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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [b4v p24]

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

On the avaricious; or being treated better by strangers.

XI.

Figures on ship, one being hung overboard, and one astride a dolphin
[Click on image to enlarge]

Delphini insidens vada eaerula [=caerula] sulcat Arion[1],
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”.

COMMENTARIA.

Arion Musicus & Citharoedus excellentis-
simus, ex Lesbo insula, qui cùm peregrè arte
sua magnos fecisset quaestus, tandem in pa-
triam navigaturus, nautae ut pecuniam eius
lucrifacerent, illum è navi in pelagus demer-
gere decreverant, qui postquàm ab eis mo-
dicum spatii impetrasset, assumpta Cithara
quàm dulcissimè lusit, adeoque ut Delphinis
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [b5r p25]suavitate cantus congregatis, se cùm in mare
praecipitem daret, super dorsum unius exce-
ptus & ad littus incolumis reductus fertur,
hunc Apologum pulcherrimum vide pro-
lixius apud Aulum Gellium li. 16. cap. 19. pariter apud
Ovidium in Fastis. Et quàm hominum sit amator
Delphinus attestatur idem Gellii lib. 7. cap. 8.
Plura denique de eodem & eius natura Plinii li-
bro. 9. cap. 8. Ostenditur nec irrationalis ani-
mantis mentem tam crudelem esse, quàm ani-
mum hominis avari: Etenim à viris perdimur,
à piscibus liberamur: ut non immeritò excla-
met Poëta: Quid mortalia pectora cogis,
Auri sacra fames.[2]

Notes:

1.  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.

2.  This reference (misquoted) is to Vergil, Aenead, 3, 56-7.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [b3r p21]

In Victoriam dolo partam.

On victory won by guile.

IX.

Virtue sitting crying on the tomb marked D M AIACIS
[Click on image to enlarge]

Aiacis tumulum lacrymis ego perluo virtus,
Heu misera albentes dilacerata comas.
Scilicet hoc restabat adhuc, ut iudice Graeco[1]
Vincerer, & causa stet potiore dolus.[2]

I, Virtue, bedew with tears the tomb of Ajax, tearing, alas, in my grief my whitening hairs. This was all it needed - that I should be worsted with a Greek as judge, and that guile should appear to have the better cause.

COMMENTARIA.

Virtus ipsa eiulans, Aiacis deflet sepulchrum.
(quod est prope Sigaeum promontorium
Troiae, Plinius lib. 5. cap. 30.) obid nimirum, quòd
illa dolo suppressa & victa fuerit, quodque
Graeci contra eam iniquè iudicaverint. Hoc
ideo quia cùm Aiax fortissimus heros, inter-
fecti Achillis arma peteret (quae meritò sibi
ob strenua sua facta virtutesque eximias, de
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [b3v p22] quibus apud Homerum, cessissent). Ulysses
fraude & calliditate sua tantum effecit, ut
Graeci Iudices, spreto Aiace, sibi arma illa ad-
iudicaverint, quod adeò molestè tulit Aiax
ut ad insaniam pervenerit, ac tandem ob iram
& verecundiam semetipsum necaverit, per-
pulchrè Ovidius lib. 13. Metamorphoseon. Sic doli causa
potior fuit quàm ipsius virtutis: quod qui-
dem & hodie haud rarum est, virtutique flendi
ansa datur frequentissima.

Notes:

1.  The Greek assembly awarded the arms of the dead Achilles to the cunning and eloquent Ulysses, not the brave and straight-forward Ajax. For Ajax’ subsequent suicide, [A56a038].

2.  See Anthologia graeca 7.145.

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