Single Emblem View

« Previous EmblemNext Emblem »
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [L7v f74v]

EMBLEMA CXIII.

Dolos [=Dolus] in suos.

Treachery against one’s own kind.

Several birds diving into a net held by a man blowing a whistle.
[Click on image to enlarge]

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.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [L8r f75r]

Das CXIII.

Betrug gegen den seinen.

Der Antrech mit schön Federn ziert
Der die wilden Endten verfürt
Ist abgerichtet und gewent
Das er von und zu seim Herrn lendt
Wann er sicht fliegen in der höh
Ein hauffen seins gschlechts und art jöh
So lockt ers herzu mit seim gschrey
Und fügt sich undern hauffen frey
Biß daß er sie verführt onbdacht
Und unwissend hat ins Garn bracht
Die also gfangen fladern vil
Er aber weiß, tückt sich schweigt still
Der schalck Vogel sich bflecken thut
Mit seins Gschlechts verwandten Blut
Andern ist er hurtig und nutz
Den seinen aber schad und stutz.

Notes:

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

« 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 »

Section: PUDICITIA (Chastity). View all emblems in this section.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [D4r p55]

PUDICITIA.

Chastity

A shield bearing a bird, leaning against a tree
[Click on image to enlarge]

Porphirio domini si incestet 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.

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

Privacy notice
Terms and conditions