
Mixtus status οὐκ ἄνευ ἄρχοντος πρώτου.
Mixed constitution not without a first magistrate
Florilegae quod apes faciunt aestate vagantes,
Illarum mixtas more sequamur opes.
Hae Regesque Ducesque colunt, his semina mentis
Aeternae, & parent legibus, arma cient.[1]
Observant proceres, & queis meliora videntur,
Unanimes cunctis ritè praeesse volunt.
Nil sine consilio Princeps, reliquusve senatus
Suscipit, ingestum sicque tuentur opus.
Exercent Martem, sunt his simulacra quietis,
Ignavos pellunt, praemia dantque bonis.
Has tibi proponas: nisi sit pietate Monarcha,
Link to an image of this page [G7r p109]Qui sine re tantum nomen habere velit.
Ipseque non minùs ac alii, sua iussa capessit,
In quibus est aequum, & publica damna cavet.
Talem si quisquam sperat, tu Maxime Caesar
Es Fernande, tuus Maxmilianus erit.[2]
Let us follow the habits of flower-gathering bees who wander in summertime: a mix of powers after their custom. They worship Kings and Commanders (to these go the seeds of eternal Mind) and obey laws and the call to arms. They watch their leaders, and those with the best opinions they wish unanimously to rule by right over all. The Prince is nothing without counsel, and the rest of the Senate undertakes [to work], and thus they observe the work laid upon them. They practise war, they provide images of peace; they drive out the idle, and give rewards to the good. Place them as examples before you, unless a man who wishes to have just the name without the reality can be respected as a monarch. No less than the others, he obeys his own orders, in which there is justice, and avoids causing losses to the people. If someone hopes for such a ruler, you, Ferdinand, greatest of Emperors, certainly are, and your Maximilian will be such a man.
1. Sambucus is following the ancient idea that hives are ruled by kings, or at least simply following the poetic logic of the allegory. Cf. Vergil, Georgics, 4.
2. It can be seen from this comment that this book was prepared before Emperor Ferdinand died in July 1564, and that the first emblem was then modified in its dedication to his son, who in that year succeeded as Maximilian II.
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- adult man [31D14] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched sidewards (+ holding something) [31A2513(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- canopy, baldachin [41A4231] Search | Browse Iconclass
- classical history (+ belonging to Roman history) [98(+9)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- giants, colossi [31A3421] Search | Browse Iconclass
- governmental systems [44B0] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hand on the hip [31A2518] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear (with NAME) [41D221(PILLEUS)] 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(FERDINAND I [of Holy Roman Empire])3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- insects: bee (+ animals used symbolically) [25F711(BEE)(+1):43A(+12)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- insects: bee (+ postures, positions of animal(s)) [25F711(BEE)(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other (+ sitting) [31A2621(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- open window [41A3311] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ruler, sovereign [44B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sceptre, staff (symbol of sovereignty) [44B192] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on an elevation [31A2352] Search | Browse Iconclass
- throne [44B1212] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Counsel; 'Consiglio' (Ripa) [52E3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Deity, God (in general) ~ Christian religion [11A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Divine Nature [11A2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- government, the State; 'Politica', 'Auttorità o Potestà' (Ripa) [44B] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Hierarchical Order [51E] 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(MAXIMILIAN II [of Holy Roman Empire])3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- insects (with NAME) [25F711(BEE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Justice; 'Forza alla giustitia sottoposta', 'Giustitia', 'Giustitia retta', 'Giustitia rigorosa', 'Impietà e violenza soggetta alla giustitia', (Ripa) [59C2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Maintenance of the Law [59C1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mobilization of troops; call to arms [45F31] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Protection; 'Custodia', 'Difesa contra nimici, malefici & venefici', 'Difesa contra pericoli', 'Riparo da i tradimenti' (Ripa) [54E42] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Punishment; 'Castigo', 'Pena', 'Punitione' (Ripa) [57BB13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Reward, 'Praemium'; 'Premio', 'Remuneratione' (Ripa) [55A12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ruler, sovereign [44B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Upper House, Senate [44B511] Search | Browse Iconclass
- war and peace [45A] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.