
Memor utriusque fortunae.
Remember Fortune’s mutability
Queis peperit dignas olim victoria laudes,
Solenni pompa hos excipiebat amor[1].
Roma suos voluit capitolia celsa subire,
Atque triumphantes concelebrare Duces.
Currus at appensam nolam tulit, atque flagellum,
Possit hic adversae sortis ut esse memor.
Bulla etiam collo βουλῆς, rerumque salubre,
Quaeque cavere decet, symbolon utile erat.
Tres quoque Alexander nolas, saevumque Leonem
Gestabat, ne esset strenuus absque metu.
Quàm facilè in luctus mutat fortuna triumphos,
Et victor servi conditione venit?
Fortunae esto memor semper fortuna in utraque,
Non facilè est aequa commoda mente pati.
In days of old, those for whom victory gave birth to well-deserved praise were welcomed home by love with a solemn parade. Rome wished them to ascend the Capitol’s heights, and to celebrate her triumphant generals. But the triumphal car bore a little bell and a whip, so the man might be conscious of fate’s adversity. And the amulet (bulla) of good counsel (βουλῆς), was a healthy and useful token of those things which are best avoided. Alexander, too, bore on his arms three bells and the cruel lion, so that he, though hardy, should never be free from fear. How quickly Fortune turns triumph into grief, and the victor returns in a slave’s state! In both fortunes, good and bad, remember always Fortune, for to bear happiness with a calm mind is not an easy thing to do.
1. Amor is Roma backwards.
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Relating to the image:
- (other) ornaments derived from objects [48A9857] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards (+ holding something) [31A2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm raised upward (+ holding something) [31A2511(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ holding something) [31A2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- armour [45C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: lion (+ animals used symbolically) [25F23(LION)(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: lion (+ postures of forelegs, forepaws, claws of animal(s)) [25F23(LION)(+55)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bell ~ acoustic signalling [46E521] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- conqueror triumphing, triumphal entry of victor [45I61] Search | Browse Iconclass
- festivities (+ wreath, garland ~ festive activities) [43A(+12)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helmet [45C221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- obelisk, needle [25I153] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ornament derived from animal forms [48A984] Search | Browse Iconclass
- private soldier (+ infantry) [45D313(+21)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- protective weapons: shield [45C19(SHIELD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- public road [25I14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- quadriga [46C14241] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Roman chariot, quadriga ~ triumph [43A4211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees: laurel [25G3(LAUREL)(+331)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees: laurel (+ branch, stick) [25G3(LAUREL)(+22)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- walking (horse in motion) [46C13181] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- (story of) Alexander the Great representations to which the NAME of a person from classical history may be attached [98B(ALEXANDER THE GREAT)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Confidence, Security, Tranquillity; 'Confidenza', 'Sicurezza e Tranquillità', 'Sicurtà', 'Sicurtà o Sicurezza', 'Tranquillità' (Ripa) [56D3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Fortune and Misfortune [54F] Search | Browse Iconclass
- names of cities and villages (with NAME) [61E(ROMA)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Praise, Approbation, Approval; 'Lode' (Ripa) [57B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Servility [53CC12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- slavery; serfs and slaves [46A18] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Turn of Fate, Wheel of Fortune (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54F121(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- whip [46C1463] Search | Browse Iconclass
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