
In frivolarium [=frivolarum] emptorem. Ex Diogene.
On the man buying trash. After Diogenes.
Homines oratio probat non vestis.
Don’t judge a man by his appearance, but by what he says [lit. speech proves men, not clothes].
Explorat Samium tinnitibus emptor ahenum,
Et probat elicito frivola vasa sono.
Sed nos divitiis homines utcunque probamus,
Cùm vox ipsa paret certius indicium.
The buyer tries out Samian bronze by how it rings, And detects a fake vase by testing its sound. But we judge men by and large by their wealth, Though his own voice will give a truer account of him.

NARRATIO PHILOSOPHICA.
QUi vasa figlina à
frivolariis emunt, ne posteà
contractis rebus cognitionem ab Aedilibus
cogantur impetrare, ea tinnitu probant, & explorant
atque eo iudicio, venditoris more improbato in cae-
lando rei vitio versantis calliditatem effugiunt. Quo
rum prudentiam utinam imitarentur illi, qui qua-
si iurati de hominis dignitate iudicium ferunt. Quae
res si hodie in disceptationem cadat, non ad ora-
tionem, qua una animantibus brutis praestamus,
sed ad vestem & patrimonium omnis mediusfi-
dius oculorum coniectus esse solet. Quis enim eum
non egregium civem esse censet, quis ei non devia
decedit, si modo opibus antecellat? Quis non eum
aditu, suffragio, congressu dignum esse putat, cui
sunt amplae facultates domi? Quis non illi locuples
dignitatis testimonium reddit, si divitiis & clien-
telis antecedat? In emendis igitur frivolis suis so-
num & tinnitum negotiatores explorabunt: homi
nes autem quibus sapientiae & maximarum rerum
cognitionis partes à natura attributae sunt, quan-
tùm sapientia homo alteri in loquendo praestet,
non videbunt? Cycnea certè illa, & planè regia A-
lexandri ad Diogenem vix, nisi (inquit) Alexander
essem, Diogenes esse vellem. Sed fortasse alter me-
lius, qui sapientem nulli hominum concedere,
uno autem Iove minorem essr [=esse]
praedicavit. Nam,
sapientia ipsa tam radices agit & propagatur, ut
etiam post aras, hominem consequatur. At ea
quae corporis & fortunae bona appellantur celeri-
ter decidunt, multosque in medio aetatis flexu
Link to an image of this page [H3v p118]
omnes autem post mortem aequabiliter deserunt.
Et quemadmodum Cato dicere solebat, magno-
pere mirari se quomodo non rideret aruspex, aru-
spicem cum vidisset. Sic fortasse non iniuria sit mi
randum, cur qui opibus & fortunae prosperitate
mirabiliter excellit non rideat, cum homini iisdem
rebus perquam abundanti occurrerit. Nam sicut
qui in fabulis personam agunt, propter novitatem
vestis quae subito sit deserenda, quibus in via pro
cesserint risum movent: sic homines potentissimi
fascibus & barbarorum custodia stipati, Heracli-
tis miserationem, Democritis fortasse risum
moveant, quòd confecto isto vitae actu
nulla iis qui è fece populi sunt
superiores appa-
reant.
Related Emblems
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man (+ two persons) [31D14(+72)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- buying [46B411] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clothing for the lower part of the body [41D23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- container of ceramics: jar, jug, pot, vase [41A773] Search | Browse Iconclass
- four persons [31A(+74)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear and clothing for the upper part of the body [41D22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- serving-dish, platter [41C342] Search | Browse Iconclass
- speaking [31B6235] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the usual house or row of houses [41A141] Search | Browse Iconclass
- well [41A3911] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- (story of) Diogenes, the philosopher [98B(DIOGENES)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bronze ~ arts «« KEY (6122) TO 48 art [48(+6122)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Exterior, Exteriority [51AA51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- fake, forgery ~ work of art «« KEY (4312) TO 48 art [48(+4312)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Intrinsic Nature, Essence, Idea (according to Plato) [51A5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Judgment of Conduct [57B] Search | Browse Iconclass
- test, trial (~ production) [47F14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- voice [31B62350] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Wealth, Opulence; 'Opulenza', 'Richezza' (Ripa) [55B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Worthlessness [54BB6] Search | Browse Iconclass
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