Link to an image of this page [B6r p27]
L'effegie d’Ocnus, contre ceux qui donnent aux
garses ce qu’on doit convertir à bon
usage.[1]
XVII.
Link to an image of this page [B6v p28]
Un homme avec des joncs d’Espagne
Cordes faisoit infiniment:
Mais pour quelque peine qu’il preigne,
Povre il demeure incessamment:
Car son Asnesse hastivement
Mangeoit pour foin tout son ouvrage.
Maintes femmes pareillement
Consument tost grand labourage.
commentaires.
Ocnus, homme industrieux, laborieux, & assidu
avoit une femme si somptueuese & despensiere, que
tout ce qu’il pouvoit amasser par son travail, elle le
marpailloit tout en moins de rien. De là est venu le
proverbe, Cestuy-cy tord la corde d’Ocnus. On peint
ce brave cordier, travaillant incessament apres ses
cordes: mais tant qu’il en peut faire, une paresseuse as-
nesse le luy devore incontinent. Ainsi la femme, ani-
mal paresseux, luxurieux, & pernicieux, par sa lasci-
veté & prodigalité consume en peu de temps tout ce
que son povre mari a pu acquerir par son long tra-
vail & par sa sueur.
1. The painting by Polygnotus depicting this scene is described in Pausanias, Periegesis 29.2. See also Propertius, Elegies 4.3.21; Erasmus, Adagia 383, Contorquet piger funiculum. Ocnus, idleness personified, was a proverbial example of wasted effort.
Related Emblems
- [Alciato, Andrea, 1536: Ocni effigies, de his qui meretricibus donant, quod in bonos usus verti debeat. Leffigie de Ocnus contre ceulx qui donnent aux garses ce quon doibt convertir a bon usaige.]
- [Alciato, Andrea, 1549: L'image de Ocne. De ceulx qui donnent aulx paillardes: ce que debvoit estre converty en bons usages.]
- [Alciato, Andrea, 1584: Ocni effigies, de iis qui meretricibus donant, quod in bonos usus verti debeat. L'effigie d'Ocnus: de ceux qui donnent aux putains ce qui devoit estre converti en bons usages.]
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- (ball of) yarn (+ reeds, rushes ~ crafts, industries, agriculture) [47H352(+442)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- animals eating and drinking [25F(+45)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched sidewards (+ holding something) [31A2513(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ass, donkey (+ animals eating and drinking) [46C13142(+745)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- castle [41A12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- city-walls [25I146] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clothing for the upper part of the body (+ men's clothes) [41D223(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- drawing, pulling something [31A2747] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown (+ men's clothes) [41D211(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- gear for legs and feet (+ men's clothes) [41D233(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear (+ men's clothes) [41D221(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Ocnus, usually twisting a cord which is eaten by an ass as soon as it is being made [9.30E+87] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other, walking position (+ standing) [31A26211(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- pushing something [31A2748] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rope-making [47H41] Search | Browse Iconclass
- spinning (manufacture of yarn) (+ men (labourers)) [47H31(+21)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- tools, aids, implements ~ crafts and industries: rope [47D8(ROPE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trousers, breeches (+ men's clothes) [41D231(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- two persons [31A(+72)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(SPAIN)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Industriousness, Assiduity; 'Assiduit৬ 'Industria', 'Zelo' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54A11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- marriage, married couple, 'matrimonium' [42D3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Sluggishness, Inertia; 'Dapocaggine', 'Pigritia' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54AA11(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Squandering, Extravagance, Prodigality, Waste; 'Prodigalitৠ(Ripa) (+ emblematical representation [55C11(+4):42D36] Search | Browse Iconclass
- whore, prostitute [33C520] Search | Browse Iconclass
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