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Virtutis radix amor [17]


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VIRTVTIS RADIX AMOR.translationtranslation
Plato.
Anima immersa corpori, Amoris expergiscitur stimulis: &
hinc primi ad honesta impetus capiuntur.translationtranslation

Cic.
Sine studio & ardore quodam Amoris in vita nihil quidquam
fit egregium.translationtranslation

Loue is the cause of virtue
Moste great and woorthie deeds had neuer bin atchyued,
If in respect of loue that had not bin begunne,
Loues victorie hath made more victories bee wonne,
From loue-bred virtue then thus were they first deryued.

Virtu racide d’Amore
Non fora Hercole illustre che si ammira,
Se d’Amor non sentina il dolce ardore,
A’ virtù non t’arriva senza Amore,
Ne certo dardo al suo bel fin si tira.

Liefde deughts oorsake.
De daden hoogh vermaert der aldervroomste mannen
En waren noyt gheschiet/ dan door te zijn ghewondt
Van Liefdes schichten snel, in hunder herten grondt.
Daer ’t wit des deughts men raeckt/ heeft Liefd’ den boog ghespannen.

Amour source de vertu.
Les grands faicts d’Hercules, que tous le monde admire,
Ne fussent exploitez, s’il n’eut esté nauré,
De la flesche d’Amour: nul dard bien asseuré
Au but de la vertu, sans l’Amour on ne tire.


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Facsimile Images

32, LEI:
32, LDF:
32, LIF:
33, pictura:

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Translations

De wortel [basis] van de deugd is de liefde.
Love is the root [basis] of virtue.
Plato
Een ziel die in een lichaam is ondergedompeld, wordt gewekt door de prikkels van Amor en hieruit ontstaat het eerste verlangen naar het goede te doen. [Plato, Eros?]
Plato
A soul that is stuck in a body, is roused up by the stimuli of Eros and from this the first impulses to honourable deeds are taken. [Plato, Eros?]
Cicero, De oratore 1, 30, 134
Zonder liefde zal niemand in het leven ooit iets buitengewoons bereiken.
Cicero, De oratore 1, 30, 134
Without love no man will ever attain anything in life that is out of the common.


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Sources and parallels



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Iconclass

Hercules leaning on his club and with the Hydra at his feet, is hit by an arrow from cupid's bow