
Mens immota manet.[1]
The mind remains unmoved.
Dicitur interna vi Magnes ferra movere:
Perpetuò nautas dirigere inque viam.
Semper enim stellam firmè aspicit ille polarem.
Indicat hac horas, nos varieque monet.
Mens utinam in caelum nobis immota maneret,
Nec subito dubiis fluctuet illa malis.
Pax coëat tandem, Christe, unum claudat ovile,
Lisque tui verbi iam dirimatur ope.
Da, sitiens anima excelsas sic appetat arces:
Fontis ut ortivi cervus anhelus aquas.
One says that the Magnet moves iron through its internal power and hence continuously directs sailors the way. For it always looks securely [without wavering] at the pole star. In this way it shows the hours, and warns us in various ways. If only our mind remained directed to heaven unmoved and would not suddenly waver at fickle misfortunes. Let your flock finally be assembled and united by peace, Christ, and let the conflict be ended by the work of your word. Give that our thirsty soul will long for the lofty strongholds, like the panting hart longs for the water of the rising source.
1. Vergil, Aeneid, 4.449, but proverbial in the sixteenth century.
Related Emblems
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ holding something) [31A2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- astronomy (and cosmography) (+ scholar, scientist (at work)) [49E1(+1)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- coat, cape [41D212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- column, pillar ~ architecture [48C161] Search | Browse Iconclass
- compass [25C21] Search | Browse Iconclass
- contemplating the firmament [24F1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hoofed animals: stag (+ animals eating and drinking) [25F24(STAG)(+45)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- kneeling on both knees [31A2331] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- spring, source of river or stream [25H211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- star-chart, star map [49000000000000] Search | Browse Iconclass
- stars and constellations (with NAME) [24D1(POLAR)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- terrace [41A351] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Adversity, Misfortune, Bad Luck; 'Fortuna infelice', 'Infortunio' (Ripa) [54FF11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Christ [11D] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Guidance [54E2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- heaven, celestial paradise, New Earth [11S] Search | Browse Iconclass
- herd, flock [47I2211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- minerals and metals (with NAME) [25D13(IRON)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Peace of Mind, 'Aequitas' [54A47] Search | Browse Iconclass
- proverbs, sayings, etc. (with TEXT) [86(MENS IMMOTA MANET)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sailor [45D323] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sea [25H2322] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the good shepherd (Christ) defending his sheep against wolves; 'I am the good shepherd' (John 10:1-16) [73C821] Search | Browse Iconclass
- the soul [31G] Search | Browse Iconclass
- thirst [41C129] Search | Browse Iconclass
- time [23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Types of Motion (+ emblematical representation of concept) [51LL1(+4):31B0] Search | Browse Iconclass
- water (one of the four elements) [21D] Search | Browse Iconclass
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