QVID SENTIAM OSTENDERE MALIM QVAM LOQVI.

Senec.
Transfixum cor Amor clam testificatur amicae:
Nam voce effectus plùs in amore valet.
Irrita verba volant, & ijs falluntur amantes
Saepiùs, at re ipsa ritè probatur Amor.

Demonstration more effectuall then speech.

Loue rather is in deed by demonstration shewn,
Then told with sugred woords whose value is but wynd,
For speech may please the eare, and not disclose the mynd.
But fraudlesse is the loue whereas the harte is known.

l’Effetto piu che’l detto.

E meglio di scuoprir la fiamma atroce
Con l’opra, che col detto vago, e arguto;
Souente il vero Amor si vede muto,
E piu l’effeto serue, che la voce.

’t Is met segghen niet te doen.

Veel lieuer ick mijn sin met toonen wil bewijsen/
Dan segghen met den mondt/ hoe wel veel minnaers sin
Meer op ’t welspreken valt: maer ick seggh’ niet te min
Dat toonen meer in Liefd’ als ’t spreken is te prijsen.

Plustost monstrer que dire.

i’Aime mieux par effect descouurir mon courage,
Que par des mots dorez & vn gentil discours;
Aussi voit on souuent muëts les vrays amours,
Aux quels nous sert l’effect de plus seur tesmoignage.

47 ↓

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Facsimile Images

46, LEI:

46, LDF:

46, LIF:

47, pictura:

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Translations

Seneca, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium 75, 2

Ik zou mijn gevoelens liever tonen dan uitspreken.

Seneca, Epistulae morales ad Lucilium 75, 2

I would prefer to show, rather than speak, my feelings.

Amor toont zijn geliefde stiekem een doorboord hart, want dit heeft in de liefde meer effect dan taal. Woorden vliegen onverrichtterzake voorbij en geliefden worden er vrij vaak door bedrogen, maar Liefde bewijst zich in daden.

In secret Amor shows a transfixed heart to his girl-friend, for this is more effective in love than words. Words fly unsuccessfully and lovers are rather often deceived by them, but Love is proven by the deeds.

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Literature

Sebastiàn, Lectura crítica, p. 24

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Sources and parallels

Quid sentiam ostendere malim quam loqui [18] (in: Otto Vaenius, Emblemata aliquot selectiora amatoria (1618)) [Compare]
Ayres, Emblemata amatoria, embl. 15
Same motto, pictura sligthly modified, background shows nature: Quid sentiam ostendere malim, quam loqui. [13] (in: anonymous, Emblemata amatoria (1690)) [Compare]
Same motto, pictura sligthly modified, background shows architecture: Quid sentiam ostendere malim, quam loqui. [13] (in: anonymous, Emblemata amatoria (1690)) [Compare]

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References, across this site, to this page:

Quid sentiam ostendere malim, quam loqui. [13] (in: anonymous, Emblemata amatoria (1690))
Quid sentiam ostendere malim, quam loqui. [13] (in: anonymous, Emblemata amatoria (1690))
Quid sentiam ostendere malim quam loqui [18] (in: Otto Vaenius, Emblemata aliquot selectiora amatoria (1618))

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Iconclass

A cupid showing a heart pierced by arrows to a woman

prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city [25I12]
heart [31A2221]
profane heart symbolism ~ love [31A222101]
sitting on the ground - AA - female human figure [31AA2351]
lover (woman) alone (e.g. longing for the beloved) [33C2162]
archer's weapons: arrow [45C15(ARROW)]
quiver [45C23]
painting, drawing and the graphic arts [48C5]
Prolixity, Verbosity, Loquacity; 'Loquacité' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52D4(+4)]
Taciturnity; 'Secretezza', 'Secretezza overo Taciturnité' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52DD3(+4)]
(personifications and symbolic representations of) Love; 'Amore (secondo Seneca)' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56F2(+4)]
proverbs, sayings, etc. (with TEXT) [86(QUID SENTIAM OSTENDERE MALIM QUAM LOQUI)]
other non-aggressive activities of Cupid [92D156]
attributes of Cupid (with NAME) [92D18(QUIVER)]

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Comments

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Quid sentiam ostendere malim quam loqui [24]

Facsimile Images

Translations

Literature

Sources and parallels

References, across this site, to this page:

Iconclass

Comments

Notes