
A minimis quoque timendum.
Beware of even the weakest foe
Bella gerit Scarabaeus, & hostem provocat ultro,
Robore & inferior consilio superat.
Nam plumis Aquilae clam se neque cognitus abdit,
Hostilem ut nidum summa per astra petat.
Ovaque confodiens prohibet spem crescere prolis,
Hocque modo illatum dedecus ultus abit.[1]
The scarab beetle is waging war and takes the challenge to its foe. Though inferior in physical strength, it is superior in strategy. It hides itself secretly in the eagle’s feathers without being felt, in order to attack its enemy’s nest across the lofty skies. It bores into the eggs and prevents the hoped-for offspring from developing. And then it departs, having thus avenged the insult inflicted on it.

Des petitz se doit lon doubter.
Laigle eust au cerf volant debat:
Dont elle fait bien peu de compte,
Comme petit pour son combat.
Mais lautre emmy les plumes monte.
Ainsi porte fut de esle prompte
Au nid, ou tous les oeufz il casse.
Moins fort de corps, par art surmonte.
Souvent nuyt condition basse.
1. For the feud between the eagle and the beetle, see Aesop, Fables 4; Erasmus, Adagia 2601, Scarabaeus aquilam quaerit.
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Le conseil punit comme le defail-
lant.
LV.
Selon que guerre en sa tempeste
Rend prospere ou dure saison,
Lon print l’adversaire trompette,
Qu’on mit en estroite prison,
Il s’excusoit sur la raison,
Qu’il n’a d’espee faict outrage:
Tu es (fit on) pire poison,
Car tu rends aux couards courage.[1]

commentaires.
En certaine guerre, les vainqueurs avoyent pris
un trompette, lequel ils traictoyent comme ennemi, le
garrottans & rudoyans, & peut estre frappans. Le
povre trompette se defendoit avec la langue, disant
qu’il n’avoit blecé aucun, qu’il
n’avoit combattu con-
tre personne, n’ayant pour toutes armes que sa trom-
pette. Ses ennemis luy repliquent, O couard, en celà es
tu plus à reprendre: car tu te fourrant point aux coups,
tu incites les autres à combattre par le son effroyable
de ta trompe. Presques mesme recit se trouve aux fa-
bles d’Esope. A la verité ceux qui esguillonnent les
autres à mal faire, & les y persuadent, doyvent estre
plus rigoureusement chastiés que ceux qui commet-
tent les delicts.
1. This is a version of Aesop, Fables 325.
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