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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M8r p191]

Aux bastards.

XXVI.

Celebrez, ô bastards, d’Hercule la memoire:
Car il est de vous tous & le tige & la gloire.[1]
Jamais Dieu ne peut estre,[2] avant que par cautelle
On luy eust faict succer de Junon la mammelle.[3]

Commentaires.

Le temple d’Hercules, en Athenes, estoit en un
lieu nommé Cynosarges, lieu dedié à l’exercice des
bastards, lesquels les Atheniens ne vouloyent pas
laisser mesler avec les legitimes: Mais Themistocle
tascha d’enfraindre & renverser cest ordre, invitant
plusieurs des legitimes à se venir exercer avec les ba-
stards. Jupiter, pour acquerir lettres de deité à son
fils Hercule, luy fit prendre la mammelle de Junon
pendant qu’elle dormoit. Les sages Princes & legi-
slateurs, ont pourveu au desbordé appetit de paillar-
dise ou concubinage, punissans les peres en leurs en-
fans, qu’ils declaroyent comme inhabiles à toutes -
charges honorables. Le proverbe commun dit, que
bastard ne fit jamais beau faict. Mais ce proverbe
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M8v p192] n’est pas sans exception, tesmoins Enee, Themistocle,
Romule, Constantin le grand, Guillaume de Norman-
die,le Comte de Dunois, & infinis autres.

Notes:

1.  Hercules was fathered by Jupiter on Alcmene, wife of Amphitryon of Thebes, and became his father’s favourite. Juno, wife of Jupiter, in jealousy pursued Hercules with implacable hatred.

2.  After all his Labours (see previous emblem) and other exploits, Hercules, by the will of Jupiter, was received among the gods. See e.g. Ovid, Metamorphoses, 9.156ff; Cicero, De officiis, 3.25.

3.  For the story of Juno tricked by Jupiter into suckling the loathed Hercules see Pausanias, 9.25.2. This divine milk apparently counteracted Hercules’ illegitimate birth which otherwise disqualified him for heaven. See Erasmus, Adagia, 2070 (Ad Cynosarges).

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    Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [O5r p217]

    Insignia Poëtarum.

    Insignia of poets

    EMBLEMA CLXXXIII.

    Shield showing a swan, hanging on a tree.
    [Click on image to enlarge]

    Gentiles clypeos sunt qui in Iovis alite gestant,
    Sunt quibus aut serpens, aut leo, signa ferunt:
    Dira sed haec vatum fugiant animalia ceras,
    Doctaque sustineat stemmata pulcher Olor.
    Hic Phoebo sacer[1], & nostrae regionis alumnus:
    Rex olim[2], veteres servat adhuc titulos.

    Some have a family crest distinguished by the bird of Jove, for others the serpent or the lion provides the sign. But let these dread beasts flee from poets’ images; let the lovely swan support their learned clan. This bird is sacred to Phoebus and is a nursling of my homeland. A king once, it still preserves its ancient titles.

    Notes:

    1.  ‘sacred to Phoebus’, i.e. to the god of music and poetry (Apollo).

    2.  ‘a king once’. See Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.367ff. for the story of Cycnus, king of Liguria, turned into a swan and inhabiting the marshes and lakes of the plain of the Po (Alciato’s homeland).

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