Single Emblem View

« Previous EmblemNext Emblem »
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [E4r]

IN ADULATORES.

Flatterers

De Chameleonte vide Plinium naturalis historia
libro. VIII. Cap. XXXIII.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [E4v]

Semper hiat, semper tenuem qua vescitur auram[1],
Reciprocat chamaeleon[2].
Et mutat faciem varios sumitque colores,
Praeter rubrum vel candidum.[3]
Sic & adulator populari vescitur aura,[4]
Hiansque cuncta devorat.
Et solum mores imitatur principis atros.
Albi & pudici nescius.

The Chameleon is always breathing in and out with open mouth the bodiless air on which it feeds; it changes its appearance and takes on various colours, except for red and white. - Even so the flatterer feeds on the wind of popular approval and gulps down all with open mouth. He imitates only the black features of the prince, knowing nothing of the white and pure.

Notes:

1.  Corrected from the Errata and by hand in this copy.

2.  This creature was supposed to feed only on air, keeping its mouth wide open to suck it in. See Pliny, Natural History 8.51.122. For the chameleon cf. Erasmus, Parabolae pp.144, 241, 252.

3.  ‘except for red and white’. See Pliny, ib.

4.  ‘the wind of popular approval’. This is a common metaphor in Latin, e.g. Horace, Odes 3.2.20, ‘at the behest of the wind of popular approval.’

« Previous EmblemNext Emblem »

Related Emblems

Show related emblems Show related emblems

Hint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page

Iconclass Keywords

Relating to the image:

    Relating to the text:

    Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.

    Single Emblem View

    « Previous EmblemNext Emblem »

    Section: Perfidia. View all emblems in this section.

    Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [p51]

    Ne i frodolenti.

    Regarding the deceitful.


    A large lizard among some rocks
    [Click on image to enlarge]

    Picciol lucerta; che d’atro colore
    Stellato ha il manto; onde le gente antiche
    La chiamar Stellio, che luoghi d’horrore.
    Ama; e le son le sepolture amiche,
    E l’invidia, e la fraude monstra fuore,
    Per cui le donne son fiere nemiche.
    E chi beve una volta del liquore,
    Ove questo animal fu immerso e posto.
    Di lintigini il volto è offesso tosto.
    Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [p52]Tal fa vendetta la mogliera accorta
    Sopra colei, che’l suo consorte invola,
    Che vista la beltà caduta e morta,
    Subito l’abbandona, e lascia sola.
    Ond’ella poi s’acqueta, e si conforta,
    L’altra piange, & ei più non la consola.
    D’invidia si distrugge, e indarno tenta
    Con fraude racquistar chi la tormenta.

    « Previous EmblemNext Emblem »

    Related Emblems

    Show related emblems Show related emblems

    Hint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page

    Iconclass Keywords

    Relating to the image:

    Relating to the text:

    Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.

     

    Back to top