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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [B8r p31]

Consilio & virtute Chimaeram superari,
hoc est, fortiores & deceptores.

Wisdom and courage defeat Chimaera (i.e. the powerful and deceivers).

EMBLEMA XIIII.

Bellerophon in his armor rides Pegasus to thrust his lance at the Chimaera
[Click on image to enlarge]

Bellerophon ut fortis eques superare Chimaeram.
Et Lycii potuit sternere monstra soli:[1]
Sic tu Pegaseis vectus petis aethera pennis,
Consilioque animi[2] monstra superba domas.

Bellerophon, that bold horseman, was able to overcome the Chimaera and lay low the monsters of the Lycian land. You likewise, borne on wings of Pegasus, seek the high heavens and, by the counsel of reason, tame proud monsters.

Notes:

1.  The King of Lycia imposed on Bellerophon, among other tasks, that of killing the Chimaera, a fire-breathing monster with a lion’s head, serpent’s tail and goat’s body. He achieved this last with the aid of the winged horse Pegasus, which Athena, goddess of wisdom, helped him to catch.

2.  ‘by the counsel of reason’. The name Bellerophon was interpreted by some as ‘bringer of counsel’. The Chimaera symbolised various uncontrolled passions.

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Relating to the text:

  • mis-shapen animals; monsters [25F9] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Intellect, Intelligence; 'Intelletto', 'Intelligenza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52A1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Counsel; 'Consiglio' (Ripa) [52E3] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Strength, Power; 'Fortezza', 'Fortezza d'Animo e di corpo', 'Fortezza del corpo congiunta con la generositą dell'animo', 'Fortezza & valore del corpo congiunto con la prudenza & virtł del animo', 'Forza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54A7(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Virtuousness; 'Amor di Virtł', 'Attione virtuosa', 'Guida sicura de' veri honori', 'Virtł', 'Virtł insuperabile' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57A6(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Cheat, Deceit; 'Fraude', 'Inganno' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57AA621(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(LYCIA)] Search | Browse Iconclass

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [b1r p17]

Potentissimus affectus amor.

Love, the all-powerful emotion

VII.

Blindfolded Cupid in a chariot drawn by lions
[Click on image to enlarge]

Aspice ut invictus vires auriga leonis,
Expressus gemma pusio vincat amor:
Utque manu hac scuticam teneat, hac flectat habenas,
Utque sit in pueri plurimus ore decor.[1]
Dira lues procul esto, feram qui vincere talem,
Est potis, ą nobis temperet an ne manus? [2]

Look - here’s Love the lad, carved on a gem. See how he rides triumphant in his chariot and subdues the lion’s might. How in one hand he holds a lash, with the other he guides the reins, and on his countenance rests the loveliness of youth. - Dread pestilence keep far away. Would one who has the power to conquer such a beast keep his hands from us?

COMMENTARIA.

Videre est, mirum quąm fit fortissimus auri-
ga parvulus puer Cupido (Amoris Deus, fi-
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [b1v p18]lius Veneris qui ą variis varič describitur)
adeoque ut etiam vires ferocissimi Leonis su-
peret audaculus. dextra flagellum tenet, sini-
straque loros & habenas dirigit, faciemque interim
monstrat blandam & amabilem. Sed absit lon-
gč & pereat huiusmodi lues: si enim bestiam
usque adeņ feram, domare & vincere potest,
quanto facilius nos imbecillos homines su-
peraret? Res immoderata Cupido est, inquit
Ovidius lib. 4. de Ponto. Sed videndus est de
hac re omnino Crinitius lib. 16. ca. 4. de honesta
disciplina Quem obsecro non vincit Amor, vel
etiam sanctissimos viros? Quis Davide san-
ctior? quis Salomone sapientior? quis Sampso-
ne fortior? Amore tamen superati omnes.

Notes:

1.  In some editions, this sequence of subjunctives is changed to indicative.

2.  This is a translation of Anthologia graeca 9.221, an epigram about a seal carved with a representation of Eros driving a chariot drawn by lions.

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  • Strength, Power; 'Fortezza', 'Fortezza d'Animo e di corpo', 'Fortezza del corpo congiunta con la generosit?ell'animo', 'Fortezza & valore del corpo congiunto con la prudenza & virt? animo', 'Forza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54A7(+4):56F2(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • 'Forza d'amore, Forza d'amore si nell'acqua come in terra' (Ripa) [56F2515] Search | Browse Iconclass

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