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EMBLEMA IIII.

Nunquam procrastinandum.

Never procrastinate.

Alciatae gentis insignia sustinet Alce[1]
Unguibus & μηδὲν fert ἀναβαλλόμενος.
Constat Alexandrum sic respondisse roganti
Quî tot obivisset tempore gesta brevi?
Nunquam (inquit) differre volens:[2] quod & indicat Alce
Fortior haec dubites, ocyor anne siet.[3]

An elk bears the insignia of the family Alciato - between its hooves it carries (the motto) “Postponing nothing”. Alexander, as is well known, thus answered one who asked him how he had performed so many exploits in a short time: “By never wanting”, he said, “to postpone”. ‘Elk’ in fact indicates this - you may well ask whether it is strong or fast.

Das IIII.

One auffschub und verzug.

Das Alciatisch Gschlecht Wappn ziert
Ein Elend der in klauwen fiert
Diesen Verß und diß Reymen bloß
Midèn Anafallómenos
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C1v f4v] Also soll geantwortet han
Der groß Alexander eim Man
Der in fragt wier in kurtzer zeit
So viel außgricht hett grosse streit
Sprach er ich hab verzogen nie
Mit willen nichts, das anzeigt hie
Der Elend an welchem man schwandt
Ob er sterckr odr schneller sey zhandt.

Notes:

1.  An elk, representing the family name, is carved on Alciato’s tomb in Pavia.

2.  nunquam...differre volens, ‘By never wanting...to postpone’. The Latin words translate Alexander’s Greek motto, quoted in line 2. See Erasmus, Adagia, 3400 (Nunc tuum ferrum in igne est, ‘Strike while the iron is hot’), where Alexander’s saying is quoted.

3.  Alce, ‘Elk’. The Greek word ἀλκή means not only ‘elk’ but ‘strength’. The animal ‘elk’ was famed for its speed: see Pliny, Natural History, 8.16.39.

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    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
    [Click on image to enlarge]

    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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