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EMBLEMA VIII.

Princeps subditorum incolumitatem
procurans.

The Prince caring for the safety of his subjects

Titanii[1] quoties conturbant aequora fratres,
Tum miseros nautas anchora iacta iuvat.
Hanc pius erga homines Delphin[2] complectitur, imis
Tutius ut possit, figier illa vadis.
Quam decet haec memores gestare insignia Reges,
Anchora quod nautis, se populo esse suo.

Whenever the brothers of Titan race churn up the seas, then the dropped anchor aids the wretched sailors. The dolphin that cares for man wraps itself round the anchor so that it may grip more securely at the bottom of the sea. - How appropriate it is for kings to bear this symbol, mindful that what the anchor is to sailors, they are to their people.

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Das VIII.

Ein Fürst der seinen Underthonen nutz
und heil schafft.

Dolphin wrapped round an anchor
[Click on image to enlarge]

So offt Astrei Sön das Meer
Ungstüm machen und treiben sehr
Als dann sencken den Ancker tieff
Ins Meer die Schiffleut on verdrieß
Umb den wickelt sich der Delphin stet
So grosse lieb zum Menschen tret
Damit das halten thu im grundt
Dest steiffer und nicht wanck zstundt
Solchs wol die grossen Herren solln
So Land und Leut regieren wölln
Mercken, daß irn Underthon all
Seyen der Ancker in unfall.

Notes:

1.  ‘The brothers of Titan race’, i.e. the winds: Aurora, daughter of the Titan Hyperion, was the mother of the West, North and South winds. See Hesiod, Theogony 378-80.

2.  The dolphin was supposed to guide the anchor to a good resting place. It was always friendly to man ([A67a159]). In general, see Erasmus, Adagia 1001, Festina lente.

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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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