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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 commercia 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  [C1v f4v]

EMBLEMA V.

Albutii ad Alciatum, suadentis ut de tumul-
tibus Italicis se subducat, & in Gallia
profiteatur.[1]

Sent by Albutius to Alciato urging him to withdraw from the Italian troubles and take up a teaching post in France

Two women walking through trees holding baskets of fruit
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Quae dedit hos fructus arbor,[2] coelo advena nostro,
Venit ab Eoo persidis axe prius.
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C2r f5r]Translatu facta est melior: quae noxia quondam
In patria, hîc nobis dulcia poma gerit.
Fert folium linguae, fert poma simillima cordi,
Alciate hinc vitam degere disce tuam.
Tu procul à patria[3] in praecio es maiore futurus:
Multum corde sapis, nec minus ore vales.

The tree that gave us these fruits, a stranger to our skies, came formerly from the eastern climes of Persia. By the transplanting it was made better. The tree that once bore harmful fruits in its native land, here bears sweet ones for us. It carries leaves like a tongue, fruits like a heart. Alciato, learn from it how to spend your life. Far from your own country, you will be held in greater esteem. You are wise in heart, and no less effective in speech.

Das V.

Deß Albutii an Herrn Alciatum, darinn es
Albutius im Alciato räht, das er sich wölle auß den
Italienischen embörungen thun und entziehen,
und in Franckreich sich ver-
fügen.

Der Baum so tragen thut diß Frucht
Ist in unserm Land ein frembd zucht
Dann von auffgang der Sonnen er
Auß Persen Land ist kommen her
Vergiffte Frucht in seinem Landt
Er tragen thet bald er zu handt
Versetzet ward in ander erdt
Gar süsse Frucht er uns beschert
Sein Frucht ist gleich eim Hertzen gstalt
Sein Blat gformiert wie ein Zung galt
Dabey liebr Alciate lehrn
Dein leben also anzukehrn
Dann dir von dem Vatterland weit
Man grösser ehr und wirdin geit
Dieweil du bist von Hertzen weiß
Darzu mit reden hast den preiß.

Notes:

1.  This person has been identified as Aurelius Albutius, lawyer, scholar and poet, like Alciato originally from Milan. On the question of the genuineness of this ascription and a suggested date for the epigram preceding Alciato’s first removal to France in 1518, see J. Köhler, Der ‘Emblematum liber’ von Andreas Alciatus (1492-1550) (Hildesheim: August Lax, 1986).

2.  ‘The tree that gave us these fruits’, i.e. the peach, with its heart-shaped fruit and tongue-shaped leaves.

3.  ‘Far from your own country’. Alciato had two periods in France. He was lecturing on Civil Law in Avignon from 1518-1522, then returned to Milan. He again took up his teaching post in Avignon in 1527, and then removed to Bourges, where he remained until his return to Italy (Pavia) in 1533. The ‘troubles’ mentioned could be political (there was much fighting and tumult in N. Italy), or could refer to the wrangling between rival schools of academic lawyers during Alciato’s youth.

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