Link to an image of this page [b4v p24]
In avaros, vel quibus melior condi-
tio ab extraneis offertur.
On the avaricious; or being treated better by strangers.
XI.
Delphini insidens vada eaerula [=caerula]
sulcat Arion[1],
Hocque aures mulcet, fraenat & ora sono.
Quàm sit avari hominis, non tam mens dira ferarum est.
Quique viris rapimur, piscibus eripimur.
Astride a dolphin, Arion cleaves the dark blue waves, and with this song charms the creature’s ears and muzzles its mouth: “The mind of wild beasts is not so savage as that of greedy man. We who are savaged by men are saved by fish”.
COMMENTARIA.
Arion Musicus & Citharoedus excellentis-
simus, ex Lesbo insula, qui cùm peregrè arte
sua magnos fecisset quaestus, tandem in pa-
triam navigaturus, nautae ut pecuniam eius
lucrifacerent, illum è navi in pelagus demer-
gere decreverant, qui postquàm ab eis mo-
dicum spatii impetrasset, assumpta Cithara
quàm dulcissimè lusit, adeoque ut Delphinis
Link to an image of this page [b5r p25]suavitate cantus congregatis, se cùm in mare
praecipitem daret, super dorsum unius exce-
ptus & ad littus incolumis reductus fertur,
hunc Apologum pulcherrimum vide pro-
lixius apud Aulum Gellium li. 16. cap. 19. pariter apud
Ovidium in Fastis. Et quàm hominum sit amator
Delphinus attestatur idem Gellii lib. 7. cap. 8.
Plura denique de eodem & eius natura Plinii li-
bro. 9. cap. 8. Ostenditur nec irrationalis ani-
mantis mentem tam crudelem esse, quàm ani-
mum hominis avari: Etenim à viris perdimur,
à piscibus liberamur: ut non immeritò excla-
met Poëta: Quid mortalia pectora cogis,
Auri sacra fames.[2]
1. The crew of the ship on which the celebrated musician Arion was travelling, after robbing him, prepared to throw him overboard. He persuaded them to allow him to play his lyre for the last time. Then, after invoking the gods, he jumped into the sea, whereupon a music-loving dolphin conveyed him to land. See Aulus Gellius, Noctes Atticae 16.19.
2. This reference (misquoted) is to Vergil, Aenead, 3, 56-7.
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Relating to the image:
- swimming mammals: dolphin (+ postures of the head ~ animal) [25F27(DOLPHIN)(+54)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- swimming mammals: dolphin (+ animal with mouth wide open) [25F27(DOLPHIN)(+5733)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of birds (+ flying animal(s)) [25F31(+5262)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sea (seascape) [25H23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- wave [25H2311] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward (+ holding something) [31A2511(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- gripping someone by other parts of the body (+ relations with aggressive, hostile character (expressive connotations)) [31A2549(+92)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- being thrown [31A2735] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards - AA - both arms or hands (+ holding something) [31AA2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking upwards [31B6211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- animal taking care of man [34F2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- riding on animal other than horse, ass, or mule [46C132] Search | Browse Iconclass
- parts of ship's exterior (with NAME) [46C215(ANCHOR)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sailing-ship, sailing-boat (+ under way, at sea (~ travelling)) [46C24(+63)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- on the bridge (manoeuvering) [46C2851] Search | Browse Iconclass
- falling overboard (+ variant) [46C2923(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- harp - CC - out of doors [48CC7322] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one person playing string instrument (plucked) - CC - out of doors [48CC7522] Search | Browse Iconclass
- singer accompanying himself - CC - out of doors [48CC7541] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Arion rides on a dolphin, holding his lyre [98B(ARION)51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (story of) Arion suffering, misfortune of person from classical history [98B(ARION)6] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- 'Ajuto', 'Soccorso' (Ripa) [33A610] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Greed, Covetousness, Cupidity; 'Cupidit?(Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55CC11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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