
Virtute duce.
With Virtue to guide us
Ad Bartholomaeum Marantham.[1]
Naturae caecos qui norunt solvere nodos,
Et caussas quaerunt, cuncta notare solent.
Hi flammam dicunt accensum lumine fumum,
Res etiam expertis saepe probata viris.
Natos in stabulo, obscurisque parentibus ortos
Dic fumum, virtus quos facit Orbe cani.
Hos lux nobilitat, dignis & honoribus auget,
Sic clarent, tenebras qui pepulere domus.
Those who can untie the hidden knots of nature and who search out causes like to mark down everything. These say that fire is smoke kindled by light, a thing often affirmed by expert men. Say that those born in stables, and sprung from obscure parents, are like smoke, whose fame, thanks to Virtue, is sung the world over. The light ennobles them, and increases them with deserved honours: thus they illustriously shine, once they have pushed aside the shadows of the house.
1. Bartolomeo Maranta, Neapolitan doctor, botanist, and poet, worked as physician for the Duke of Mantua, then built a famous botanical garden in Rome (d. 1571).
Related Emblems
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- adult man (+ two persons) [31D14(+72)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult woman [31D15] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ holding something) [31A2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward - AA - both arms or hands (+ relations with neutral character (expressive connotations)) [31AA2512(+93)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- curtains [41A421] Search | Browse Iconclass
- flame [41B121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head bent forward; bowing - AA - female human figure [31AA244] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head turned to the right [31A2422] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hut, cabin [41A18] Search | Browse Iconclass
- open door [41A3211] Search | Browse Iconclass
- open hearth, fire-place [41B21] Search | Browse Iconclass
- palace - AA - civic architecture: inside [41AA11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on an elevation [31A2352] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on the ground [31A2351] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on the ground - AA - female human figure [31AA2351] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting or lying with bent legs drawn up or raised - AA - female human figure (+ sitting) [31AA26128(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- smoke [41B162] Search | Browse Iconclass
- standing, leaning, sitting or lying with legs crossed (+ sitting) [31A2627(+53)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- stirring up a fire [41B13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- throne [44B1212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- wise man [31B7] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Cause [51C1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- confinement, birth [42A2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- contrast between rich and poor [46A21] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Curiosity, Inquisitiveness, Desire of Knowledge; 'Curiositą' [52A12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- darkness [22C9] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Guidance [54E2] 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(MARANTA, Bartolomeo)3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Honour, Glory; 'Ampiezza della Gloria', 'Gloria', 'Gloria de prencipi', 'Gloria & Honore', 'Honore', 'Sublimatą della Gloria' (Ripa) [59B31] Search | Browse Iconclass
- light [22C] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Nature [2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- nobility and patriciate; chivalry, knighthood [46A120] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Repute, Renown; 'Splendore del nome' (Ripa) [59B3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- scholar, philosopher [49C3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- stall, stable [47I2271] Search | Browse Iconclass
- untying a knot [47C4291] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Virtuousness; 'Amor di Virtł', 'Attione virtuosa', 'Guida sicura de' veri honori', 'Virtł', 'Virtł insuperabile' (Ripa) [57A6] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.