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

Emblem 197

Quintilius Varus tries to prevent a young author from putting his work too quickly in the hands of Fame

Quintilius Varus tries to prevent a young author from putting his work too quickly in the hands of Fame
Engraving · click to enlarge

Scripta non temerè edendaLatin

Writings should not be published rashly

Ad doctiss. virum D. St. Bullum.

Subscriptio

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Facsimile; click the page to enlarge

TranscriptionAI-generated

LO, here QVINCTILIVS sittes, a graue and reuerende sire: And pulles a younglinge by the arme, that did for fame desire. For, hee with pace of snayle, proceeded to his pen; Lest haste shoulde make him wishe (too late) it weare to write againe. And therfore still with care, woulde euerie thinge amende: Yea, ofte eche worde, and line suruaye, before hee made an ende. And, yf he any sawe, whose care to wryte was small: To him, like wordes to these hee vs'd, which hee did meane to all. My sonne, what worke thou writes, correcte, reforme, amende, But if thou like thy first assaye, then not QVINCTILIVS frende? The fruicte at firste is sower, till time giue pleasante taste: And verie rare is that attempte, that is not harm'd with haste. Perfection comes in time, and forme and fashion giues: And euer rashenes, yeeldes repente, and most dispised liues. Then, alter ofte, and chaunge, peruse, and reade, and marke: The man that softlie settes his steppes, goes safest in the darke. But if that thirst of fame, doe pricke thee forthe too faste: Thou shalt (when it is all to late) repente therefore at laste.

TranslationAI-generated

Behold, here sits Quintilius, a grave and reverend elder, and pulls a young man by the arm who desired fame. For he proceeded to his pen with a snail's pace, lest haste should make him wish (too late) that it were to write again. And therefore he would still with care amend everything: yea, often survey each word and line before he made an end. And if he saw any whose care to write was small, he used words like these to him, which he meant for all: 'My son, whatever work you write, correct, reform, amend; but if you like your first attempt, then is not Quintilius your friend?' The fruit at first is sour, until time gives it a pleasant taste; and very rare is that attempt which is not harmed by haste. Perfection comes in time, and gives form and fashion; and rashness ever yields repentance, and lives most despised. Then alter often, and change, peruse, and read, and mark: the man who sets his steps softly goes safest in the dark. But if the thirst of fame prick you forth too fast, you shall (when it is all too late) repent for it at last.

CommentaryAI-generated

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

Quinctilij Var. censura de scriptis edendis Horat. Art. poët.

The judgement of Quintilius Varus concerning writings to be published; Horace, Art of Poetry.

Ouid. 3. Fast. Differ, habent parua commoda magna mora.

Ovid, Fasti book 3: 'Put it off; small delays bring great advantages.'

Senec. Agam. Proinde quicquid est, da spacium & tempus tibi: Quod ratio nequit, sæpe sanauit mora.

Seneca, Agamemnon: 'Therefore, whatever it is, give yourself space and time; what reason cannot do, delay has often healed.'

Notes and related emblems

Iconclass

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

Sources

Record ID: embstma_1667_emblem197
This emblem on the Iconclass site: https://iconclass.org/view/embstma_1667_emblem197
Copy: University Library, Glasgow, Stirling Maxwell 1667