Section: PERFIDIA (Treachery). View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [D6r p59]
Maledicentia.
Evil speaking
Archilochi[1] tumulo insculptas de marmore vespas
Esse ferunt,[2] linguae certa sigilla malae.
They say that on the tomb of Archilochus wasps were carved in marble, sure figures of an evil tongue.
1. Archilochus was an eighth-century BC poet, author of much (now fragmentary) verse, including satire. This last was considered in antiquity to be excessively abusive and violent. See Horace, Ars Poetica, 79; also Erasmus, Adagia, 60 (Irritare crabrones).
2. ferunt, ‘they say’: words suggested by Anthologia Graeca, 7.71, an epigram concerning the tomb of Archilochus.
Related Emblems
Show related emblemsHint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- kinds of non-precious stone: marble [25D12(MARBLE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- insects: wasp (+ animals used symbolically) [25F711(WASP)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- insects: wasp (+ herd, group of animals) [25F711(WASP)(+441)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- insects: wasp (+ postures, positions of animal(s)) [25F711(WASP)(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of plants (herbs) [25G13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- grave, tomb [4.20E+32] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ornament ~ human parts [48A9821] Search | Browse Iconclass
- inscription [49L8] Search | Browse Iconclass
- proverbs, sayings, etc. (with TEXT) [86(ARCHILOCHI)] 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(ARCHILOCHUS)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Calumny, Detraction; 'Biasimo vitioso', 'Calunnia', 'Detrattione', 'Maledicenza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57BB25(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.
Section: PERFIDIA (Treachery). View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [D5v p58]
Dolus in suos.
Treachery against one’s own kind.
Altilis allectator anas, & caerula pennis
Adsueta ad dominos ire redire suos.
Congeneres cernens volitare per aëra turmas
Garrit: in illarum se recipitque gregem,
Praetensa incautas donec sub retia ducat.
Obstrepitant captae, conscia at ipsa silet.
Perfida cognato se sanguine polluit ales,
Officiosa aliis, exitiosa suis.[1]
The well-fed decoy duck with its green-blue wings is trained to go out and return to its masters. When it sees squadrons of its relations flying through the air, it quacks and joins itself to the flock, until it can draw them, off their guard, into the outspread nets. When caught they raise a protesting clamour, but she, knowing what she has done, keeps silence. The treacherous bird defiles itself with related blood, servile to others, deadly to its own kind.
1. Cf. Aesop, Fables, 282, where the decoy birds are pigeons.
Related Emblems
Show related emblemsHint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- water-birds: duck (+ herd, group of animals) [25F36(DUCK)(+441)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- water-birds: duck (+ postures, positions of animal(s)) [25F36(DUCK)(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees [25G3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- low hill country [25H114] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- kneeling on both knees (+ forward) [31A2331(+61)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ holding something) [31A2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man (+ two persons) [31D14(+72)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear (+ men's clothes) [41D221(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- game bag [43C11481] Search | Browse Iconclass
- fowling, fowler (+ net) [43C13(+415)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- duck decoy [43C132] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- audible means of communication of animal(s): roaring, crying, singing, etc. [25F(+49)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- domestic animals, kept in and outside the house [34B] Search | Browse Iconclass
- man and (wild) animal [34F] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Betrayal (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57AA6142(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Cheat, Deceit; 'Fraude', 'Inganno' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57AA621(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.
