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

Emblem 22

Several people are watching a fox standing on an ice floe in a river

Several people are watching a fox standing on an ice floe in a river
Engraving · click to enlarge

Nullus dolus contra CasumLatin

No cunning against chance

Interpretation
Fox on floating ice (No craft against mischance)
Interpretation (German)
Macht des Zufalls

Description of the imageAI-generated

A woodcut within an ornamental foliate border. A broad river full of broken ice floes runs through a landscape; a fox stands on one of the floating pieces of ice in the middle of the stream. On the right bank a group of townspeople (a man in a hat and several women in long gowns and headcloths) stand watching and pointing toward the fox. On the left bank, beyond a wooden bridge or jetty, rises a walled town with towers and houses, with hills, distant buildings and clouds in the background.

Subscriptio

Facsimile page
Facsimile; click the page to enlarge

TranscriptionAI-generated

BEHOWLDE the craftie foxe, Vppon Danubius plaies, What time throwgh froste, both man, and beaste, Thereon did make their waies. At lengthe, with PHOEBVS beames, The froste began to slake: So that the yce with swelling streame, To sundrie peeces brake. Where, on a peece the foxe, Doth to his tackling stande: And in the sighte of Regenspurge, Came driuing by the Lande. At which, the townesmen laugh'de, And saied, this foxe, on Ice: Doth shewe, no subtill crafte will serue, When Chaunce doth throwe the dice.

TranslationAI-generated

Behold the crafty fox, playing upon the Danube, at the time when through frost both man and beast made their ways upon it. At length, with Phoebus' beams, the frost began to slacken, so that the ice, with the swelling stream, broke into sundry pieces. Where, upon one piece, the fox stands to his tackle, and in the sight of Regensburg came drifting past the land. At which the townsmen laughed, and said: this fox on the ice shows that no subtle craft will serve when Chance throws the dice.

CommentaryAI-generated

2 passages · original left, translation right (click to fold)

Seneca in Oed. Regitur fatis mortale genus: Nec sibi quisquam spondere potest Firmum, & stabile: perq́ casus Voluitur varios semper nobis Metuenda dies, &c.

Seneca in Oedipus: The mortal race is governed by the fates; nor can anyone promise himself anything firm and stable: and through varied chances the day, ever to be feared by us, is rolled onward, etc.

Regitur fatis mortale genus: / Nec sibi quisquam spondere potest / Firmum, & stabile: perq́ casus / Voluitur varios semper nobis / Metuenda dies, &c.

The mortal race is ruled by the fates; nor can anyone promise himself anything firm and stable: and through varied chances the day, ever to be feared by us, is always rolled onward, etc.

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_emblem022
This emblem on the Iconclass site: https://iconclass.org/view/embstma_1667_emblem022
Copy: University Library, Glasgow, Stirling Maxwell 1667