
E fisco ne viscum.[1]
Let not the purse turn into birdlime.
Thesauros habeant reges, mille arva supersint,
Ut prohibere queant vim, viciumque simul.
Exornent iustos, sua praemia quisque reportet,
Legibus ac vigeant sceptra secunda suis.
Sed fiscum cumulare nefas, nisi iure bonorum,
Quamque premas siccam proiice spongiolam.
Caussa mali desit, Princeps procul absit avarus,
In viscum ne abeat fiscus avariciae.
Neu viciet mulctis stomachum, crudis nec alatur,
Postremò sitiens ne exoriatur hydrops.
Let Kings have treasuries and a thousand fields at their command so that they may stop violence and sin at the same time. They should decorate the deserving, and let each man carry off his reward; and let their sceptres flourish in prosperity by the laws they make. But to accumulate a private purse is wrong, unless by right of goodness, and throw away, please, the sponge which you are to press dry. Let not there be cause for evil: let miser Princes be gone, so that the purse of greed should not go to birdlime. May he not contaminate his stomach with fines, nor let him feed on raw food; finally, let not the thirsty dropsy come to stay.
1. A play on the similar sound of fiscus and viscum (mistletoe and the birdlime made from its berries).
Related Emblems
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Relating to the image:
- adult man (+ two persons) [31D14(+72)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult woman [31D15] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm held downwards [31A2515] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm or hand held in front of the body (+ indicating, pointing at) [31A2516(+931)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ indicating, pointing at) [31A2512(+931)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched sidewards (+ holding something) [31A2513(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- armour [45C22] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- coelenterata: sponge [25F75(SPONGE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- collar (of a dog) [34B111] Search | Browse Iconclass
- conversation, dialogue; conversation piece [33A35] Search | Browse Iconclass
- crown (symbol of sovereignty) [44B191] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dog (with NAME of kind) [34B11(GREYHOUND)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hand (+ holding something) [31A2245(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hand made into a fist (+ variant) [31A25513(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head turned to the left - AA - female human figure [31AA2421] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head turned to the right [31A2422] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helmet [45C221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- helved weapons, polearms (for striking, hacking, thrusting) (with NAME) [45C14(BATTLE-AXE)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- king [44B113] Search | Browse Iconclass
- money-chest, treasure-chest, money-box [46A1632] Search | Browse Iconclass
- one leg in front of the other, walking position (+ standing) [31A26211(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- other rooms [41A25] Search | Browse Iconclass
- plants and herbs [25G4] Search | Browse Iconclass
- postures and gestures of the thumb (+ indicating, pointing at) [31A2553(+931)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- pressing (industrial process) (+ variant) [47C521(+0)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- protective weapons: shield [45C19(SHIELD)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- queen, empress, etc. (wife of a ruler) [44B1511] Search | Browse Iconclass
- water (one of the four elements) [21D] Search | Browse Iconclass
- wooden container: barrel, cask [41A775] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- 'Usura' (Ripa) [46B5120] Search | Browse Iconclass
- bad government [44B62] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Bad, Evil, Wrong [52B5112] Search | Browse Iconclass
- birds [25F3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Covetousness; 'Avaritia' (Ripa) ~ personification of one of the Seven Deadly Sins [11N34] Search | Browse Iconclass
- dropsy [31A4625] Search | Browse Iconclass
- fine ~ civil law [44G42] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Greed, Covetousness, Cupidity; 'Cupidità' (Ripa) [55CC11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Maintenance of the Law [59C1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- meat; still life of meat [41C69] Search | Browse Iconclass
- nationality, citizenship [44C1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Regression, Deterioration, Relapse [54FF13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Self-control; 'Dominio di se stesso' (Ripa) [53B3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- snare «« KEY (4141) TO 43C1 sports, games ~ animals [43C1(+4141)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- stomach [31A2233] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Wealth, Opulence; 'Opulenza', 'Richezza' (Ripa) [55B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- working class, labourers [46A17] Search | Browse Iconclass
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