
Election de vertu.
Le grand chemin meine à perdition
Ceulx la qui vont par une telle voye,
Et le petit meine a salvation
Dont on recoit inestimable joye.

Au temps passé Hercules arriva
Sur deux chemins, ou deux dames trouva
L’une vertu, & l’aultre Volupté
Toutes deux l’ont sur le champ arresté,
Et luy ont dict (voire chascune à part)
De leur nature & faictz une grande part.
Croy mon conseil (dict Volupté lascive)
Preux Hercules il fault que tu me suyves
Entre au chemin tout revestu de fleurs,
Et laisses la vertu avecq ses pleurs,
Avecques moy tu pourras en plaisance
De tous delictz avoir tresample aisance.
Ah (dict Vertu) fleur de chevallerie
A mes propos jamais ne contrarie
Suy moy par cy, vueille apres moy venir
Et tu pourras en la fin parvenir
Au lieu d’honneur place tant estimée
Ou s’accroistra ta grande renommée
Et laisse la le chemin des delices
Qui maine au lieu des pechez & des vices
Sy le chemin est trop laborieux
Ton parvenir sera plus glorieux.
Lors Hercules pour estre revestu
D’honneur & loz chemine apres Vertu,
Et tant voulut en haultz faictz s’employer
Qu’ung beau chappeau il eut pour son loyer.
1. This story comes from an ancient tradition. See Erwin Panofsky, Hercules am Scheidewege, Studien der Bibliothek Warburg XVIII (Leipzig/Berlin, 1930), p. 42ff.
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- (story of) Hercules (Heracles) [94L] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult woman (+ three persons) [31D15(+73)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- allegorical scene, i.e. two or more personifications involved in an action [5(+2)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards [31A2515] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward [31A2512] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched sidewards [31A2513] Search | Browse Iconclass
- attributes of Hercules (with NAME) [94L8(CLUB)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- attributes of Hercules (with NAME) [94L8(LION'S SKIN)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- barefoot [41D2339] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals (with NAME) [25F23(LION)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- coat, cape [41D212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- drapery, draped garment, 'Gewandgebung' [41D27] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dress, gown [41D211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- emblematical representation of concept [5(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- flowers [25G41] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of plants (herbs) [25G13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear [41D221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Hercules at the cross-roads, 'Herkules am Scheidewege': the choice of Hercules [94L72] Search | Browse Iconclass
- holding something [31B6(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- leaning [31B6(+52)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Licentiousness, Lasciviousness; 'Lascivia', 'Licenza' (Ripa) [57AA51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking over the shoulder [31A247] Search | Browse Iconclass
- low hill country [25H114] Search | Browse Iconclass
- nun(s) [11P31522] Search | Browse Iconclass
- old woman [31D17] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ribbon, scroll, banderole ~ ornament [48A9851] Search | Browse Iconclass
- skin, fleece, hide, fur, leather [34(+9351)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- symbolical representation of concept [5(+3)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the (nude) human figure; 'Corpo humano' (Ripa) [31A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- thorny twig [25G(+222)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Virtuousness; 'Amor di Virtù', 'Attione virtuosa', 'Guida sicura de' veri honori', 'Virtù', 'Virtù insuperabile' (Ripa) [57A6] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Virtus as Roman personification [96A5(VIRTUS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Voluptas as Roman personification [96A5(VOLUPTAS)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- walking [31A2711] Search | Browse Iconclass
- walking-stick, staff [41D263] Search | Browse Iconclass
- weapons for striking a blow (with NAME) [45C12(CLUB)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- wreath, garland ~ festive activities [43A(+12)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Choice; 'Elettione' (Ripa) [53A11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- honour, 'Honor' ~ one of the seven gifts of the soul [11S724] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Honour, Glory; 'Ampiezza della Gloria', 'Gloria', 'Gloria de prencipi', 'Gloria & Honore', 'Honore', 'Sublimatà della Gloria' (Ripa) [59B31] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Instinct, Natural Disposition; 'Instinto naturale' (Ripa) [58B6] Search | Browse Iconclass
- joy, 'Gaudium' ~ one of the seven gifts of the soul [11S727] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Last Judgement [11U] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Pleasure, Enjoyment, Joy; 'Allegrezza', 'Allegrezza da le medaglie', 'Allegrezza, letitia e giubilo', 'Diletto', 'Piacere', 'Piacere honesto' (Ripa) [56B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Rewarding Goodness [57B11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the way to destruction is broad and the gate is wide; the way to life is narrow and the gate is straight ~ doctrine of Christ on love, etc. (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:24) [73C7454] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Vice, Evil, Sin; 'Peccato' (Ripa) [11N1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- weeping [31B6214] Search | Browse Iconclass
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