Link to an image of this page [i8v p144]
In adulatores.
Flatterers
LXXXVIII.
Semper hiat, semper tenuem qua vescitur auram,
Reciprocat chamaeleon[1],
Et mutat faciem, varios sumitque colores,
Link to an image of this page [k1r p145]Praeter rubrum vel candidum:[2]
Sic & adulator populari vescitur aurae,[3]
Hiansque cuncta devorat,
Et solùm 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.
COMMENTARIA.
Chamaeleon animal est frequens in India,
semper hians & aperto ore aërem, quo solo
vivit & nutritur, attrahens & respirans, saepe
facillimeque in varios colores convertitur ex-
cepto rubro & albo, de quo Aristoteles lib. 2.
de natura animal. Plinius lib. 8. cap. 33. & Demo-
critus in lib. de potestate Camaeleontis. Ovidius
quoque lib. 15. Metamorphoseon.
Id quoque quod ventis animal nutritur & aura,
Protinus assimulat, tetigit quoscunque colores.
Sic etiam adulator alitur & sustentatur fama
solummodo populi, inhiansque cuncta devo-
rat, imitatur facîllimè superioris sui nigros &
perversos mores, ab albis verò & ru-
bris, id est, sine labe puris at-
que pudicis, totus
alienus est.
1. 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.
2. ‘except for red and white’. See Pliny, ib.
3. ‘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.’
Related Emblems
Show related emblemsHint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- groups of birds (+ flying animal(s)) [25F31(+5262)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lizards: chameleon (+ animals used symbolically) [25F41(CHAMELEON)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of trees [25G11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees (+ bare plant) [25G3(+351)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rocks [25H112] Search | Browse Iconclass
- landscape with tower or castle [25I5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- goat [47I214] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- colours, pigments, and paints (with NAME) [22C4(BLACK)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- colours, pigments, and paints (with NAME) [22C4(RED)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- colours, pigments, and paints (with NAME) [22C4(WHITE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lizards: chameleon (+ animal(s) changing colour) [25F41(CHAMELEON)(+4831)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- breathing, respiration [31A22221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- royal household; courtiers, retinue, train [44B152] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Innocence; 'Innocenza', 'Innocenza o purità' (Ripa) [57A631] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Flattery; 'Adulatione' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57AA6121(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.
Link to an image of this page [H7v p126]
Riche ignorant.
LXXXVII.
Phryxus prochain de grand malheur, [1]
Eut tost bon heur, ce dit Ovide.
Mouton à poil d’or de valeur
Par la Mer seuremenet le guide.
Riche homme de prudence vuide,
Sous autruy tout son bien ordonne:
Sa femme luy conduit sa bride:
Et son valet conseil luy donne.
commentaire.
Phryxus fut fils d’Athamant Roy de Thebes, du
premier lict, lequel, craignant les embusches de sa
Link to an image of this page [H8r p127]
marastre, voulut quitter son païs, avec sa soeur Helle:
Ayans donc receu
de leur pere un mouton à toison
d’or, ils monterent tous deux dessus, pour traverser la
mer de Pont. Mais Helle, s’espouvantant de la gran-
deur de la mer cheut en icelle, & se noya,
dont encor
jusqu’au jourd’huy icelle mer s’appelle de son nom
Hellespont. Phryxus arriva en l’isle de Colchos, & là
immola le mouton, & pendit au temple sa toison d’or
pour memoire. Ce Phryxus, ou plustot le mouton
couvert d’une si riche toison, peut representer un
homme riche & opulent, mais qui n’a ni jugement
ni raison: ains se laisse conduire à
l’appetit & volon-
té de sa femme, ou de son valet.
1. For the story of Phrixus and the Golden Fleece see Ovid, Fastii 3.851ff.
Related Emblems
Show related emblemsHint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- coast [25H13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sea (seascape) [25H23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- wave [25H2311] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- winds [26C] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head bent forward; bowing [31A244] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward [31A2511] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards [31A2515] Search | Browse Iconclass
- floating (movement in water) (+ variant) [31A2774(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking downwards [31B6212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- drapery, draped garment, 'Gewandgebung' (+ men's clothes) [41D27(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- riding on animal other than horse, ass, or mule [46C132:47I2131] Search | Browse Iconclass
- harbour [46C223] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sailing-ship, sailing-boat (+ under way, at sea (~ travelling)) [46C24(+63)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ram [47I2131] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Phrixus and Helle escape on the ram (+ variant) [95A(PHRIXUS)32(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the ram with the golden fleece ~ attribute of Phrixus [95A(PHRIXUS)81] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- minerals and metals: gold [25D13(GOLD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- servant [31A56] Search | Browse Iconclass
- harnessing, saddling, etc. [34(+6)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- marriage, married couple, 'matrimonium' [42D3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the rich [46A16] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Ignorance; 'Ignoranza', 'Ignoranza di tutte le cose', 'Ignoranza in un ricco senza lettere' (Ripa) [52AA5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Folly, Foolishness; 'Pazzia', 'Sciocchezza', 'Stoltitia' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52AA51(+4):46A160] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (story of) Ovid [98B(OVID)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.
