Link to an image of this page [C8v f24v]Morus.
The mulberry
Serior at Morus nunquam nisi frigore lapso
Germinat;[1] & sapiens nomina falsa[2] gerit.
On the other hand, the mulberry is late, and never until the frost is past does it shoot; though wise, it bears a false name.
1. See Pliny, Natural History, 16.25.102: “the mulberry is the last of domesticated trees to shoot, and only does so when the frosts are over; for that reason it is called the wisest of trees”.
2. nomina falsa, ‘a false name’, reference to a supposed ‘etymology by opposites’: Latin morus ‘mulberry’ was equated with Greek μῶρος ‘fool’, but the tree was considered wise: see note 1.
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 plants (herbs) [25G13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees: mulberry-tree (+ plants used symbolically) [25G3(MULBERRY-TREE)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- low hill country [25H114] Search | Browse Iconclass
- farm or solitary house in landscape [25I3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rural housing, e.g. country-house, villa, cottage [41A16] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- trees: mulberry-tree (+ bearing fruit) [25G3(MULBERRY-TREE)(+34)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- frost, freezing weather [26D] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Precaution (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52A24(+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 [N6r p203]
Le meurier.
XLIIII.
Jamais durant le froid le meurier ne bourgeonne:[1]
Sage il est, quoy qu’à tort nom
de fol on luy donne.[2]
Link to an image of this page [N6v p204]
Commentaires.
On baille diverses etymologies au meurier. Les
uns le derivent d’un mot Latin, qui signifie retarde-
ment: les autres d’un mot Grec qui signifie noir: &
autres encor d’un autre mot Grec, qui
signifie fol: &
ce par antiphrase: car c’est le plus sage de tous les ar-
bres. Pline & autres en parlent en ceste façon: Le
meurier verdoye le dernier de tous les arbres de la
ville: car il attend que tout le froid soit passé: & pour-
ce est-il appellé le plus sage de tous les arbres. Mais
quand il commence à pousser, il acheve tout en une
nuict, & se fait mesme ouïr. On l’employe pour sym-
bole de la prudence: car il attend l’occasion du temps
& de la saison, de peur que l’injure de l’air ne l’en-
dommage. Ainsi l’homme prudent dilaye tout expres
ses affaires d’importance, & tous ses conseils, ne les
voulant point executer avant le temps, ains attendant
une occasionmeure , ou il les puisse exploiter sans
dommage & sans danger.
1. See Pliny, Natural History, 16.25.102: “the mulberry is the last of domesticated trees to shoot, and only does so when the frosts are over; for that reason it is called the wisest of trees”.
2. Reference to a supposed ‘etymology by opposites’: Latin morus ‘mulberry’ was equated with Greek μῶρος ‘fool’, but the tree was considered wise: see note 1.
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:
Relating to the text:
- winter, 'Hyems'; 'Inverno' (Ripa) [23D41] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees: mulberry-tree (+ plants used symbolically) [25G3(MULBERRY-TREE)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Precaution (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52A24(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.
