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Noli altum tendere [30]


tc1620030pict

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Noli altum tendere.translation
Cœlo errans Phaëton Iovis occidit igne, rotag;que,
Ardentesque simul præcipitantur equi.
Hoc docet exemplum pariter iuvenesque senesque.
Viribus affectent ne graviora suis.. translation

Niet te hoogh.
Wacht u ghy jonghelien, en wilt gheen minne draghen
Op yemant, daer de hoop noyt kansse op en von:
De jonghe Phaëton wiert van Iovis hant verslaghen,
Om dat hy al te hoogh yets buyten hem beston.

Qui trop haut tend, plus bas descend.
Gardez vous Amoureux qui d'ame surhaultaine,
En lieu trop eminent addressez vostre amour,
Qu'ainsi qu'a Phaëton il en vous aille un jour,
Qui osa gouverner la lampe souveraïne:
Car qui en lieu trop haut addresse son desir,
Le voit avecq regret en fumee finir.


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Facsimile Images


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Translations

Don't be a high flyer.
When he went off course in the heavens Phaeton died by
Zeus's fire, and the wheel; And simultaneously the horses tumbled down in flames.
This example is a warning to youth and elderly alike,
Lest they take on burdens too heavy for their capacities.


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Literature

  1. Ter Borch I uses a similar idea in an unpublished songbook (1624-1641) in an emblem entitled 'Niet te hoogh, niet te vrooch.' Snoep, Een 17de eeuws liedboek, pp. 94-97
  2. Pieter van Lare uses a similar idea in an unpublished songbook (1624-1641) in an emblem with the verses: 'Al wil een wrede doot, de nijt mij gaan bereyen/ de hope voet mij noch, Ick sal den tijt verbeijen.' But he creates a totally different pictura, on which the allegory of Hope feeds a man, while a woman dances with Envy.Snoep, Een 17de eeuws liedboek, pp. 113-115

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Sources and parallels

  • Snoep 1968-1969, p. 96, 102, 104. The motto 'Te hoogh bedroogh' is completed by the verses 'Wie seecker wil in 't Minne gaen, Die moet na sijns ghelijcke staen.'Krul, Minne-beelden, pp. 22-23

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References, across this site, to this page:

No references to this emblem or page found.

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Iconclass

Fall of Phaethon; he is struck by a thunderbolt of Jupiter

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