
EMBLEMA XLIIII.
Vidi ego carnificis metuentem verbera saevi,
Qui medias sese Ligeris proiecit in undas,
Et quanvis sudore madens, expersque natandi
Fluminis evasit pede calcans ima profundi,
Quem mox non una poenas pro caede luentem
Vidimus impositum torreri viscera flammis.
Haec age dispicito rectae qui tramite vitae
Deserto, magis atque magis periturus oberras:
Nam qụ tardior est, gravior fit numinis ira.[1]
I see a man fearing the lashes of the savage executioner who throws himself right into the waves of the Loire and, although dripping with sweat and not knowing how to swim, walking on foot, escapes the depths of the deep river, a man whom soon we see suffering punishment for many a death, hung up, his entrails to be burnt. Come, see this: you who wander, having abandoned the path of a correct life, you are all the more destined to die: for the longer it is delayed, the more serious the anger of God becomes.
1. This emblem probably refers to a specific event in France related to the religious turmoils (thus far unidentifed), but might the depicted outcome be real, symbolic, or wishful thinking?
For further thought: maybe Henri III was pursued across the Loire after a battle? Maybe this is a French commander of the League (cr. by Henri de Guise in 1576)? Could Ligeris be a pun on La Ligue, not the Loire?Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- (high) hill [25H113] Search | Browse Iconclass
- city-view in general; 'veduta' [25I1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- jumping down [31A2724] Search | Browse Iconclass
- more than eight persons [31A(+79)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rowing facing backward, pulling [46C2322] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sea [25H2322] Search | Browse Iconclass
- smoke [41B162] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees [25G3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- violent death by burning at the stake; pyre [31E23121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- violent death by hanging [31E2355] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- 'Sapientia', Wisdom; 'Sapienza divina' (Ripa) ~ one of the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost [11E541] Search | Browse Iconclass
- criminals [44G5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- crossing a river [46C1111] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Fear, Dread; 'Paura', 'Timidità o Timore', 'Timore' (Ripa) [56DD1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- flight, running away; pursuing [33B9] Search | Browse Iconclass
- geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(LOIRE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- God's wrath [11A3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Judgment of Conduct [57B] Search | Browse Iconclass
- public punishment [44G(+561)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- pursuit of the criminal [44G24] Search | Browse Iconclass
- walking [31A2711] Search | Browse Iconclass
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