Emblem 25

Emblem 25

Pliny the Elder at the edge of Vesuvius, Empedocles falling into Etna

Curis tabescimus omnesLatin

We are all consumed by cares

Interpretation: Pliny over-curious (From cares we all waste away)

Description of the imageAI-generated

A square woodcut within an ornamental woven border: a mountain or rocky hillside erupting with great billowing flames and smoke rising to the upper left, with rays or lines at the left edge. On the slope at the right stands a man in doublet and hose, turned toward the fire with a hand raised to his head. In the foreground below, a winged or draped figure reclines among the rocks, leaning on one arm and looking upward at the blaze.

Subscriptio

Facsimile page — Facsimile; click the page to enlarge

TranscriptionAI-generated

IF griping greifes, haue harbour in thie breste, And pininge cares, laie seige vnto the same, Or straunge conceiptes, doe reaue thee of thie rest, And daie, and nighte, do bringe thee out of frame: Then choose a freinde, and doe his counsaile craue, Least secret sighes, doe bringe vntimelie graue. Continuall care, did PLINIES harte possesse, To knowe what causde VESEVVS hill to flame, And ceased not, now this, nowe that, to gesse: Yet, when hee coulde not comprehende the same, Suche was his fate, pursuing his desier, He headlonge fell into the flaming fier.

TranslationAI-generated

If gripping griefs have harbour in thy breast, and pining cares lay siege unto the same, or strange conceits do reave thee of thy rest, and day and night do bring thee out of frame: then choose a friend, and do his counsel crave, lest secret sighs do bring an untimely grave. Continual care did Pliny's heart possess, to know what caused Vesuvius hill to flame; and he ceased not, now this, now that, to guess. Yet when he could not comprehend the same, such was his fate, pursuing his desire, he headlong fell into the flaming fire.

CommentaryAI-generated

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

Non opibus mentes homini, curaq́; leuantur, &c.

O curas hominum, ô quantum est in rebus inane.

Men's minds and cares are not relieved by riches, etc.

O the cares of men, O how much emptiness there is in things!

Veseuus, secundum Seruium: Virgil. lib. Georg. 1. mons est Liguriæ sub Alpibus.

Vesevus, according to Servius on Virgil, Georgics book 1, is a mountain of Liguria below the Alps.

Tibul. lib. 3. cap. 3.

Tibullus, book 3, chapter 3.

Pers. 1.

Persius, satire 1.

Iconclass

21C fire (one of the four elements)

24A1 sunrise

25C11 eruption (of volcano)

25C12 volcano

25G13 groups of plants (herbs)

25F(+342):31AA2224 animals (+ wings of an animal)❧shoulder - AA - female human figure

31A2321 leaning forward

31AA2351 sitting on the ground - AA - female human figure

31A244 head bent forward; bowing

31A2512(+931) arm stretched forward (+ indicating, pointing at)

31A2516(+933) arm or hand held in front of the body (+ holding something)

31A25161 arm or hand held in front of the chest

31A25312 head held in the hand(s), with elbows leaning on an elevation or on the knees

31A2621 one leg in front of the other

31AA2626(+53) sitting or lying with one leg stretched forward and the other leg drawn up - AA - female human figure (+ sitting)

31A2731 falling

41B121 flame

41B162 smoke

41D211(+81) dress, gown (+ men's clothes)

41D211(+82) dress, gown (+ women's clothes)

41D233(+81) gear for legs and feet (+ men's clothes)

41D2339 barefoot

49L511 quill

41D233(+81) gear for legs and feet (+ men's clothes)

48C91 writer, poet, author

49L511 quill

5(+11) Abstract Ideas and Concepts (+ abstract concept represented by female figure)

52A12(+4) Curiosity, Inquisitiveness, Desire of Knowledge; 'Curiosità' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept)

58AA1(+4) Destruction (+ emblematical representation of concept)

61D(AETNA) geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (AETNA) (AETNA)

61D(VESUVIUS) geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (VESUVIUS) (VESUVIUS)

86(CURIS TABESCIMUS OMNES) proverbs, sayings, etc. (CURIS TABESCIMUS OMNES)

92B29111 the Cyclopes forging Jupiter's thunderbolt

98B(EMPEDOCLES)68 death of Empedocles: the philosopher leaps into the crater of Etna

98B(PLINY THE ELDER)68 death of Pliny the Elder during the eruption of Vesuvius

Suggested Iconclass codesAI-generated

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

41B121 flamehigh

The correlate 'flame' directly matches the great billowing flames erupting from the mountainside that dominate the woodcut.

46A16 the richlow

The correlate 'the rich' loosely corresponds to the commentary's theme that men's minds and cares are not lightened by riches, though no wealthy figure is actually depicted.

Relationships to the Adagia of ErasmusAI-generated

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

I vi 69 Quae supra nos, nihil ad nos – thematic inventiomedium

The emblem's exemplum of a man destroyed while investigating a natural marvel beyond human comprehension matches Erasmus's adage that what is above us is no concern of ours, used against those who torment themselves researching hidden natural and celestial causes.

II ix 39 Qui apud Inferos sunt terniones – thematic inventiolow

Erasmus uses this adage to mock those who with anxious, painstaking industry 'rummage through' hidden and abstruse matters — the very fault of the emblem's Pliny, who 'ceased not, now this, nowe that, to gesse' about the volcano's cause.

II ii 18 Mens est in tergoribus – thematic inventiolow

Erasmus explains the phrase as said of worried men wholly absorbed by an anxiety, which parallels the emblem's picture of the mind besieged by 'pininge cares' and fixed obsessively on one object.

II i 47 Res sacra consultor – thematic inventiolow

The remedy offered in the subscriptio — 'Then choose a freinde, and doe his counsaile craue' — echoes the adage's doctrine that a counsellor is a sacred thing, especially invoked (per Suidas) when dangerous matters are deliberated.