Section: PERFIDIA (Treachery). View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [D7v p62]
Ei qui semel sua prodegerit, aliena
credi non oportere.
Others’ property should not be entrusted to a person who has once squandered his own
Colchidos in gremio nidum quid congeris? eheu
Nescia cur pullos tam malè credis avis?
Dira parens Medaea suos saevissima natos
Perdidit, & speras parcat ut illa tuis?[1]
Why do you build your nest in the bosom of the woman from Colchis? Alas, ignorant bird, why do you entrust your nestlings so mistakenly? That frightful mother, Medea, in her savagery slew her own children. Do you expect her to spare yours?
1. This is based on Anthologia graeca 9.346, a much-translated epigram, on the subject of a swallow that built her nest on a representation of Medea. Colchidos, ‘of the woman from Colchis’, refers to Medea, from Colchis on the Black Sea, who slew her children by Jason, leader of the Argonauts, to avenge his unfaithfulness. See further [A50a078].
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Relating to the image:
- birds (+ animals nesting; making nests, lodges, webs, etc.) [25F3(+4712)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- birds (+ postures, positions of animal(s)) [25F3(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of trees [25G11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- public road [25I14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- monument, statue [25I152] Search | Browse Iconclass
- landscape with tower or castle [25I5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- chest, bust (+ nude human being) [31A222(+89)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward (+ holding something) [31A2511(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the body (+ holding something) [31A2516(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head slanting to the left - AA - female human figure [31AA245] Search | Browse Iconclass
- standing, leaning, sitting or lying with legs crossed - AA - female human figure (+ standing) [31AA2627(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- child (+ nude human being) [31D112(+89)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult woman [31D15] Search | Browse Iconclass
- violent death by sword [31E234631] Search | Browse Iconclass
- castle [41A12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the usual house or row of houses [41A141] Search | Browse Iconclass
- skirt (+ women's clothes) [41D232(+82)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- woman (showing herself) undressed, quasi-nude [41D92] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mother and baby or young child [42A3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- killing a child (absence of parental love) [42B29] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hacking and thrusting weapons: sword [45C13(SWORD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- other architectural details (with NAME) [48C168(NICHE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- piece of sculpture, reproduction of a piece of sculpture [48C24] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Medea kills her two children; she flees from Corinth in a chariot drawn by winged dragons (+ variant) [94A74(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Squandering, Extravagance, Prodigality, Waste; 'Prodigalità' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55C11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Misplaced Trust, False Confidence, 'Pax Falsa'; 'Speranza fallace' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56D29(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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Link to an image of this page [E6r]
ELOQUENTIA FORTITU-
dine praestantior.[1]
Eloquence superior to strength
Arcum leva tenet, rigidam fert dextera clavam,
Contegit & Nemees corpora nuda leo.
Herculis haec igitur facies? non convenit illud,
Qụd vetus & senio tempora cana gerit.
Quid quod lingua illi levibus traiecta cathenis,
Quîs fissa facili allicit aure viros.
Link to an image of this page [E6v]An ne quod Alcyden lingua non robore Galli,
Praestantem populis iura dedisse ferunt.
Cedunt arma togae,[2] & quamvis durissima corda,
Eloquio pollens ad sua vota trahit.
His left hand holds a bow, his right hand a stout club, the lion of Nemea clothes his bare body. So this is a figure of Hercules. But he is old and his temples grizzled with age - that does not fit. What of the fact that his tongue has light chains passing through it, by which he draws men along with ready ears pierced? The reason is surely that the Gauls say that Alceus’ descendant excelled in eloquence rather than might and gave laws to the nations. - Weapons yield to the arts of peace, and even the hardest of hearts the skilled speaker can lead where he will.
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- beasts of prey, predatory animals: lion (+ skin, fleece, hide, fur, leather) [25F23(LION)(+351)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- four persons ®® KEY (79) TO 31A the (nude) human figure; 'Corpo humano' (Ripa) [31A(+74)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- tongue [31A22141] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards (+ holding something) [31A2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the body (+ holding something) [31A2516(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- walking [31A2711] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mutilated person [31A419:31A22141] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man (+ four persons) [31D14(+74)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- old man [31D16] Search | Browse Iconclass
- barefoot [41D2339] Search | Browse Iconclass
- man (showing himself) undressed, quasi-nude [41D91] Search | Browse Iconclass
- weapons for striking a blow: club [45C12(CLUB)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- archer's weapons: bow [45C15(BOW)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prisoners chained to the victor's chariot (+ variant) [45I612(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- tools, aids, implements ~ crafts and industries (with NAME) [47D8(CHAIN)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Hercules Gallicus: he captivates his audience with a golden chain going from his mouth to their ears (+ variant) [94L73(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- attributes of Hercules (with NAME) [94L8(CLUB)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- attributes of Hercules (with NAME) [94L8(LION'S SKIN)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- ears [31A2213] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Europeans (with NAME) [32B311(FRENCHMEN)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- 'litterae', symbolic representations, allegories and emblems ~ literature; 'Lettere' (Ripa) [48C90] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Power of Eloquence; 'Forza sottoposta all'Eloquenza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52D31(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Strength, Power; 'Fortezza', 'Fortezza d'Animo e di corpo', 'Fortezza del corpo congiunta con la generosità dell'animo', 'Fortezza & valore del corpo congiunto con la prudenza & virtù del animo', 'Forza' (Ripa) [54A7] Search | Browse Iconclass
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