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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [B7r p29]

Que en el matrimonio se requiere reverencia.

Ottava rhima.

A snake and an eel meeting at a river bank.
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Quando de Venus en furor se ençiende
La bivora y se allega à la ribera
Pidiendo con silvar lo que pretende
A la Muręna faz’ [=haz’] salir à fuera  [M]
Que con presteça da lo que ya entiende
Mostrando à los casados la manera
Como à de ser el thalamo tratado
Con animo de entrambos conçertado.[1]

[Marginalia - link to text]Lamprea.

Notes:

1.  For the mating of the viper with the moray eel, see Pliny, Natural History 9.39.76; Aelian, De natura animalium 1.50; 9.66. The viper spits out the poison in order to be gentle and safe for the union.

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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [B8v p32]

Vigilantia & custodia.

Vigilance and protection

EMBLEMA XV.

Temple with a weathercock on top and a lion guarding the door
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Instantis quòd signa canens det gallus eoi,
Et revocet famulas ad nova pensa manus:
Turribus in sacris effingitur aerea pelvis,
Ad superos mentem[1] quòd revocet vigilem.
Est leo, sed custos oculis quia dormit apertis,[2]
Templorum idcircò ponitur ante fores.

Because the cock by its crowing gives the signal of approaching dawn and recalls working hands to fresh tasks, it is placed on top of church towers. A bronze bell (is hung there) because it recalls the waking mind to heaven. But a lion is on guard because it sleeps with its eyes open. For that reason it is placed before church doors.

Notes:

1.  In most editions pelvis and mentem are the other way round.

2.  oculis quia dormit apertis, ‘because it sleeps with its eyes open’. See Isidore, Etymologiae, 12.2.5: when lions are asleep, their eyes remain awake. See also Aelian, De natura animalium, 5.39.

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