
Andreae Alciati Em-
blematum liber
secundus.
In divites publico malo.
Those who grow rich out of public misfortune
I.
Anguillas quisquis captat, si limpida verrat
Flumina, si illimes ausit adire lacus,
Cassus erit, ludetque operam. multum excitet ergo
Si cretae, & vitreas palmula turbet aquas,
Dives erit. sic iis res publica turbida lucro est,
Qui pace, arctati legibus, esuriunt.[1]
If anyone hunting eels sweeps clear rivers or thinks to visit unmuddied lakes, he will be unsuccessful and waste his efforts. If he instead stirs up much clay and with his oar churns the crystal waters, he will be rich. Likewise a state in turmoil becomes a source of profit to people who in peace go hungry, because the law cramps their style.
1. Cf. Erasmus, Adagia, 2579 (Anguillas captare).
Related Emblems

- Declaracion magistral sobre las Emblemas de Andres Alciato (1615), Najera: IN DIVITES MALO PUBLICO. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata (1621), Padua: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Emblematum libellus (1546), Venice: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Los Emblemas (1549), Lyon: Contra los que enrriqueçen con el mal comun. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata (1550), Lyon: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata (1551), Lyon: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Toutes les emblemes (1558), Lyon: Contre les riches au dommage public. | Open in other pane
- Liber emblematum ... Kunstbuch (1567), Franckfurt am Main: In divites publico malo. Wider die so reich mit andern schaden werden. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata (1591), Leiden: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Diverse imprese (1551), Lyon: In quegli, che si fanno ricchi con publico danno. | Open in other pane
- Emblemes (1549), Lyons: Contre les riches au dommage public. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata / Les emblemes (1584), Paris: In divites publico malo. De ceux qui s'enrichissent aux despens du public. | Open in other pane
- Les emblemes (1615), Geneva/Cologny: Contre ceux qui s'enrichissent du dommage publique. | Open in other pane
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Relating to the image:
Relating to the text:
- mud (soil type) [25D26] Search | Browse Iconclass
- eels [25F63] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sports, games and physical performances (+ requirements, necessaries ~ sports and games) [43C(+4)(STICK)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- fisherma [43C128] Search | Browse Iconclass
- 'Seditio'; 'Rebellione', 'Seditione civile' (Ripa) [44F0] Search | Browse Iconclass
- war and peace [45A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Adversity, Misfortune, Bad Luck; 'Fortuna infelice', 'Infortunio' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54FF11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Acquisition, Gain, Profit (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55A1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Greed, Covetousness, Cupidity; 'Cupidità § (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55CC11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Violation of the Law [59CC1] Search | Browse Iconclass
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EMBLEMA CXVIII.
In divites publico malo.
Those who grow rich out of public misfortune
Anguillas quisquis captat, si limpida verrat
Flumina, si illimes ausit adire lacus,
Cassus erit, ludetque operam: multum excitet ergo
Si cretae, & vitreas palmula turbet aquas,
Dives erit: sic iis res publica turbida lucro est,
Qui pace, arctati legibus, esuriunt.[1]
If anyone hunting eels sweeps clear rivers or thinks to visit unmuddied lakes, he will be unsuccessful and waste his efforts. If he instead stirs up much clay and with his oar churns the crystal waters, he will be rich. Likewise a state in turmoil becomes a source of profit to people who in peace go hungry, because the law cramps their style.
Das CXVIII.
Wider die so reich mit andern scha-
den werden.
Ein jeder der Ael fahen wil
So er die hellen Wasser stil
Fischt, und so er sich understeht
Und in die lautern gruben geht
Der schafft vergebns und sein müh ist
Umb sonst, so er aber mit list
Link to an image of this page [M3r f78r]
Das Wasser trüb macht und darinn
Vil gmür auff rürt, hat er gut gwinn
Also ist auch die Policei nütz
Die mit vil auffruhr wirt verstürtzt
Denen die sonst im fried und ruh
Darben und haben nicht darzu.
1. Cf. Erasmus, Adagia, 2579 (Anguillas captare).
Related Emblems

- Declaracion magistral sobre las Emblemas de Andres Alciato (1615), Najera: IN DIVITES MALO PUBLICO. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata (1621), Padua: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Emblematum libellus (1546), Venice: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Los Emblemas (1549), Lyon: Contra los que enrriqueçen con el mal comun. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata (1550), Lyon: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata (1551), Lyon: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Emblematum libri II (Stockhamer) (1556), Lyon: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Toutes les emblemes (1558), Lyon: Contre les riches au dommage public. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata (1591), Leiden: In divites publico malo. | Open in other pane
- Diverse imprese (1551), Lyon: In quegli, che si fanno ricchi con publico danno. | Open in other pane
- Emblemes (1549), Lyons: Contre les riches au dommage public. | Open in other pane
- Emblemata / Les emblemes (1584), Paris: In divites publico malo. De ceux qui s'enrichissent aux despens du public. | Open in other pane
- Les emblemes (1615), Geneva/Cologny: Contre ceux qui s'enrichissent du dommage publique. | Open in other pane
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Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
Relating to the text:
- mud (soil type) [25D26] Search | Browse Iconclass
- eels [25F63] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lake [25H214] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sports, games and physical performances (+ requirements, necessaries ~ sports and games) [43C(+4)(STICK)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- fisherman [43C128] Search | Browse Iconclass
- 'Seditio'; 'Rebellione', 'Seditione civile' (Ripa) [44F0] Search | Browse Iconclass
- war and peace [45A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Adversity, Misfortune, Bad Luck; 'Fortuna infelice', 'Infortunio' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54FF11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Acquisition, Gain, Profit (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55A1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Greed, Covetousness, Cupidity; 'Cupidità § (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55CC11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Violation of the Law [59CC1] Search | Browse Iconclass
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