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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M8v f83v]

EMBLEMA CXXVIII.

Vel post mortem formidolosi.

Terrifying even after death

Caetera mutescent, coriumque silebit ovillum,
Si confecta lupi tympana pelle sonent.
Hanc membrana ovium sic exhorrescit, ut hostem,
Exanimis quamvis non ferat exanimem.
Sic cute detracta Cischas in tympana versus,
Bohemos potuit vincere pontifices.[1]

All others will fall mute, the skin of sheep will be silent, if drums made of wolf-hide resound. The vellum of sheep so fears the wolf-skin, that though dead it cannot endure its dead enemy. Even so Cischas, flayed and turned into a drum, was able to triumph over the priests of Bohemia.

Das CXXVIII.

Auch nach dem Tod zu förchten.

Wann Mann ein Trumm und Baucken rürt
Die von Wolffsheuten ist geführt
So erstummen die andern all
Die gemach seind auß dem Schaffell
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [N1r f84r]Also erschrickt und fürchten thut
Das Schaffel, die Wolffshaut on mut
Das sich sie also todt entsetzt
Vor dem todten Feind der es letzt
Also vor der abzognen Haut
Gespant uber ein Trumb und Bauck
Deß Hauptmanns Zichas gflohen sind
Deß Bömischen Meßpfaffen gsind.

Notes:

1.  For the story behind this epigram, see the commentary in the Tozzi edition of Alciato’s emblems (Padua, 1621). ‘Cischas’ is Jan Ziska (c.1370-1425), a Bohemian military leader who supported the Hussites, destroying Catholic churches and attacking the clergy. He waged a long and successful military campaign which compelled the Emperor Sigismund to offer the Hussites religious liberty. Ziska died of plague, and is said to have ordered that his corpse be flayed and the skin made into a drum, the sound of which would put the enemy to flight. (His real name was Jan z Trocnova (‘of Trocnov’), Zizka being Czech for ‘one-eyed’, having lost an eye in a skirmish during the Battle of Grunwald in 1410).

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    Relating to the text:

    • priest (Roman Catholic) [11P3121] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • beasts of prey, predatory animals: wolf (+ skin, fleece, hide, fur, leather) [25F23(WOLF)(+351)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • military music [45C9] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • sheep (+ skin, fleece, hide, fur, leather) [47I213(+9351)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • drum (musical instrument) - CC - out of doors [48CC7341] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • Authority, Power; 'Dominio', 'Giurisdittione' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [53C11(+4):31E30] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • Alarm, Fright; 'Spavento', 'Terrore' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56DD32(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • historical person (with NAME) other representations to which the NAME of a historical person may be attached (with NAME of person) [61B2(ZIZCA, Jan)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(BOHEMIA)] Search | Browse Iconclass

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    Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [Q8r p255]

    Redoutables apres leur mort.

    XCIX.

    Si de la peau d’un loup on veut des tambours faire,
    On verra tout soudain tous les autres se taire.
    La peau de la brebis l’a en horreur si grande,
    Que peau morte qu’elle est, peau morte elle apprehende.
    Ainsi la peau de Zisque, en un tambour reduite,
    La clergé de Boheme a souvent mis en fuite.[1]

    Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [Q8v p256]

    Commentaires.

    Nature a mis une telle haine entre le loup &
    les brebis, que si lon bat un tambour faict de la peau
    d’un loup, toutes les brebis qui l’orront, en auront
    aussi grande horreur, que si elles voyoyent le loup à
    leur queue. Si on fait des chordes des boyaux de loup,
    & qu’on les tende en un instrument de musique
    avec celles de brebis, il sera impossible d’en tirer aucu-
    ne harmonie. Si on pend une peau de loup en un
    parc ou estable de brebis, les brebis ne voudront rien
    manger. Si on joint une peau de loup avec une de
    brebis, celle de brebis sera incontinent consumee &
    rongee. Zisque a esté un fort grand & vaillant capi-
    taine, qui fit fort long temps la guerre aux Evesques de
    Boheme, Quand il voulut mourir, il commanda
    qu’apres sa mort on l’escorschast; & que de sa peau
    on fit un tambour, lequel on feroit retenir au front
    de son armee. Krantze dit, que ses amis luy
    obeirent, & que si tost que les ennemis
    oyoyent le retentissement de ce
    tambour, ils se jectoyent
    en fuite.

    Notes:

    1.  For the story behind this epigram, see the commentary in the Tozzi edition of Alciato’s emblems (Padua, 1621). ‘Cischas’ is Jan Ziska (c.1370-1425), a Bohemian military leader who supported the Hussites, destroying Catholic churches and attacking the clergy. He waged a long and successful military campaign which compelled the Emperor Sigismund to offer the Hussites religious liberty. Ziska died of plague, and is said to have ordered that his corpse be flayed and the skin made into a drum, the sound of which would put the enemy to flight. (His real name was Jan z Trocnova (‘of Trocnov’), Zizka being Czech for ‘one-eyed’, having lost an eye in a skirmish during the Battle of Grunwald in 1410).

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    Iconclass Keywords

    Relating to the image:

      Relating to the text:

      • priest (Roman Catholic) [11P3121] Search | Browse Iconclass
      • beasts of prey, predatory animals: wolf (+ skin, fleece, hide, fur, leather) [25F23(WOLF)(+351)] Search | Browse Iconclass
      • drum (musical instrument) - CC - out of doors [48CC7341] Search | Browse Iconclass
      • Authority, Power; 'Dominio', 'Giurisdittione' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [53C11(+4):31E30] Search | Browse Iconclass
      • Alarm, Fright; 'Spavento', 'Terrore' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56DD32(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
      • historical person (with NAME) other representations to which the NAME of a historical person may be attached (with NAME of person) [61B2(ZIZCA, Jan)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
      • geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(BOHEMIA)] Search | Browse Iconclass

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