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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M3r p181]

La renommee des preux est immor-
telle.

XVII.

D’Achille le tumbeau au Sigé promontoire,[1]
Si souvent visité par la blanche Thetis,[2]
D’amaranthe est couvert tousjours verd & exquis:[3]
Car jamais des Heros ne se flestrit la gloire.
Il fut rempar aux Grecs, à Hector mort amere:
Homere autant luy doit, comme il doit à Homere.[4]

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M3v p182]

Commentaires.

L’inscription de cest embleme luy sert de commen-
taire. Amaranthe est une herbe qui ne flestrit jamais.
C’est pourquoy on ne revestit les sepulchres des preux
& vaillans Capitaines. Thetis est tousjours en l’eau.
Et pource on la surnomme blanche, & aux pieds
blancs. Achille doit beaucoup à Homere, pource qu’il
l’a immortalisé par sa docte poësie: Mais Homere ne
doit pas peu à Achille, puis qu’il l’a fourni de si digne
subject & argument pour pouvoir desployer les thre-
sors de son eloquence.

Notes:

1.  ‘Aeacus’ descendant’, i.e. Achilles, the greatest warrior on the Greek side in the Trojan War. Rhoeteum was a promontory on the Trojan coast (though normally associated with the tomb of Ajax).

2.  Thetis, a sea-nymph, mother of Achilles, called ‘silver-footed’ by Homer.

3.  amaranthe: the name of the plant means ‘never-fading’. See Pliny, Natural History, 21.23.47.

4.  Homer, who told in the Iliad the famous story of Achilles’ wrath and refusal to fight during the Trojan War, and of his eventual slaying of Hector, the chief warrior on the Trojan side. (For which see [FALd057]). For the sentiment that great deeds need to be sung in order not to be forgotten, see Horace, Odes, 4.8.20ff; and that great literature needs great themes, see Tacitus, Dialogus de oratoribus, 37.



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    • (story of) Homer representations to which the NAME of a person from classical history may be attached [98B(HOMER)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • Courage, Bravery, Valiance, Manliness; 'Ardire magnanimo et generoso', 'Gagliardezza', 'Valore', 'Virt?oica', 'Virt?l'animo e del corpo' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54A8(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • extinct, 'historical' peoples (with NAME) (+ costume) [32B2(GREEK)(+3)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • Fame; 'Fama', 'Fama buona', 'Fama chiara' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [59B32(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(SIGE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • Hector [95A(HECTOR)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • Immortality, Imperishableness; 'Immortalità§ (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [58B3(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • laying flowers or wreath on grave [42E441] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • plants and herbs: amaranth [25G4(AMARANTH)] Search | Browse Iconclass
    • Thetis mourning Achilles [94G533] Search | Browse Iconclass

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