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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [A8v p16]

Amicitia etiam post mor-
tem durans.[1]

Friendship lasting even beyond death

Grape vine wound round a tree
[Click on image to enlarge]

Arentem senio, nudam quoque frondibus ulmum,
Complexa est viridi vitis opaca coma.[2]
Agnoscitque vices naturae, & grata parenti
Officii reddit mutua iura suo.
Exemploque monet, tales nos quaerere amicos,
Quos neque disiungat foedere summa dies.

A vine shady with green foliage embraced an elm tree that was dried up with age and bare of leaves. The vine recognises the changes wrought by nature and, ever grateful, renders to the one that reared it the duty it owes in return. By the example it offers, the vine tells us to seek friends of such a sort that not even our final day will uncouple them from the bond of friendship.

Notes:

1.  See Erasmus’ famous variations on this theme in De copia (CWE 24. pp. 354-64).

2.  In ancient Italy young vines were often supported by elm trees. See Vergil, Georgics 1.2.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C3v p38]

In avaros, vel quibus melior condi-
tio ab extraneis offertur.[1]

On the avaricious; or being treated better by strangers.

XI.

Figures on ship, one being hung overboard, and one astride a dolphin
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Delphini insidens vada coerula sulcat Arion[2],
Hocque aures mulcet, fraenat & ora sono.
Quàm sit avari hominis, non tam mens dira ferarum est,
Quique viris rapimur, piscibus eripimur.

Astride a dolphin, Arion cleaves the dark blue waves, and with this song charms the creature’s ears and muzzles its mouth: “The mind of wild beasts is not so savage as that of greedy man. We who are savaged by men are saved by fish”.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C4r p39]

Wider die geytzigen, oder von den,
welchen beßer stand von fremb-
den angeboten.

XI.

Ee dann Arion in das meer
Von den schiffleuten gstossen ward,
Bat er, das im vergunnet vergunnet wer,
Sein harpffen zschlagen noch ein fart:
Nach seinnem gsang er nit verhart,
Springt in das meêr, kumbt ein Delphin,
Fuert in zu land freundlicher art:
Hye sich deß geytz greulichen sin.

Notes:

1.  The first Wechel edition in 1534 had a different woodcut.

2.  The crew of the ship on which the celebrated musician Arion was travelling, after robbing him, prepared to throw him overboard. He persuaded them to allow him to play his lyre for the last time. Then, after invoking the gods, he jumped into the sea, whereupon a music-loving dolphin conveyed him to land. See Aulus Gellius, Noctes Atticae 16.19.

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