
XXVII.
INVITUM QUI SERVAT IDEM FA-
cit occidenti.
GLadio ignem ne fodito, inquit Pythagoras:[1] flamma enim
gladio involuta gliscens, uno momento tenentis invadit
manum. Hoc praecepto annuit ira percitum non esse severiùs
reprehendendum. Ira furor brevis est. qua qui correpti sunt,
iudicium ac mentem amittunt. Et ut plurimùm qui hoc furo-
re percelluntur, ab eo vel sine profectu, vel cum periculo re-
vocantur à benè monentibus. Ubi deest mens, disciplina ni-
hil iuvat. Mala perpetrare cogit ira plurima. Et haud tuta in ira
consilia capi queunt. Prudentis est aliquando reprehensione
uti. hoc docet charitas, hoc iubet amicitia, & humaniores affe-
ctus, qui proximi conservationem procurant. In omni tamen
reprehensione sexus, aetas, tempus, & conditio illius quem
moneas consideranda sunt. Sic iuniorem tanquam filium; Se-
niorem tanquam patrem; aequalem ut amicum; potentiorem
verò maiori iudicio alloquere amaritudinem reprehensionis
multa praefatione & reverentia leniendo, ut benignioribus &
attentioribus audiat, quae dices, auribus. omnia ad aedificatio-
nem proximi sunt referenda. charitas nobis scopus sit. Pervi-
cacem verò & moribus perditum quòd cures nihil est. Asino
scabioso, & foedato sordibus, si laves caput,
operam cum lixivio per-
des.

XXVII.
Lentulo Ventidio Nucerino. I.C.[2]
INVITUM QUI SERVAT IDEM FACIT OCCIDENTI.[3]
He who saves a man against his will, does the same as one who kills him
IGnem ne gladio fodito;[4] furor haud habet aures.
Servare invitum maxima stultitia est.
Sic refragantem è scopulo detrudit asellum
Rusticus: ingratum nil benefacta iuvant.
Do not poke the fire with your sword. Rage has no ears. It is a great stupidity to save someone who does not want it. So the farmer drives the donkey which resists [his aid] away from the cliff (scopulum fig. = harm, evil): the good deeds do not help the ungrateful [beast].
1. Reference to a Pythagorean dictum, in Erasmus, Adagia, 1.1.2. Cf. Corrozet, Hecatomgraphie, number 42 ([FCGa042]).
2. Lentulus Ventidius of Nocera (in Umbria), a friend of Boissard’s in Padua, who died of the plague there in 1576; a lawyer and collector of portraits. See also Boissard 1588, no.10 ([FBOa010]).
3. Horace, De Arte Poetica liber, 453.
4. See note 1, above.
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Relating to the image:
- altar [11Q7141] Search | Browse Iconclass
- armour [45C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ass, donkey [46C13142] Search | Browse Iconclass
- base (~ column, pillar) [48C1613] Search | Browse Iconclass
- city-view in general; 'veduta' [25I1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- couple of lovers [33C23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dish, plate, saucer [41C341] Search | Browse Iconclass
- fire (one of the four elements) [21C] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Greek script [49L13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hacking and thrusting weapons (with NAME) [45C13(SWORD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hand(s) bent towards the head [31A2531] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helmet [45C221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hunting, chase [43C11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- inscription [49L8] Search | Browse Iconclass
- jar, jug (used as drinking-vessel) [41C326] Search | Browse Iconclass
- kneeling figure [31A233] Search | Browse Iconclass
- low hill country [25H114] Search | Browse Iconclass
- on fire, ablaze [41B4] Search | Browse Iconclass
- poking (stirring up a fire) [41B133] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rodents (with NAME) [25F26(RABBIT)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- smoke [41B162] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees [25G3] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Folly, Foolishness; 'Pazzia', 'Sciocchezza', 'Stoltitia' (Ripa) [52AA51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Ingratitude; 'Ingratitudine' (Ripa) [57AA8] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Rage, Anger [56E2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Rashness, Imprudence, Recklessness [52AA21] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rescuing «« KEY (9162) TO 31B6 morphology of human expression [31B6(+9162)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Vehemence, Violence, Fierceness; 'Sforza con Inganno', 'Violenza' (Ripa) [54AA4] Search | Browse Iconclass
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