Section: PRINCEPS (The Ruler). View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [K7r p157]
In Senatum boni Principis.
On the senate of a good prince
dialogismus.
A dialogue.
Effigies manibus truncae ante altaria Divum
Hinc [=Hic]
resident: quarum lumine capta prior.
Signa Potestatis summae, Sanctique Senatus
Thebanis fuerant ista reperta viris.[1]
Cur resident? Quia mente graves decet esse quieta
Iuridicos: animo nec variare levi.
Cur sine sunt manibus? Capiant ne xenia: nec se
Pollicitis flecti muneribusve sinant.
Caecus at est princeps. Quòd solis auribus, absque
Affectu, constans iussa Senatus agit.
Figures without hands sit here before the altars of the gods. The chief of them is deprived of sight. These symbols of the supreme power and of the reverend senate were discovered by men of Thebes. - Why do they sit? - Because lawgivers should be serious, of a calm mind, and not change with inconstant thoughts. - Why have they no hands? - So that they may not take gifts, nor let themselves be influenced by promises or bribes. But the president is blind, because the Senate, by hearing alone, uninfluenced by feeling, impartially discharges what it is bidden to do.
1. This is Thebes in Egypt. See Plutarch, De Iside et Osiride 10; also Erasmus, Adagia 2601, Scarabaeus aquilam quaerit.
Related Emblems
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Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- sitting on an elevation [31A2352] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward [31A2512] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the body [31A2516] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the body (+ holding something) [31A2516(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- index finger forwards, pointing, indicating [31A25552] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other (+ sitting) [31A2621(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- blindfold [31A3191] Search | Browse Iconclass
- blind, blindness [31A41110] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mutilated person [31A419:31A2245] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man (+ seven persons) [31D14(+77)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ceremonial drapery [41A423] Search | Browse Iconclass
- cushion [41A7221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bench [41A723] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear (+ men's clothes) [41D221(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ruler, sovereign [44B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- throne-room [44B1211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ruler with counsellor(s) [44B1240] Search | Browse Iconclass
- crown (symbol of sovereignty) [44B191] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sceptre, staff (symbol of sovereignty) [44B192] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mantle, gown, dress (symbol of sovereignty) [44B197] Search | Browse Iconclass
- allegory, personification of good government [44B610] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- altar ~ non-Christian religions [12B62] Search | Browse Iconclass
- national government [44B21] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Upper House, Senate [44B511] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bribery [46B911] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Counsel; 'Consiglio' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52E3(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Justice; 'Forza alla giustitia sottoposta', 'Giustitia', 'Giustitia retta', 'Giustitia rigorosa', 'Impiet… e violenza soggetta alla giustitia', (Ripa) [59C2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Impartiality (+ emblematical representation of concept) [59C22(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- names of cities and villages (with NAME) [61E(THEBES)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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