Link to an image of this page [C3v p38]
Moderata conditio.
The middle way of life.
Ad Andream Sbardellatum Episcopum.[1]
Quae volat aërios montes, super ardua tecta
Findit, & ancipiti fertur, abitque via.
Nunc sublime petit, medium nunc advolat oris,
Et Iovis imperio digna videtur avis.
Prae senio, morbis, aut litibus altera nuda
Nititur, & superas tentat adire plagas.
Sed frustrà tentat, licèt haec onerantibus alis
Libera sit, quamvis illa minusque levis.
Alatus potis est nubes, aequareve caelum,
Implumis nusquam sed Iovis ales abit.
Non levitas tollit, nec onus non deprimit omnes,
In medio tutum conditionis opus.
The bird that flies above the airy hills cuts its way through roofèd heights (of heaven) and comes and goes on an ambiguous road: now she aims high, now she flies to the lower regions,* and is clearly worthy of Jupiter’s power. Fleeing age, sickness, and quarrels, the other, naked, strives high, and struggles to reach the highest celestial shores. She tries in vain, even though the other is free to fly with her heavier wings, and although she is less light. There is no featherless access to the clouds or to reach the heavens, but Jove’s bird gets there. Not her lightness lifts her, nor does weight depress us all: life’s work is secure on the middle path.
* The syntax is problematic here.
1. Andreas Sbardellatus or Duditius: András Dudith (or Andrija Dudic), Hungarian humanist and diplomat of Croat origin, Bishop of Knin (Croatia), then Pecs (Hungary). In the 1560s he became a Protestant, and a forerunner of Unitarianism; d. 1589.
Related Emblems
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- attributes of Jupiter: eagle [92B18(EAGLE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- predatory birds: eagle (+ animal looking over the shoulder) [25F33(EAGLE)(+547)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- predatory birds: eagle (+ animal with forelegs stretched sidewards) [25F33(EAGLE)(+553)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- predatory birds: eagle (+ animal(s) being sick; having a disease) [25F33(EAGLE)(+61)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- predatory birds: eagle (+ feathers) [25F33(EAGLE)(+352)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- predatory birds: eagle (+ postures of hind leg(s) of animal(s)) [25F33(EAGLE)(+56)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- predatory birds: eagle (+ postures, positions of animal(s)) [25F33(EAGLE)(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- predatory birds: eagle (+ very old animal) [25F33(EAGLE)(+24)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sailing-ship, sailing-boat [46C24] Search | Browse Iconclass
- scales [46B3311] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sea (seascape) [25H23] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- 'Immaculata', 'Purisima': Mary, usually standing on a crescent moon, descending from heaven, exempt from original sin (sometimes trampling serpent) [11F232] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Certainty (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52B41(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- diseases [31A46] Search | Browse Iconclass
- historical person (with NAME) other representations to which the NAME of a historical person may be attached (with NAME of person) [61B2(DUDITH, Andreas)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- historical person (with NAME) other representations to which the NAME of a historical person may be attached (with NAME of person) [61B2(SBARDELLAT, André)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Old Age, 'Senectus'; 'Vecchiezza' (Ripa) [31D160] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Temperance, Moderation; 'Misura' (Ripa) [54A43] Search | Browse Iconclass
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