Link to an image of this page [F3v p86]
Tandem tandem iusticia obtinet.
At long last justice wins the day
Aeacidae Hectoreo perfusum sanguine scutum,
Quod Graecorum Ithaco concio iniqua dedit.
Iustior arripuit Neptunus in aequora iactum
Naufragio, ut dominum posset adire suum.
Littoreo Aiacis tumulo namque intulit unda,
Quae boat, & tali voce sepulchra ferit:
Vicisti Telamoniade, tu dignior armis,
Affectus fas est cedere iusticiae.[1]
The shield of Aeacus’ descendant, stained with Hector’s blood, the unjust assembly of the Greeks awarded to the Ithacan. Neptune, showing more respect for equity, seized upon it when it was cast into the sea in the shipwreck, so that it could go to its proper master. For the wave carried it to Ajax’s tomb upon the shore, the wave which booms and smites the sepulchre with these words: ‘Son of Telamon, you have conquered. You are more worthy of these arms’. It is right for partiality to yield to justice.
Link to an image of this page [F4r p87]
A la fin obtient Justice.
Neptune aperceut que les Grecs
Avoient contre Ajax mal juge:
Concevant pource grands regretz,
Lescu Dachilles a charge:
Lequel par eau tant a nage,
Que au tumbeau de Ajax dire vient:
Je suis tien, et tu mas range:
A justice obeyr convient.
1. This is a version of Anthologia graeca 9.115-6. See Homer, Odyssey 11.541ff. for the contest for ownership of the divine armour of the dead Achilles (i.e. Aeacus’ descendant), who had earlier killed Hector. The Greek assembly awarded the armour to smooth Odysseus (the Ithacan) rather than to brave Ajax (son of Telamon), and, according to later tradition, Ajax became mad with fury and humiliation. Returning to sanity he committed suicide in shame. See e.g. Ovid, Metamorphoses 13.1.ff; and [A50a175]. Ajax was buried on a promontory near Rhoeteion, not far from Troy.
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- rocky coast [25H131] Search | Browse Iconclass
- island [25H14] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- grave, tomb [42E31] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- Justice; 'Forza alla giustitia sottoposta', 'Giustitia', 'Giustitia retta', 'Giustitia rigorosa', 'Impiet… e violenza soggetta alla giustitia', (Ripa) [59C2] Search | Browse Iconclass
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