Geffrey Whitney, A choice of emblemes (Leiden, 1586)

Emblem 8

People worship an image of Isis carried by an ass

People worship an image of Isis carried by an ass
Engraving · click to enlarge

Non tibi, sed ReligioniLatin

Not for you, but for religion.

Interpretation
Ass bearing Isis (Not for thee, but religion)
Interpretation (German)
Törichte Verblendung

Description of the imageAI-generated

Within an ornamental woodcut border, a street scene in a town: an ass walks forward bearing on its back a pedestal on which stands a statue of a figure holding a vessel in one hand and a branch or sheaf of plants in the other. A driver walking beside the ass raises a stick or staff to beat it. At the right, before the façades of buildings, several townspeople kneel and bow with raised hands toward the passing image; in the left background are hills and a domed building.

Subscriptio

Facsimile page
Facsimile; click the page to enlarge

TranscriptionAI-generated

THE pastors good, that doe gladd tidinges preache, The godlie sorte, with reuerence do imbrace: Though they be men, yet since Godds worde they teache, Wee honor them, and giue them higheste place, Imbassadors of princes of the earthe, Haue royall Seates, thoughe base they are by birthe. Yet, if throwghe pride they doe them selues forgett, And make accompte that honor, to be theires: And doe not marke with in whose place they sett, Let them behowlde the asse, that ISIS beares, Whoe thowghte the men to honor him, did kneele, And staied therfore, till he the staffe did feele. For, as he pass'd with ISIS throughe the streete, And bare on backe, his holie rites about, Th'Ægyptians downe fell prostrate at his feete, Whereat, the Asse, grewe arrogante and stowte, Then saide the guide; oh foole not vnto thee, Theise people bowe, but vnto that they see?

TranslationAI-generated

The good pastors, who preach glad tidings, the godly sort embrace with reverence: though they are men, yet since they teach God's word, we honour them and give them the highest place; ambassadors of princes of the earth have royal seats, though they are base by birth. Yet, if through pride they forget themselves, and reckon that the honour is their own, and do not mark in whose place they are set, let them behold the ass that carries ISIS, who thought the men knelt to honour him, and therefore stood still until he felt the staff. For, as he passed with ISIS through the street, bearing on his back her holy rites, the Egyptians fell down prostrate at his feet, whereupon the ass grew arrogant and proud; then said the driver: O fool, these people bow not to you, but to that which they see.

Notes and related emblems

Iconclass

Suggested Iconclass codesAI-generated

Additional codes proposed for this emblem, not (yet) part of the indexing.

Relationships to the Adagia of ErasmusAI-generated

Suggested relationships between this emblem and adages in Erasmus’ Adagia.

Sources

Record ID: embstma_1667_emblem008
This emblem on the Iconclass site: https://iconclass.org/view/embstma_1667_emblem008
Copy: University Library, Glasgow, Stirling Maxwell 1667