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Ne se rendre pour la question.

LXIII.

A wild cat covered in spots.
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Leena d’Harmodie amie,
Tant bien ses amis a celé,
Qu’on luy osta plustost la vie,
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [F6r p91] Qu’elle en eust un seul revelé.
Iphicrate peintre appellé,
Pour peindre l’amie Lionne,
Qui avoit sobrement parlé,
Peignit sans langue une lionne,
Pour tesmoigner force & constance,
Et au besoin un sainct silence.[1]

commentaires.

Harmodie & Aristogiton, deux vaillans jeunes
hommes Atheniens, prindrent resolution de tuer
leurs tyrans pour mettre en liberté leur republique.
Ils en mirent un par terre: mais l’autre leur eschappa:
lequel pour averer tout le faict de leur conspiration
se saisit de leur garse, nommee Leaena, laquelle il
fit questionner & bourreler estrangement: mais
elle fut si constante en ses torments, que jamais elle
ne voulut rien dire au prejudice de ses amoureux.
Et comme Hippias, (ainsi s’appelloit le tyran qui
estoit resté) continuoit à la faire tormenter & de-
schirer, elle se tronçonna la langue avec les dents,
& la jecta en la face dudit tyran. Les Atheniens,
pour reconnoistre la generosité des deux jeunes hom-
mes, ordonnerent par edict public, que jamais per-
sonne n’eust à se nommer du nom d’iceux: & pour-
ce qu’ils ne vouloyent faire un memorial d’une garse,
ils commanderent à Iphicrate, sculpteur excellent,
qu’il eust à graver la statue d’une Lionne, qui n’au-
roit point de langue, laquelle il poseroit dans le fort
Cecropien. Cest animal, & la garse portans un mesme
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [F6v p92] nom, chacun entendoit fort aisement pour qui avoit
esté dressé ce memorial.

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 Taciturnit�' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52DD3(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Constancy, Tenacity; 'Costanza', 'Tenacità' (Ripa) [53A21] 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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IN TEMERARIOS.

The reckless

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [D3v]

Figure driving horses pulling a carriage which carries the sun.
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Aspicis aurigam currus Phaëtonta[1] paterni,
Ignivomos ausum flectere solis equos.
Maxima qui postquam terris incendia sparsit
Est temere insesso lapsus ab axe miser.
Sic plerique rotis fortunae ad sydera Reges
Effecti [=Evecti] , ambitio quos iuvenilis agit.
Post magnam humani generis clademque suamque,
Cunctorum poenas 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 ([A34a054]) are types of those who aim too high and do not recognise their proper sphere.

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