
Fictus amicus.[1]
The false friend.
Cur mihi blandiris vulpina veste sodalis?
Quid toties priscam fingis amicitiam?
Odisti dudum, nil credo, dextera fallit,
Et didicit caudam flectere laeva manus.
In sylvis aequè non latro terret opacis,
Quàm simulata fides, subdolae & insidiae.
Qui me persequitur, vulgoque minatur in armis,
Munio me contrà, cingor & ense latus.
Sed quos caecum odium vexat, nec aperta voluntas,
Vix magna effugias sedulitate malum.
Friend in the fox-suit, why do you cuddle me with blandishments? Why do you so often fake the actions of old friendship? You started hating long ago. I believe nothing: your right hand of friendship is a traitor, and the left has taught you to turn tail. No robber in dark forests is as fearsome as false friendship and wily ambushes. Whoever follows me, and threatens all around in arms, I arm myself against him, and buckle on my sword. But those who are tortured by hidden hatred, and whose resolve is not apparent, their evil you will hardly avoid, even with the greatest effort.
1. In Sambucus’ 1569 edition, this image accompanies the motto ‘Animis sub vulpe latentes’.
Related Emblems
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- adult man (+ three persons) [31D14(+73)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards (+ holding something) [31A2515(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the body (+ holding something) [31A2516(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- armour [45C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- barefoot [41D2339] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: fox (+ skin, fleece, hide, fur, leather) [25F23(FOX)(+351)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beasts of prey, predatory animals: fox (+ tail of an animal) [25F23(FOX)(+343)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clothes, costume [41D2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head turned to the left [31A2421] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helmet [45C221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other (+ standing) [31A2621(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other, walking position (+ standing) [31A26211(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12] Search | Browse Iconclass
- robber [44G52] Search | Browse Iconclass
- squatting, crouching figure [31A234] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees [25G3] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Ambuscade, Trap; 'Insidia' (Ripa) [57AA6223] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Dissimulation, Hypocrisy; 'Hippocresia', 'Simulatione' (Ripa) [57AA611] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Enmity; 'Inimicitia', 'Inimicitia mortale' (Ripa) [56FF23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Flattery; 'Adulatione' (Ripa) [57AA6121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- flight, running away; pursuing [33B9] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Friendship; 'Amicitia' (Ripa) [56F23] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Good and Bad Behaviour, Moral Qualities (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57AA61(+4):56F23(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hacking and thrusting weapons (with NAME) [45C13(SWORD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Hate; 'Odio capitale' (Ripa) [56FF2] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Menace, Intimidation; 'Minaccie' (Ripa) [53C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Mortality, Extinction of Life [58BB1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Secrecy, Latency, Concealment; 'Secretezza' (Ripa) [52DD1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- thief [44G54] Search | Browse Iconclass
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