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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [D1r]

ALIQUID MALI PROPTER
vicinum malum.[1]

Misfortune caused by a bad neighbour

Two pots, one metal, one clay, floating together in a stream
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Raptabat torrens ollas quarum una metallo,
Altera erat figuli terrea facta manu.
Hanc igitur rogat illa, velit sibi proxima ferri,
Iuncta ut praecipites utraque sistat aquas.
Cui lutea haud nobis tua sunt comercia curae.
Ne mihi proximitas haec mala multa ferat.
Nam seu te nobis seu nos tibi conferat unda,
Ipsa ego te fragilis sospite sola terar.

A stream was carrying along two pots, one of which was made of metal, the other formed by the potter’s hand of clay. The metal pot asked the clay one whether it would like to float along close beside it, so that each of them, by uniting with the other, could resist the rushing waters. The clay pot replied: The arrangement you propose does not appeal to me. I am afraid that such proximity will bring many misfortunes upon me. For whether the wave washes you against me or me against you, I only, being breakable, will be shattered, while you remain unharmed.

Notes:

1.  See Avianus, Fables 11; Erasmus, Adagia 32, Aliquid mali propter vicinum malum.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [g3v p102]

In deprehensum.

Caught!

LX.

Figure holding an eel with leaves
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Iamdudum quacunque fugis te persequor: at nunc
Cassibus in nostris denique captus ades.
Amplius haud poteris vires eludere nostras,
Ficulno anguillam strinximus in folio.[1]

For a long time now I have been pursuing you wherever you flee; but now you are here, at long last caught in our net. You will no longer be able to elude our power - we have gripped the eel tight in a fig-leaf.

COMMENTARIA.

Anguilla (piscis est) sic dicta ad Anguis
similitudine, quae adeò lenis & lubrica est, ut
difficulter manibus teneri possit, imò quanto
fortius premitur tanto citius elabitur, teste
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [g4r p103]Isidoro, de qua etiam Plinius lib. 9. cap. 51. & cap.
57. Hanc quidam ut caperet diligenter insecu-
tus, cùm autem saepius ex manibus eius eva-
sisset, tandem deprehensam in folio ficulneo,
quod latum & asperum est, involvit ac strin-
xit, dicens, vix me in posterum deludes cùm
te nunc arte & arctè vinctam retineam.
Adagio dicitur, Folio ficulneo tenes Anguil-
lam, in Chiliadibus.

Notes:

1.  The rough surface of the fig leaf made it suitable for gripping slippery objects. See Erasmus, Adagia 395, Folio ficulno tenes anguillam.

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