Link to an image of this page [f3r p85]
Mentem, non formam plus
pollere.
Intelligence matters, not beauty
XLVIII.
Ingressa vulpes in Choragi pergulam,
Fabrè expolitum invenit humanum caput,
Sic eleganter fabricatum, ut spiritus
Solùm deesset, caeteris vivisceret:
Id illa cùm sumpsisset in manus, ait:
Hoc[1] quale caput est! sed cerebrum non habet.[2]
A fox, entering the store-room of a theatrical producer, found an actor’s mask, skilfully shaped, so finely fashioned that the spirit alone was missing, in all else it seemed alive. Taking it up, the fox addressed it - What a head is this, but it has no brain!
COMMENTARIA.
Vulpecula quaedam (asutissimum animal)
cùm forte intrasset officinam cuiusdam sculpto-
ris, reperit ibi humanum caput adeò artificiosè
& egregiè fabricatum ac politum, ut omnino
vivum sibi videretur, nisi spiritus defuisset, illud
revolvit dicens: ô quàm formosum caput, sed
intellectu caret. Extat fabella Esopica de vul-
Link to an image of this page [f3v p86]pe & capite reperto. Significatur solam pul-
chritudinem corporis & nitorem non suffice
re nisi etiam accedant animi bona, praestat igi-
tur sordidum & deformem, sed sapientia prae-
ditum esse, quàm elegantissimum & venustis-
simum, ingenio autem & mente carere.
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- beasts of prey, predatory animals: fox (+ animal(s) holding something) [25F23(FOX)(+5245)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: fox (+ sitting animal) [25F23(FOX)(+535)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees (+ stem, trunk) [25G3(+21)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- forest, wood [25H15] Search | Browse Iconclass
- village [25I2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- landscape with tower or castle [25I5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head (human) [31A221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on an elevation [31A2352] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards - AA - both arms or hands [31AA2515] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rural housing, e.g. country-house, villa, cottage [41A16] Search | Browse Iconclass
- front fa�ade [41A311] Search | Browse Iconclass
- workbench (+ tools and appliances ~ crafts, industries, agriculture) [47A211:48(+32)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- piece of sculpture, reproduction of a piece of sculpture [48C24] Search | Browse Iconclass
- stage costume [48C853] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Beauty; 'Bellezza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51D4(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Intellect, Intelligence; 'Intelletto', 'Intelligenza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52A1(+4):54B6(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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Link to an image of this page [C5r]
MENTEM NON FORMAM
plus pollere.
Intelligence matters, not beauty
Ingressa vulpes in Choragi pergulam,
Fabre expolitum invenit humanum caput.
Sic eleganter fabricatum, ut spiritus
Solum deesset, caeteris vivesceret,
Id illa cum sumpsisset in manus ait,
Hoc[1] quale caput est, sed cerebrum non habet.[2]
A fox, entering the store-room of a theatrical producer, found an actor’s mask, skilfully shaped, so finely fashioned that the spirit alone was missing, in all else it seemed alive. Taking it up, the fox addressed it - What a head is this, but it has no brain!
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- beasts of prey, predatory animals: fox (+ animal(s) holding something) [25F23(FOX)(+5245)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: fox (+ sitting animal) [25F23(FOX)(+535)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head (human) [31A221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- piece of sculpture, reproduction of a piece of sculpture [48C24] Search | Browse Iconclass
- stage costume [48C853] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- mask [41D283] Search | Browse Iconclass
- workbench [47A211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- actor, actress (non-work situations) [48C8322] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Beauty; 'Bellezza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51D4(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Intellect, Intelligence; 'Intelletto', 'Intelligenza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52A1(+4):54B6(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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