
In Amphionem.[1]
On Amphion.
Pax.
Peace.
Musicus Amphion citharam dum pectine[2] pulsat,
Septifores Thebas condidit ad numerum:
Praestitit hoc concors modulatae gratia chordae,
Moenibus ut populum cingeret ille ferum.
Sic divina statum concordia continet urbis,
Et ligat unanimi barbara corda fide.
While Amphion the musician strummed the lyre with his plectrum, he founded seven-gated Thebes to the rhythm of his music. The harmonious grace of the melodious string [-playing] achieved this: That he girded his wild [i.e. hitherto uncivilised] people with city walls. Even so does divine harmony hold together the polity of a city, and binds together barbarous hearts in trust and concord [lit. united trust].

NARRATIO PHILOSOPHICA.
AMphionem
Mercurii filium cantu & fi-
dibus tam praestantem fuisse fabulae retule-
runt, ut summa illa numerorum suavitate saxa ra-
peret, eaque ad muros urbis Thebanae construen-
dos in locum unum modorum flexionibus dedu-
ceret. Quam rem ideo à poëtis effictam possimus
suspicari, quòd Amphion omni eloquentiae & pru
dentiae laude cumulatus, barbaros homines & fe-
rarum more in sylvis degentes moenibus sepserit,
& ad societatem vitae revocarit. Sed non erit meo
iudicio à proposito fabulae alienum, si novam il-
lam Thebanae urbis structuram ex variis aequabi-
liter citharae concentibus effectam, ad civilem con
cordiam referamus. Ut enim civitates iam constru
ctae diutius in splendore & maiestate esse non pos
sunt, nisi in unum conspirantibus civium animis
respublica temperetur: ita neque urbes condi, nisi
eorum qui ad aedificium convenerunt, eadem sit
ratio & voluntas. Neque verò Agesilaus aliis pro-
pugnaculis & muris firmandam esse civitatem exi-
stimavit, quàm civium corporibus: qui si se sum-
mo studio & consensu ad alicuius sapientis volun
tatem ductumque applicaverint, erit opinor fa-
ctu difficile, firmissimis illis concordiae praesi-
diis firmatam rempublicam evertere. Iam verò
ne externa meditemur, cedo quibus artibus Chri
stianorum opes in Asia conciderunt? quae res Grae
corum florentissimum imperium funditus dele-
vit? quae vis Rhodum insulam, orae maritimae ocu
lum effodit? quae res Othomanos Christianorum
Link to an image of this page [V5v p314]spoliis & triumphis tantopere decoravit? intesti-
nae certè Christianorum inter sese simultates. Ne-
que enim unquam Barbari illi Christianos bello
lacessendos esse iudicaverunt, quàm de illorum do-
mesticis odiis certiores facti essent: neque prius
Mahumetes Magnus de oppugnanda Constanti-
nopoli consilium cepit, quàm Europam suis pro-
stratam armis iacere perspexisset. Et patrum no-
strorum memoria, Gallorum imperium quod Ca
roli Magni & caeterorum regum armis florentis-
simum ad illam aetatem permanarat, popularibus
principum studiis penè deletum est. Ex quo satis
efficitur, saepe civitatibus perniciosum fuisse pa-
rem summorum civium principatum: quò enim
quisque animi magnitudine maximè praestat, eò
certe gloriae avidior est: quam qui appetit, vult
omnium princeps esse vel potius solus: ex quo tur
bulentissimae in multis populis dissensiones exti-
terunt: neque enim caeteri consiliorum & do-
minationis in republica socii aequo a-
nimo ferre possunt, ab uno di-
ripi patrimonium to-
tius domina-
tus.
1. The King of Thebes and legendary musician, whose playing caused the walls of Thebes to be raised up by magic. He was the son of Jupiter and Antiope, and husband of the ill-fated Niobe.
2. The pecten was some sort of hand-held instrument for plucking or striking the strings of the lyre: cf. Vergil, Aeneid, 6.647 (‘iamque eadem digitis, iam pectine pulsat eburno’).
Related Emblems
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Relating to the image:
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Amphion and Zethus build the walls of Thebes; Amphion hoists the stones by the music of his lyre, Zethus with his hands [95A(AMPHION & ZETHUS)51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- birds [25F3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clothing for the upper part of the body [41D223] Search | Browse Iconclass
- coat, cape [41D212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- crown (symbol of sovereignty) [44B191] Search | Browse Iconclass
- drapery, draped garment, 'Gewandgebung' [41D27] Search | Browse Iconclass
- flying animal(s) «« KEY (5262) TO 25F animals [25F(+5262)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- fortified city [45K14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- gear for legs and feet [41D233] Search | Browse Iconclass
- king [44B113] Search | Browse Iconclass
- kneeling figure [31A233] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lyre, cithara, psaltery [48C7321] Search | Browse Iconclass
- making music; musician with instrument [48C75] Search | Browse Iconclass
- musician [48C72] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one person playing string instrument (bowed) [48C7521] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees [25G3] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Agreement, Unity; 'Concordia', 'Concordia insuperabile', 'Concordia militare', 'Concordia di Pace', 'Unione civile' (Ripa) [54E31] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Bad, Evil, Wrong [52B5112] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Harmony, Regularity [51D2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- peace [45A2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- republic; 'Governo della republica' (Ripa) [44B03] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Society, Civilization, Culture [4] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Trust [56D2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Vice, Evil, Sin; 'Peccato' (Ripa) [11N1] Search | Browse Iconclass
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