
A LA VERTU RIEN N’EST
inaccessible.
BIen que de la vertu maint obstacle s’approche,
Elle pourtant n’a point ses desseins destournez:
D’aucun object facheux ne sont ses pas bornez:
Mais se trace un chemin dans la solide roche.
Ainsi son nourrisson, des celestes plus proche,
Dont les divins esprits aux beaux actes sont nez,
Roidit contre l’effort: & de ses coups donnez
R’embarre [=Rembarre]
brusquement le peril qui l’accroche.
De ce qui est petit il se rit: & l’ardeur
Qui l’anime, n’est point esteinte en la grandeur,
Ou difficile effect d’une entreprise insigne.
Aussi faut il oser; & genereusement
Par le fer, & le feu, la peine, & le tourment
S’aquerir vertueux une chose divine.

Ad Laelium Cleopassum Hydruntinum.[1]
Invia virtuti nulla est via.[2]
There is no path closed to virtue
IN via virtuti mulla est via: velle probatur
In magnis: et si non datur ire procul.
Despondere animum noli, tibi siquid agendum
Praeclarź. Facilem fata viam invenient.[3]
For virtue there is everywhere a way: will is tested in the great, even if it is not given to go far. Do not be cast down in your mind, if anything must be done exceptionally well, the fates will find an easy way.
1. Laelius Cleopassus, from Otranto (in Calabria), poet and friend of Biossard in Padua. Died soon after the plague of 1576 (see also Boissard 1593, no. 29, [FBOb029]).
2. Ovid, Metamorphoses, 14.113, citing the words the Sybil spoke when Aeneas sought entry to the Underworld (cf. Montenay, emblem 60, [FMOa060]).
3. This quatrain reflects the setiments of Vergil, Aeneid, 6.
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- (showing oneself) undressed, quasi-nude [41D9] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult woman [31D15] Search | Browse Iconclass
- city-view in general; 'veduta' [25I1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown [41D211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Greek script [49L13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hacking and thrusting weapons (with NAME) [45C13(SWORD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helmet [45C221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- pacing, striding [31A27111] Search | Browse Iconclass
- pedestal of a piece of sculpture (perhaps in the form of a herm) [48C244] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rocks [25H112] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Virtuousness; 'Amor di Virtł', 'Attione virtuosa', 'Guida sicura de' veri honori', 'Virtł', 'Virtł insuperabile' (Ripa) [57A6] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Virtus as Roman personification [96A5(VIRTUS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Action; 'Operatione manifesta' (Ripa) [54D2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Danger; 'Pericolo' (Ripa) [54DD51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Difficulty [54DD4] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Fates, Parcae (Moirae) [92G1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Industriousness, Assiduity; 'Assiduitą', 'Industria', 'Zelo' (Ripa) [54A11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Pain, Sorrow, Sadness; 'Dolore', 'Dolore di Zeusi' (Ripa) [56BB1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- representations ~ gods, demi-gods, heroes, etc. (non-Christian religions) [12B13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- road, path [46C11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Skill, Ability; 'Artificio', 'Prontezza' (Ripa) [54A33] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Will; 'Volontą' (Ripa) [53A1] Search | Browse Iconclass
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