
Nullus dolus contra casum.
Cunning is nothing against chance.
Ad Stephanum Gentilem, nobilem Genuensem.[1]
Quis non miretur[2] nova quae spectacula nuper
Danubio sunt visa soluto?
Bruma gelu pingues latč compresserat agros,
Plaustra vehebanturque per Istrum.[3]
Accidit ad Regenspurgum, quae libera floret
Imperio urbs, ut vulpis oberrans
Per glaciem & ludens concreto tergore aquarum
Deciperetur, & uda veniret.
Fortč etenim frigus, medio dum Phoebus in axe
Link to an image of this page [G2r p99]
Versat equos, dissolvitur uną,
In partesque abiit glacies, vulpecula praeceps
Corripitur, frustoque residet.
Atque ea dum metuit liquidum contingere flumen,
Hoc iter insolitumque natare,
Per medium fertur glacie alveum, donec anhela
Vendobonae capiatur in oris.
Iam dic, quae casus contra vigilantia prosit,
Quis dolus caveatque futura.
Who will not be filled with wonder at the sights that not long ago were seen on the freed Danube? The depth of winter had oppressed the fields far and wide with frost, and carts rolled across the Ister. It happened near Regensburg, a city flourishing under free rule, that a fox, wandering over the ice and playing on the frozen back of the waters was misled, and came out wet. For perhaps the cold, while Phoebus turned his horses in the middle axis, was dissolved together, and the ice fell apart into sections, and the little fox was suddenly seized, and sat down on a floe. Down the middle of the river he is borne on his piece of ice, until he is captured near Vienna, gasping for breath. Tell me, now: what is the use of watchfulness against chance? What cleverness can avoid the future blows of Fortune?
Related Emblems
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- adult man (+ two persons) [31D14(+72)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult woman (+ two persons) [31D15(+72)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards (+ holding something) [31A2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the body - AA - both arms or hands [31AA2516] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ other neutral connotations) [31A2512(+939)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- banker [46B531] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: fox (+ animal(s) floating in water) [25F23(FOX)(+5274)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- commoners [46A13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- container of ceramics: jar, jug, pot, vase [41A773] Search | Browse Iconclass
- drift ice [26D41] Search | Browse Iconclass
- geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (names of cities and villages excepted) (with NAME) [61D(DANUBE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hacking and thrusting weapons: sword [45C13(SWORD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking downwards [31B6212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- names of cities and villages (with NAME) [61E(REGENSBURG)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other, walking position (+ standing) [31A26211(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- plants (in general) (+ branch, stick) [25G1(+22)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- river [25H213] Search | Browse Iconclass
- river bank [25H217] Search | Browse Iconclass
- rowing-boat, canoe, etc. [46C232] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Alertness, Vigilance; 'Guardia', 'Vigilanza', 'Vigilanza per difendersi & oppugnare altri' (Ripa) [52A23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- animal traction, animal-drawn vehicle (carriage etc.) [46C14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Apollo in the chariot of the sun, drawn by four horses, usually preceded by Aurora holding a torch; 'Carro del Sole' (Ripa) [92B3711] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Chance, Haphazard [51CC2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Cunning, Slyness; 'Astutia ingannevole' (Ripa) [57AA613] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Fear, Dread; 'Paura', 'Timiditą o Timore', 'Timore' (Ripa) [56DD1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- freezing [22E21] Search | Browse Iconclass
- future [23A33] Search | Browse Iconclass
- gasping for breath [31A22222] 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(GENTILE, Stefano)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- names of cities and villages (with NAME) [61E(...)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sun as celestial body [24A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- thaw [26D9] Search | Browse Iconclass
- winter, 'Hyems'; 'Inverno' (Ripa) [23D41] Search | Browse Iconclass
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