
In vitam humanam.
On human life
XCVI.
Plus solito humanae nunc defle incommoda vitae,
Heraclite, scatet pluribus illa malis.
Tu rursus, si quando aliàs, extolle cachinnum
Democrite, illa magis ludicra facta fuit.
Intereà haec cernens meditor, qua denique tecum
Fine fleam, aut tecum quomodò splene iocer.[1]
Weep now, Heraclitus, even more than you did, for the ills of human life. It teems with far more woes. And you, Democritus, if ever you laughed before, raise your cackle now. Life has become more of a joke. Meanwhile, seeing all this, I consider just how far I can weep with you, how laugh bitterly with you.

Das wesen diser welt.
XCVI.
O Heraclite, mehr dan nye
Bewayn yetz die menschlichen sach,
In den so vil truebsal und mhye:
Democrite du spott und lach
Der narrheyt, so yetz ist zwifach
Bey allen stenden in gemayn:
Die weyl wil ich im sinnen nach,
Ob ich mit ewch lach, oder wayn.
1. This is a translation of Anthologia graeca 9.148. For Heraclitus, cf. [A50a016]. For the contrast between the despairing tears of Heraclitus (who withdrew from human society) and the sardonic laughter of Democritus when faced with the folly of men, see, among many sources, e.g. Juvenal, Satires 10, 28ff.
Related Emblems

Hint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- arms raised, with fingers closed [31A25111] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward [31A2512] Search | Browse Iconclass
- weeping [31B6214] Search | Browse Iconclass
- laughing [31B62321] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- young versus old age; young and old [31D5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- optimist and pessimist (human types) [32A30] Search | Browse Iconclass
- relations between individual persons [33] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bad companions [33A59] Search | Browse Iconclass
- communal rooms [41A22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (decorated) ceiling [41A44] Search | Browse Iconclass
- table [41A711] Search | Browse Iconclass
- shelves, rack, sideboard [41A712] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bench [41A723] Search | Browse Iconclass
- unequal couple, ill-matched couple [42D31] Search | Browse Iconclass
- tools, aids, implements ~ crafts and industries (with NAME) [47D8(SCISSORS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- quill [49L511] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ink-well [49L62] Search | Browse Iconclass
- writing-table, writing-desk [49L66] Search | Browse Iconclass
- book [49M32] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Mirth, Hilarity (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56B11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Pain, Sorrow, Sadness; 'Dolore', 'Dolore di Zeusi' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56BB1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Democritus, while meditating amidst books and bones, receives his friend Hippocrates, sent by the inhabitants of Abdera, who were anxious about their philosopher's health [98B(DEMOCRITUS)51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Heraclitus, the weeping philosopher, and Democritus, the laughing philosopher [98B(HERACLITUS)51] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- the life of man [11R] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the course of life symbolized [11R3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Choice; 'Elettione' (Ripa) [53A11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Vicissitudes of Life [54F122] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Joke; 'Giuoco (dall'antico)' (Ripa) [56B131] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Human Life; 'Vita humana', 'Vita inquieta', 'Vita e l'animo' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [58B21(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.
Section: LA VIE. View all emblems in this section.

De la vie humaine.
Apostrophe.
Pleure (Heraclit) la vie de ce monde:
Car plus en mal que jamais elle abonde.
Ry Democrit, si tu ris onquesmais:
Car plus y ha à mocquer que jamais.
Link to an image of this page [M6r p187]
Cela voyant ne say que faire doy.
Avec toy rire, ou plorer avec toy.[1]
Heraclit perdit les yeulx à force
de plorer les calamitez du monde,
Democrit se fendit la gueulle jus-
que aulx oreilles, à force de rire
des follies du monde. Or est il enco
re doubte s’il y ha
plus à plorer, ou
plus ha [=a]
rire, des maulx, ou des fol-
lies qui y sont, ou lequel estoit
le
plus sage, ou le plus fol des deux.
1. This is a translation of Anthologia graeca 9.148. For Heraclitus, cf. [A58a016]. For the contrast between the despairing tears of Heraclitus (who withdrew from human society) and the sardonic laughter of Democritus when faced with the folly of men, see, among many sources, e.g. Juvenal, Satires 10, 28ff.
Related Emblems

Hint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- groups of plants (herbs) [25G13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees (+ young plant) [25G3(+361)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rocks [25H112] Search | Browse Iconclass
- boulder, stone [25H1124] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on an elevation [31A2352] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head turned to the right [31A2422] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head bent forward; bowing [31A244] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards [31A2515] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the chest (+ holding something) [31A25161(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- wiping away tears [31A25344] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other (+ sitting) [31A2621(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hand towards the forehead - AA - both arms or hands [31AA2533] Search | Browse Iconclass
- weeping [31B6214] Search | Browse Iconclass
- laughing [31B62321] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- old man [31D16] Search | Browse Iconclass
- young versus old age; young and old [31D5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- optimist and pessimist (human types) [32A30] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bad companions [33A59] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear (+ men's clothes) [41D221(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- gear for legs and feet (+ men's clothes) [41D233(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- unequal couple, ill-matched couple [42D31] Search | Browse Iconclass
- book [49M32] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Mirth, Hilarity (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56B11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Pain, Sorrow, Sadness; 'Dolore', 'Dolore di Zeusi' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56BB1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Heraclitus, the weeping philosopher, and Democritus, the laughing philosopher [98B(HERACLITUS)51] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- the course of life symbolized [11R3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Choice; 'Elettione' (Ripa) [53A11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Vicissitudes of Life [54F122] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Joke; 'Giuoco (dall'antico)' (Ripa) [56B131] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Human Life; 'Vita humana', 'Vita inquieta', 'Vita e l'animo' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [58B21(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.