Link to an image of this page [M8v p192]
Dulcia quandoque amara fieri.
Sweetness turns at times to bitterness
LXXXIX.
Matre procul licta paulům secesserat infans
Lydius[1], hunc dirae sed rapuistis apes.
Venerat hic ad vos placidas ratus esse volucres,
Cům nec ita immitis vipera saeva foret.
Quae datis ah dulci stimulos pro munere mellis,
Proh dolor, heu sine te gratia nulla datur.[2]
A Lydian babe had strayed some way off, leaving his mother at a distance, but you made away with him, you dreadful bees. He had come to you, thinking you harmless winged creatures, yet a merciless viper would not be as savage as you. Instead of the sweet gift of honey, ah me, you give stings. Ah pain, without you, alas, no delight is granted.
Link to an image of this page [N1r p193]
Doulceur porte bien amertume.[3]
LXXXIX.
Cupido peu loing de sa mere,
Mouche a miel pour oysel prenant,
Sentit tost sa morsure amere:
Si crie, & fuyt incontinent.
Venus rit, puis dit, maintenant
Si mouche a miel fut amoureuse,
Tel douleur ne te fut donnant,
Sans toy toute chose est fascheuse.
Aultrement
Cupido pour ses appetitz
Vers des mouches a miel alla:
Qui[4] cuidoit oyseletz petitz:
Et moult entour elles vola.
D’elles est mors: il crye hala.
Sa mere entend dou vient la plaincte:
Ha mignard (dit elle) vela,
Vous faictes bien de pire attaincte.
1. This is based on Anthologia graeca 9.548 , where a baby, called Hermonax, is stung to death. See also Anthologia graeca 9.302 for another epigram treating the same incident.
2. In the 1536 edition, a version of this text is attached to the following emblem.
3. Corrected from the 1536 edition.
Related Emblems
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Relating to the image:
- animals (+ wings of an animal) [25F(+342)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- insects: bee (+ postures, positions of animal(s)) [25F711(BEE)(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees [25G3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward (+ reaching for somebody or something, seizing something, touching) [31A2511(+934)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ holding something) [31A2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- blindfold [31A3191] Search | Browse Iconclass
- pain [31A4610] Search | Browse Iconclass
- boy (child between toddler and youth) (+ nude human being) [31D11221(+89)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult woman (+ nude human being) [31D15(+89)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- flight, running away; pursuing [33B9] Search | Browse Iconclass
- animals threatening man [34F1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the usual house or row of houses [41A141] Search | Browse Iconclass
- farm (building) [41A17] Search | Browse Iconclass
- wooden container: barrel, cask [41A775] Search | Browse Iconclass
- barefoot [41D2339] Search | Browse Iconclass
- childhood sorrows comforted [42A551] Search | Browse Iconclass
- road, path [46C11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bee-hive [47I242] Search | Browse Iconclass
- swarm ~ bees [47I243] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (story of) Venus (Aphrodite) [92C4] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (story of) Cupid, Amor (Eros) [92D1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- crying Cupid, surrounded by bees, runs or clings to his mother Venus to be soothed (+ variant) [92D1621(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- attributes of Cupid (with NAME) [92D18(BOW)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- birds [25F3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- snakes [25F42] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sweet (taste) [31A3420] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bitter (taste) [31A345] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Pleasure, Enjoyment, Joy; 'Allegrezza', 'Allegrezza da le medaglie', 'Allegrezza, letitia e giubilo', 'Diletto', 'Piacere', 'Piacere honesto' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56B1(+4):56F2(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Pain, Sorrow, Sadness; 'Dolore', 'Dolore di Zeusi' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56BB1(+4):56F2(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Heartache, Heart-break; 'Affanno', 'Cordoglio' (Ripa) [56BB13] Search | Browse Iconclass
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