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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [d7r p61]

Non tibi sed religioni.

Not for you but for religion

XXXV.

Isidis effigiem tardus gestabat asellus,
Pando verenda dorso habens mysteria.
Obvius ergo Deam quisquis reverenter adorat,
Piasque genibus concipit flexis preces.
Ast asinus tantum praestari credit honorem
Sibi, & intumescit admodum superbiens,
Donec eum flagris compescens dixit agaso,
Non es Deus tu aselle, sed Deum vehis.[1]

An ass with dragging feet was carrying an image of Isis, bearing reverend mysteries on its sagging back. So all who met him reverently offered worship to the goddess and recited pious prayers on bended knee. The ass however took it that all this honour was offered to himself, and began to swagger along swollen with pride - until his driver, reducing him with blows, said, ‘You are not god, my little ass, you are carrying god’.

COMMENTARIA.

Asinus pigrum & ignavum animal (cuius
naturam seu qualitatem hîc describere ridicu-
lum omnino & superfluum esse existimo, cùm
praeter alias nationes praecipuè Hispania, un-
dique his scateat) Isidis deae effigiem dorso
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [d7v p62]suo impositam vehebat id circo praetereuntes
omnes flexis genibus Deam illam magna de-
votione adorabant. Stolidus autem ille Asi-
nus sibi tantum honoris fieri persuadens, ar-
rogans admodum atque inflatus sistit, quo
Agaso hoc advertens multis illum verberibus
affligens dixit, non es Deus tu aselle, sed Deum
portas. Isis autem prius Io dicta filia fuit Ina-
chi
Regis Argivorum quam Iupiter adama-
vit, & fortuitu eius coniuge Iunone interve-
niente, ut non cognosceretur mutavit eam in
vacam. Sed Iuno propter suspicionem, astutè
illam vaccam sibi dari petiit, quam deinde Ar-
go
centum oculos habenti diligentissimè cu-
stodiendam commisit, tandem ad Nilum per-
veniens, implorato Iovis auxilio, pristinae
formae restituta, & ab Aegyptiis Isis dicta,
post mortem pro Dea habita fuit, de qua Sui-
das
, Ovidius lib. 1. Metamorphoseon & plura Plutarchus
in Commentariis de Iside. Dea digna quae ab
Asino veheretur. In eos quadrat (quorum
profectò plurimi sunt) qui alienos honores,
ob dignitatem vel Religionem eis exhibitos,
stultè sibi tanquam proprios arrogant, utque
veri Asini inflatos ostentant.

Notes:

1.  See Aesop, Fables 266; Erasmus, Adagia 1104, Asinus portans mysteria.


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  • allegorical representations ~ religion; 'Religione', 'Religione de SS. Mauritio e Lazaro', 'Religione vera christiana' (Ripa) [11P12] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Misuse, Misemployment (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54BB11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Arrogance; 'Arroganza' (Ripa) [57AA644] Search | Browse Iconclass
  • Honour, Glory; 'Ampiezza della Gloria', 'Gloria', 'Gloria de prencipi', 'Gloria & Honore', 'Honore', 'Sublimat� della Gloria' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [59B31(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass

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