Link to an image of this page [C1v p34]
Πῆ παρέβην; τί δ’ἔρεξα; τί μοι δέον οὐκ ἐτελέσθῆ;
Where have I transgressed? What have I committed? What thing incumbent on me has been left undone?
EMBLEMA XVII.
Italicae Samius sectae celeberrimus auctor[1]
Ipse suum clausit carmine dogma brevi:
Quò praetergressus? quid agis? quid omittis agendum?[2]
Hanc rationem urgens reddere quemque sibi.
Quod didicisse Gruum volitantum ex agmine fertur,
Arreptum gestant quae pedibus lapidem:[3]
Ne cessent, neu transversas mala flamina raptent.
Qua ratione, hominum vita regenda fuit.
The famous Samian founder of the Italian sect himself put his essential teaching into a short verse: Where have you overstepped the mark? What are you doing? What are you leaving undone that ought to be done? - urging each man to make this reckoning in his own mind. He is said to have learnt this from a skein of flying cranes, which seize a stone and carry it in their claws, to prevent themselves from making no headway, and to stop adverse gusts of wind carrying them off course. Man’s life was ever to be lived on this principle.
1. Italicae Samius sectae...autor, ‘Samian founder of the Italian sect’, i.e. Pythagoras. Born in Samos, he emigrated in 531 BC to Croton in South Italy, where he founded a religious/philosophical sect.
2. This is a version of the Greek text in the motto, which is recorded in Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Philosophers, 8.20.
3. Cranes wisely carrying stones as ballast are likened to men of foresight in Suidas (i.e, the Suda), s.v. geranos. Other reasons were suggested by ancient writers for this habit.
Related Emblems
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- Emblemata (1550), Lyon: Pe^ parebe^n? ti derexa? ti moi deon, ouk etelesthe^? Quid excessi? quid admisi? quid omisi? | Open in other pane
- Emblemata (1551), Lyon: Pe^ parebe^n? ti de erxea? ti moi deon, ouk etelesthe^? Quid excessi? quid admisi? quid omisi? | Open in other pane
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- Liber emblematum ... Kunstbuch (1567), Franckfurt am Main: Pe^ parebe^s; ti derexas; ti soi deon ouk etelesthe^s; Wo gehstu her, was hastu gthon, wz hastu Rechts zu thun underlohn. | Open in other pane
- Diverse imprese (1551), Lyon: Che lhuomo dee cosiderar quello, chegli ha operato, & quello cha lasciato doperare | Open in other pane
- Emblemes (1549), Lyons: Qui s'emende dict en ce point. QU'AY JE FAICT TROP, OU PEU, OU POINT? | Open in other pane
- Emblemata / Les emblemes (1584), Paris: Pe^ parebe^n; ti d'erexa; ti moi deon ouk etelesthe^ Qu'ay-je fait trop? que fay-je, ou ne fay pas? | Open in other pane
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Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- kinds of non-precious stone [25D12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- shore-birds and wading-birds: crane (+ animal(s) holding something) [25F37(CRANE)(+5245)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- shore-birds and wading-birds: crane (+ postures, positions of animal(s)) [25F37(CRANE)(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- boulder, stone [25H1124] Search | Browse Iconclass
- coast [25H13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward [31A2511] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the body [31A2516] Search | Browse Iconclass
- index finger forwards, pointing, indicating [31A25552] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other (+ standing) [31A2621(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward - AA - both arms or hands (+ indicating, pointing at) [31AA2512(+931)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear (+ men's clothes) [41D221(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- gear for legs and feet (+ men's clothes) [41D233(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- drapery, draped garment, 'Gewandgebung' (+ men's clothes) [41D27(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Europeans (with NAME) [32B311(ITALIANS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Self-knowledge (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52A53(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Intemperance, Immoderation [54AA43] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Sense of Duty, Devotion to Duty (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57A2(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Evasion of Duty, Dereliction of Duty (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57AA2(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Human Life; 'Vita humana', 'Vita inquieta', 'Vita e l'animo' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [58B21(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Pythagoras, the philosopher [98B(PYTHAGORAS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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