IX.

Frustrà: quis stabilem figat in orbe gradum?

HVc ades, elatas qui tollis in æthera cristas,
Plenaque ventoso pectora folle geris.
Huc ades, aggestum patulis qui faucibus aurum
Rimaris nimias Tantalus inter opes.
Huc ades, Idaliæ cui torrent viscera flammæ,
Cæcaque vipereus corda sagittat Amor.
Disce tuos luctus: votorum è culmine præceps
Decidit, ancipiti qui locat orbe pedem.
Nil ætas, nil forma iuuat, nil fulua metalli
Lamina, nil forti parta trophæa manu.
Inde cliens Pluti, laudum præco inde suarum,
Multus & AEgysthus, multaque Phædra ruit.
Ipsa suis veniat variata superbia plumis;
Hinc malè lapsurum corpus in astra libret.
Ipse adeò Plutus præceps eat, ipse Cupido:
Ille grauis nummis, arcubus ille minax.
Nempe gradu stabili consistere nescius orbis,
Ingenitâ sese mobilitate rotat.

46 ↓

Non ita sisyphiæ pondus reuolubile molis
Vertitur,è summo cùm petit imaiugo.
Vis stabili firmare loco vestigia? Christvs
Est petra quadra, quadro fige pedem lapide.

47 ↓

Gardez vous de monter, esceruelé Päon:
Ce Plute fracassè, ce culbutant garçon
Crient: fuyez, fuyez du Monde l'inconstance,
Si tu ne veux courir risque de decadence.

Wellusten / eer' en goedt
En is maer ebb' en vloedt:
Men siet het al vergaen;
'T is quaet op bollen staen.

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44

45

46

47

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Sources and parallels

Compare: Quarles, Emblems, divine and moral, embl. 1.9

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Cupid and a miser are falling from an orb that is rolling over, while a peacock hovers above it

Pride; 'Superbia' (Ripa) ~ personification of one of the Seven Deadly Sins (+ angel(s)) [11N31:5(+3)]
scenes symbolizing 'Vanitas' [11R51]
globe (+ variant) [25A13(+0)]
ornamental birds: peacock [25F35(PEACOCK)]
(high) hill [25H113]
landscape with tower or castle [25I5]
falling [31A2731]
purse, money-bag [41D267]
orb (symbol of sovereignty; sphere with cross on top) [44B193]
archer's weapons: bow [45C15(BOW)]
quiver [45C23]
coin [46B311]
Turn of Fate, Wheel of Fortune (+ emblematical representation of concept) [54F121(+4)]
Wealth, Opulence; 'Opulenza', 'Richezza' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [55B1(+4)]
(personifications and symbolic representations of) Love; 'Amore (secondo Seneca)' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56F2(+4)]
Pride, Loftiness; 'Alterezza in persona nata povera civile' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57AA64(+4)]
proverbs, sayings, etc. (with TEXT) [86(FRUSTRA: QUIS STABILEM FIGAT IN ORBE GRADUM?)]
suffering, misfortune of Cupid [92D16]
attributes of Cupid (with NAME) [92D18(BOW)]
attributes of Cupid (with NAME) [92D18(QUIVER)]

Frustrà: quis stabilem figat in orbe gradum? [9]

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