Link to an image of this page [A7v]
PAUPERTATEM SUMMIS
ingeniis obesse ne provehantur.[1]
Poverty prevents the advancement of the best of abilities
Link to an image of this page [A8r]
Dextra tenet lapidem, manus altera sustinet alas,
Ut me pluma levat, sic grave mergit onus.
Ingenio poteram superas volitare per arces,
Me nisi paupertas invida deprimeret.
My right hand holds a rock, the other bears wings. As the feathers lift me, so the heavy weight drags me down. By my mental gifts I could have flown through the heights of heaven, if malign poverty did not hold me back.
1. For the sentiment cf. Juvenal, Satires 3.164-5: ‘it is hard for people to rise when straitened circumstances stand in the way of their natural abilities.’
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Relating to the image:
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- animals (+ wings of an animal) [25F(+342)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards (+ holding something) [31A2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward (+ reaching for somebody or something, seizing something, touching) [31A2511(+934)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- boulder, stone [25H1124] Search | Browse Iconclass
- carrying something [46C121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- coat, cape [41D212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear [41D221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- scholar, philosopher [49C3] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Ambition; 'Ambitione', 'Amor di Fama' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56F11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Hindrance, Obstruction (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54EE2(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Poverty; 'Povertà ', 'Povertà del doni', 'Povertà in uno ch'habbia bell'ingegno' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55BB1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Progression, Forward Movement (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51L4(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Regression, Backward Movement (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51LL4(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Rest, Immobility, Stasis (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51LL1(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Talent (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52A13(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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