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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C8v]

CUM LARVIS NON LU-
CTANDUM.[1]

Do not wrestle with the dead

Hares gathered round a dead lion
[Click on image to enlarge]

Aeacidae[2] moriens percussu cuspidis Hector[3],
Qui toties hosteis vicerat ante suos.
Comprimere haud potuit vocem insultantibus illis,
Dum curru & pedibus nectere vincla parant.
Distrahite ut libitum est sic cassi luce leonis,
Convellunt barbam vel timidi lepores.[4]

When he was dying from the wound dealt by the spear of Aeacus’ descendant, Hector, who had so often before defeated his own enemies, could not keep silent as they triumphed over him, while preparing to tie the ropes to chariot and feet. Tear me as you will, he said; when the lion is deprived of the light of life, even cowardly hares pluck his beard.

Notes:

1.  Cf. Erasmus, Adagia 153, Cum larvis luctari.

2.  ‘of Aeacus’ descendant’, i.e. ‘of Achilles’. Textual variant: Aeacidae.

3.  Hector was the greatest warrior on the Trojan side in the Trojan War, killed in single combat by Achilles, the Greek champion. See Homer, Iliad 22.367ff. and 24.14ff. for Achilles’ desecration of Hector’s body, dragging it, tied by the feet behind his chariot, round the tomb of Patroclus.

4.  The last two lines are a translation of the two-line epigram Anthologia graeca 16.4, where, in Planudes’ text, the words are attributed to Hector in the heading.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C3v f6v]

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.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [C4r f7r]

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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