Section: PERFIDIA (Treachery). View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [D7r p61]
In adulatores.
Flatterers
Semper hiat, semper tenuem qua vescitur auram,
Reciprocat Chamaeleon[1],
Et mutat faciem, varios sumitque colores,
Praeter rubrum, vel candidum:[2]
Sic & Adulator populari vescitur aura,[3]
Hiansque cuncta devorat.
Et solům mores imitatur principis atros,
Albi, & pudici nescius.
The Chameleon is always breathing in and out with open mouth the bodiless air on which it feeds; it changes its appearance and takes on various colours, except for red and white. - Even so the flatterer feeds on the wind of popular approval and gulps down all with open mouth. He imitates only the black features of the prince, knowing nothing of the white and pure.
1. This creature was supposed to feed only on air, keeping its mouth wide open to suck it in. See Pliny, Natural History 8.51.122. For the chameleon cf. Erasmus, Parabolae pp.144, 241, 252.
2. ‘except for red and white’. See Pliny, ib.
3. ‘the wind of popular approval’. This is a common metaphor in Latin, e.g. Horace, Odes 3.2.20, ‘at the behest of the wind of popular approval.’
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- groups of birds (+ flying animal(s)) [25F31(+5262)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lizards: chameleon (+ animals used symbolically) [25F41(CHAMELEON)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of trees [25G11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of plants (herbs) [25G13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rocks [25H112] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- colours, pigments, and paints (with NAME) [22C4(BLACK)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- colours, pigments, and paints (with NAME) [22C4(RED)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- colours, pigments, and paints (with NAME) [22C4(WHITE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lizards: chameleon (+ animal(s) changing colour) [25F41(CHAMELEON)(+4831)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- breathing, respiration [31A22221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- royal household; courtiers, retinue, train [44B152] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Innocence; 'Innocenza', 'Innocenza o puritŕ' (Ripa) [57A631] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Flattery; 'Adulatione' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57AA6121(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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Section: STULTITIA (Folly). View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [D8r p63]
Temeritas.
Rashness
In praeceps rapitur, frustra quoque tendit habenas
Auriga: effraeni quem vehit oris equus.
Haud facilč huic credas, ratio quem nulla gubernat,
Et temerč proprio ducitur arbitrio.[1]
A driver pulled by a horse whose mouth does not respond to the bridle is rushed headlong and in vain drags on the reins. You cannot readily trust one whom no reason governs, one who is heedlessly taken where his fancy goes.
1. In general see Plato’s image of the chariot of the soul, Phaedrus, 246, as indicated in the commentary in other editions.
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- plants; vegetation [25G] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rocks [25H112] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sea (seascape) [25H23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other (+ standing) [31A2621(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- falling through the air [31A2764] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward - AA - both arms or hands (+ holding something) [31AA2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking downwards [31B6212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- old man [31D16] Search | Browse Iconclass
- violent death ~ being thrown (from a height), being thrown into a pit [31E2348] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- reins [46C131613] Search | Browse Iconclass
- galloping horse [46C13183] Search | Browse Iconclass
- four-wheeled vehicle drawn by two animals [46C1442] Search | Browse Iconclass
- inciting riding-animal or draught-animal ~ accident [46C1496] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sailing-ship, sailing-boat (+ under way, at sea (~ travelling)) [46C24(+63)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- (farm) wagon, freight wagon, cart [46C145] Search | Browse Iconclass
- accident with (farm) wagon, freight wagon, cart [46C1495] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Rashness, Imprudence, Recklessness (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52AA21(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Reason; 'Ragione' (Ripa) [52B51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Self-control; 'Dominio di se stesso' (Ripa) [53B3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Authority, Power; 'Dominio', 'Giurisdittione' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [53C11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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