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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [I4v p136]

Nec quaestioni quidem cedendum.

Do not yield even to torture

LXIII.

Figure of a spotted lioness with raised paw.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Cecropia effictam quam cernis in arce Leaenam,
Harmodii, an nescis hospes? amica fuit.
Sic animum placuit monstrare viraginis acrem
More ferae, nomen vel quia tale tulit.
Quòd fidibus contorta suo non prodidit ullum
Indicio, elinguem reddidit Iphicrates.[1]

This lioness that you see represented on the Athenian citadel was Harmodius’s lover - stranger, you must know the story. This was how they decided to proclaim the brave woman’s fierce spirit, by representing her as a lioness. Besides, her name was Lioness too. Tortured on the rack, she betrayed no-one by her evidence, and so Iphicrates represented the beast without a tongue.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [I5r p137]

Ne se faindre pour la question.

LXIII.

Leena fille de peché,
Tant bien a ses amys celé,
Qu’on eust plustost son cueur tranché,
Qu’elle en eust ung seul revelé.
Image est sur son nom dolé,
Et mis au temple pour recors:
Femme ayant sobrement parlé,
Mais qui fist trop pis de son corps.

Notes:

1.  Harmodius and Aristogeiton conspired to kill Hipparchus, the brother of the Athenian tyrant Hippias. Harmodius was killed, Aristogeiton arrested and tortured. Also tortured was Leaena (‘Lioness’) a courtesan, beloved of Harmodius, as she too was suspected of being in the conspiracy. She however revealed nothing. After the fall of Hippias, the two men were treated as tyrannicides and bronze statues were erected in their honour (509 BC). To avoid appearing to honour a courtesan, the Athenians had Leaena represented by Iphicrates (or Amphicrates) as a lioness without a tongue, indicating both her name and the reason for remembering her. See Pliny, Natural History 34.19.72; Plutarch, De garrulitate 505E.

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  • tongue [31A22141] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • torture [44G330] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Taciturnity; 'Secretezza', 'Secretezza overo Taciturnità' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52DD3(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Courage, Bravery, Valiance, Manliness; 'Ardire magnanimo et generoso', 'Gagliardezza', 'Valore', 'Virtù heroica', 'Virtù dell'animo e del corpo' (Ripa) [54A8] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • names of cities and villages (with NAME) [61E(ATHENS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • (story of) Harmodius and Aristogiton representations to which the NAME of a person from classical history may be attached [98B(HARMODIUS & ARISTOGITON)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • male persons from classical history (with NAME) representations to which the NAME of a person from classical history may be attached [98B(IPHICRATES)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • female persons from classical history (with NAME) suffering, misfortune of person from classical history [98C(LAENA)6] Search | Browse Iconclass

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [Y4r f172r]

IN TEMERARIOS.

The reckless

Emblema. 56.

Figure falling from a chariot being driven through the sky
[Click on image to enlarge]

Aspicis aurigam currus Phaetonta[1] paterni.
Ignivomos ausum flectere Solis equos.
Maxima qui postquam terris incendia sparsit,
Est temerê insesso lapsus[2] ab axe miser.
Sic plerique rotis fortunae ad sidera Reges
Evecti ambitio quos iuvenilis agit.
Post magnum [=magnam] humani generis clademque, suamque,
Cunctorum paenas denique dant scelerum.

You see here Phaethon, driving his father's chariot, and daring to guide the fire-breathing steeds of the Sun. After spreading great conflagrations over the earth, the wretched boy fell from the car he had so rashly mounted. - Even so, the majority of kings are borne up to heaven on the wheels of Fortune, driven by youth's ambition. After they have brought great disaster on the human race and themselves, they finally pay the penalty for all their crimes.

Notes:

1.  Phaethon, the son of Apollo, the sun-god. The myth referred to here is told in Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.748 - 2.349. Both Phaethon and Icarus (see [A15a102]) are types of those who aim too high and do not recognise their proper sphere.

2.  Corrected from the Errata.

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