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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [N6v f89v]

EMBLEMA CXXXIX.

ἐχθρῶν ἄδωρα δῶρα. Hostium dona non
dona. In hostium dona.[1]

The gifts of enemies are no gifts. On the gifts of enemies.

Kings exchanging ceremonial gifts
[Click on image to enlarge]

Bellorum coepisse ferunt monumenta vicissim
Scutiferum Aiacem Hectoraque Iliacum.
Balthea Priamides, rigidum Thelamonius ensem,
Instrumenta suae cepit uterque necis.
Ensis enim Aiacem confecit, at Hectora functum
Traxêre Aemoniis cingula nexa rotis.
Sic titulo obsequii quae mittunt hostibus hostes
Munera, venturi praescia fata ferunt.[2]

The story tells that shield-bearing Ajax and Hector of Troy exchanged souvenirs of battle. Priam’s son took the sword-belt, Telamon’s descendant the rigid sword, each accepting the instrument of his own death. For the sword destroyed Ajax, and the belt, attached to Thessalian wheels, dragged the dead Hector. So the gifts which enemies give to enemies, seemingly doing honour, knowing what is to come, bring doom.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [N7r f90r]

Das CXXXIX.

Feinds geschenck seind unnütze Geschenck.

Wider die Feinds gaben.

Der Schiltträger Ajax wie dsag
Und Hector von Troja on zag
Habn in dem Krieg einandr verehrt
Und einander Denckzeichen beschert
Ajax gab Prians Son ein gürt
Darfür im ein scharpffes Schwert wirt
Sie empfiengend aber all beid
Jeder ein werck zeug zu seim leid
Dann Ajacem das Schwert auffrib
Hector abr an der Gürtel blieb
Darmit ward er herumb gschleifft todt
An deß Achillis Wagen rot
Also die Gaben und Geschenck
Die ein Feind dem andern zusendt
Under dem namen liebs und dienst
Zeigen an fürwar ein böß gspenst.

Notes:

1.  The gifts of enemies are no gifts. See Sophocles, Ajax 665, where Ajax so speaks of the ill-fated sword he had received from Hector.

2.  See Homer Iliad 7.299, for the occasion in the Trojan War when Hector (the Trojan hero, son of Priam) and Ajax (Telamon’s descendant, one of the best fighters on the Greek side) met in single combat and afterwards, the honours being even, exchanged gifts. (Ajax was carrying the vast shield for which he was famed). Later, he committed suicide by falling on the sword he received from Hector (Emblem 66 [A67a066] notes; and Emblem 137 [A67a137] notes). Hector was later killed in single combat by Achilles (prince of Thessaly, the Greek champion), who desecrated the body by tying it behind his chariot (it is suggested here that he used the sword-belt Hector had received from Ajax) and dragging it about before the eyes of the Trojans. See Emblem 196 [A67a196].

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