
EMBLEMA CLXXXVI [=185] .
Bonis auspiciis incipiendum.
Begin with good auspices
Auspiciis res cepta malis, bene cedere nescit,
Felici quae sunt omine facta iuvant.
Quicquid agis, mustella tibi si occurrat, omitte:
Signa malae haec sortis bestia prava gerit.[1]
A business begun with bad auspices cannot turn out well. Things done with good omens bring happiness. Whatever you are doing, if a weasel crosses your path, abandon it. This evil creature bears signs of ill luck.

Das CLXXXVI [=185] .
Man sol alle ding mit Glück an-
fahen.
Die sach so hat ein bösn anfang
Kan nicht haben ein guten gang
So aber ein gut zeichn erstlich
Erscheint, geraht es gern glücklich
Was du anfachst so dir bekompt
Ein Wisel so laß ab zu stund
Dann diß unzifer gwiß bedeut
Das nicht vil glück sey in der beut.
1. For the weasel as a creature of ill omen, see Erasmus, Adagia, 173, (Mustelam habes).
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Relating to the text:
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: weasel (+ animals used symbolically) [25F23(WEASEL)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Bad Omen; 'Augurio cattivo' (Ripa) (+ symbolical representation of concept) [52E22(+3)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Start (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54DD3(+4):52E21(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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Paupertatem summis ingeniis obesse
ne provehantur.[1]
Poverty prevents the advancement of the best of abilities
EMBLEMA CXX.
Dextra tenet lapidem, manus altera sustinet alas:
Ut me pluma levat, sic grave mergit onus.
Ingenio poteram superas volitare per arces,
Me nisi paupertas invida deprimeret.
My right hand holds a rock, the other bears wings. As the feathers lift me, so the heavy weight drags me down. By my mental gifts I could have flown through the heights of heaven, if malign poverty did not hold me back.
1. For the sentiment cf. Juvenal, Satires 3.164-5: ‘it is hard for people to rise when straitened circumstances stand in the way of their natural abilities.’
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- God the Father as bearded old man, usually with crown or tiara or sceptre and/or globe [11C23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- blessing (either of things or persons), e.g. by anointing [11Q7562] Search | Browse Iconclass
- kinds of non-precious stone [25D12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- animals (+ wings of an animal) [25F(+342)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of birds (+ flying animal(s)) [25F31(+5262)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of plants (herbs) [25G13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- boulder, stone [25H1124] Search | Browse Iconclass
- low hill country [25H114] Search | Browse Iconclass
- landscape with tower or castle [25I5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- standing on one leg [31A2313] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward (+ reaching for somebody or something, seizing something, touching) [31A2511(+934)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward [31A2512] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards (+ holding something) [31A2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- standing on one leg, the other leg held sideways, bent [31A26242] Search | Browse Iconclass
- floating in the air [31A2763] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking upwards [31B6211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clothing for the upper part of the body [41D223] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trousers, breeches (+ men's clothes) [41D231(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- barefoot [41D2339] Search | Browse Iconclass
- drapery, draped garment, 'Gewandgebung' [41D27] Search | Browse Iconclass
- carrying something [46C121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- tools, aids, implements ~ crafts and industries: rope [47D8(ROPE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Progression, Forward Movement (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51L4(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Rest, Immobility, Stasis (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51LL1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Regression, Backward Movement (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51LL4(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Talent (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52A13(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Hindrance, Obstruction (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54EE2(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Poverty; 'Povertà', 'Povertà del doni', 'Povertà in uno ch'habbia bell'ingegno' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55BB1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Ambition; 'Ambitione', 'Amor di Fama' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56F11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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