas
Pervigili, laqueos undique tendit amor.[3]

This is the true image of virgin Pallas. Her snake is here, positioned at his mistress’s feet. Why does this creature accompany the goddess? The task of guarding things was entrusted to it, and so it looks after groves and sacred temples. It is necessary to guard unmarried girls with ever-watchful care - Love lays his snares on every side.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [H8r f51r]

Das LXXV.

Jungfrauwen sol man bewaren.

Girl holding staff with a dragon at her feet
[Click on image to enlarge]

Diß ist das Bild abconterfeyt
Der Göttin Pallas ongefreyt
Diß ist der Drach so allzeit stat
Vor seiner Frauwen Füsse trat
Warumb wirt dieses Thier gegebn
Der Göttin zu eim gferten ebn?
Diß Göttin ist ubers gut gsetzt
Also bewohnts Kirchn und dWeld stets
Mit grossem fleiß und stäter hut
Mann hüten sol der Meidlin gut
So noch seind Jungfrauwen ungefreit
Dann die Lieb legt in strick allzeit.

Notes:

1.  ‘Image of virgin Pallas’. Pallas Athene, virgin goddess and protectress of the city of Athens, represented with helmet, spear and aegis. Pallas Athene was equated with Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom. Pausanias, Periegesis 1.24.7 mentions such a statue with a snake.

2.  See Macrobius, Saturnalia 1.20.3: ‘the snake with its keen and ever-watchful sight has assigned to it the custodianship of temples, shrines, oracles and treasures.’ Ancient Greek holy sites often housed a snake.

3.  ‘Love lays his snares on every side’ - a proverbial saying.

« Previous EmblemNext Emblem »

Related Emblems

Show related emblems Show related emblems

Hint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page

Iconclass Keywords

Relating to the image:

Relating to the text:

Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.

Single Emblem View

« Previous EmblemNext Emblem »
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [I1r f52r]

EMBLEMA LXXVII

Pudicitia.

Chastity

Porphirio domini si incaestet in aedibus uxor
Despondetque animum, praeque dolore perit.
Abdita in arcanis naturae est causa, sit index
Syncerae haec volucris certa pudicitiae.[1]

If the wife in its master’s house is unfaithful, the moorhen despairs and dies of grief. The reason lies hidden in the secrets of nature. This bird may serve as a sure sign of untarnished chastity.

Das LXXVII.

Keuschheit.

So die Frauw im hauß ir Ehr bricht
Daß ir Mann nicht weist und nicht sicht
Der purpur Vogel also schnell
Vor leid er vergeth und stirbt grell
Die ursach aber ist allein
Verborgen in der Natur gheim
Dieser Vogel ein gewiß zeichen geit
Der rein unbefleckten keuschheit.

Notes:

1.  For this information about the porphyrio (purple gallinule, a kind of moorhen) see Aelian, De Natura animalium, 3.42; Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae, 9,388C: the purple gallinule ... when it is domesticated, ... keeps a sharp eye on married women and is so affected if the wife commits adultery, that it ends its life by strangling and so gives warning to its master.

« Previous EmblemNext Emblem »

Related Emblems

Show related emblems Show related emblems

Hint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page

Iconclass Keywords

Relating to the image:

    Relating to the text:

    Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.

     

    Back to top