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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [N2v f85v]

EMBLEMA CXXXI.

Inanis impetus.

Antagonism that achieves nothing

Lunarum [=Lunarem] noctu (ut speculum)[1] canis inspicit orbem:
Seque videns, alium credit inesse canem,[2]
Et latrat: sed frustra agitur vox irrita ventis,
Et peragit cursus surda Diana suos.[3]

A dog at night is looking into the moon’s disk as into a mirror and seeing himself, thinks there is another dog there; and he barks - but the sound is carried away, ineffectual, on the winds. Diana, unhearing, pursues her course.

Das CXXXI.

Vergebne mühe.

Als den Mon sach der Hund zu nacht
Und sich drinn als im Spiegel gdacht
Er es wer eins anderß Hunds Bild
Sprang ubersich und stalt sich wild
Aber sein bellen gieng in lufft
War vergebens und gar ein dufft
Der Mon dannoch sein lauff verricht
Last in bellen als ghör ers nicht.

Notes:

1.  For the theory of the moon’s disk as a mirror reflecting things on earth, see Plutarch, De facie in orbe lunae, Moralia, 920ff.

2.  Variant reading: altum credit inesse canem, ‘thinks there is a dog up there’.

3.  Diana is of course goddess of the moon.


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    Section: HOSTILITAS (Enmity). View all emblems in this section.

    Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M1v p178]

    Inanis impetus.

    Antagonism that achieves nothing

    Lunarem noctu (ut speculum[1] canis inspicit orbem:
    Seque videns, altum credit inesse canem,
    Et latrat: sed frustra agitur vox irrita ventis,
    Et peragit cursas [=cursus] surda Diana suos.[2]

    A dog at night is looking into the moon’s disk as into a mirror and seeing himself, thinks there is a dog up there; and he barks - but the sound is carried away, ineffectual, on the winds. Diana, unhearing, pursues her course.

    Notes:

    1.  For the theory of the moon’s disk as a mirror reflecting things on earth, see Plutarch, De facie in orbe lunae, Moralia, 920ff.

    2.  Diana is of course goddess of the moon.


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    • Inutility, Noxiousness; 'Nocumento', 'Nocumento d'ogni cosa' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54BB3(+4):56E3(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • Diana as moon-goddess, i.e. Luna (Selene) [92C371] Search | Browse Iconclass

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