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IN SENATUM BONI PRINCIPIS.

On the senate of a good prince

Emblema 143.

Blindfolded figure on a throne with other learned men sitting before him.
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Effigies manibus truncae ante altaria Divům
Hinc resident, quarum lumine capta prior.
Signa potestatis summae, sanctique Senatus
Thebanis fuerant ista reperta viris.[1]
Cur resident? quia mente graves decet esse quieta
Iuridicos, animo nec variare levi.
Cur sine sunt manibus? capiant ne xenia, nec se
Pollicitis flecti muneribus[2] ve sinant.
Caecus at est Princeps, quňd solis auribus absque
Effectu [=Affectu] , constans iussa Senatus agit.

Figures without hands sit here before the altars of the gods. The chief of them is deprived of sight. These symbols of the supreme power and of the reverend senate were discovered by men of Thebes. - Why do they sit? - Because lawgivers should be serious, of a calm mind, and not change with inconstant thoughts. - Why have they no hands? - So that they may not take gifts, nor let themselves be influenced by promises or bribes. But the president is blind, because the Senate, by hearing alone, uninfluenced by feeling, impartially discharges what it is bidden to do.

Notes:

1.  This is Thebes in Egypt. See Plutarch, De Iside et Osiride 10; also Erasmus, Adagia 2601, Scarabaeus aquilam quaerit.

2.  Corrected from the Errata.

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Nel Senato d’un buon Principe.

On the senate of a good Prince.


Blindfolded figure on a throne with other learned men sitting before him.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Qui senza mano i Senator d’intorno
Siedono, e in mezzo il Re privo di luce.
Siedon per dimostrar, che saggia & grave
Dev’esser di chi giudica la mente.
Son senza man, perche non sia corrotta
La giustitia da i doni, e torta vada.
Senz’occhi č il Re, perch’ei privo d’affetto
Sol con le orecchie i buon consigli adopre.

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