Liber Emblemata by Andreas Alciat

Andreas Alciat was born on May 8, 1492 in Milan or nearby Alzate, the son of a prosperous merchant. He was a successful lawyer and university professor and lived at various times in Milan, Bologna, Avignon, and Paris. He died on January 12, 1550.

Alciat's Liber Emblemata was the first of many emblem books that were the literary vogue in the 16th century. At this time interest in the newly rediscoved Egyptian hieroglyphics ran high among the educated and the emblem books were, in part, an attempt to define a pictographic language.

Alciat compiled his first collection of emblems in 1522. The first printing was in 1531. It was reprinted no less than 130 times between 1532 and 1790. Some of the more notable editions are:

• TITLE PAGE
• PUBLISHER'S PAGE

1. INSIGNIA OF THE DUKE OF MILAN
2. ITALIAN LUTE
3. IN SILENCE
4. EVEN THE FIERCEST ARE CONQUERED
5. A FAVOR SHOULD BE RETURNED
6. CONCORDIA
7. LOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL EMOTION
8. DO NOT REVEAL SECRETS
9. VICTORY BORN OF DECIET
10. RESPECT IS NECESSARY IN MARRIAGE
11. WHEN STRANGERS OFFER BETTER CONDITIONS
12. FRIENDSHIP THAT LASTS EVEN PAST DEATH
13. HOPE NOT FOR THE UNLAWFUL
14. HURT NO ONE BY WORD OR BY DEED
15. GIVE UP IDLENESS
16. POVERTY HINDERS EVEN THE GREATEST TALENTS
17. OPPORTUNITY
18. THE ROPE MAKER
19. FORTUNE COMES WITH VIRTUE
20. ABUNDANCE COMES FROM PEACE
21. DARE NOT BEYOND YOUR POWER
22. THE PRINCE SECURES SAFETY FOR HIS SUBJECTS
23. MUTUAL HELP
24. FAME COMES FROM DIFFICULT DEEDS
25. BE STEADFAST UNDER PRESSURE
26. THE HARLOT'S TOMB
27. PARASITES
28. CONCORD
29. WHAT IS ABOVE IS OF NO CONCERN TO US
30. LOVERS OF HARLOTS
31. TO PERSUADE ALCIAT TO MOVE FROM ITALY TO FRANCE
32. A SMALL KITCHEN WILL NOT FEED TWO GLUTTONS
33. DELIGHT IN GOD
34. IMMUNE TO CUPID'S ARROW
35. HOPE IS NEAR AT HAND
36. NOT FOR YOU BUT FOR RELIGION
37. ON PRAISING WHAT IS NOT WORTHY
38. JUST VENGEANCE
39. AT LAST, LONG LAST, JUSTICE PREVAILS
40. ON FERTILITY THAT IS HARMFUL TO ITSELF
41. FORTUNE OVERCOMING VIRTUE
42. ATTAIN IMMORTALITY WITH LITERARY STUDIES
43. THE PROTECTION OF VIRGINS
44. HELP THAT NEVER FAILS
45. LOVE AND CARE OF CHILDREN
46. FROM WAR, PEACE
47. IGNORANCE MUST BE REMOVED
48. MISFORTUNES ARE ALWAYS NEAR
49. THE MIND, NOT BEUATY, SHOULD BE PRIZED
50. THOSE WHO FALL FROM VIRTUE EASILY
51. THE PRUDENT ABSTAIN FROM WINE
52. ON MISERS
53. RIPENING
54. ASTROLOGERS
55. SMALL THINGS MUST ALSO BE WATCHED
56. THE GUILT OF THE INSTIGATOR
57. THE STEADFAST CANNOT BE UPROOTED
58. DO NOT STRUGGLE WITH GHOSTS
59. HARM BECAUSE OF AN EVIL NEIGHBOR
60. THE SENATE OF A GOOD PRINCE
61. THE CAPTURED FUGITIVE
62. THE FAITHFUL WIFE
63. WHAT IS NOT TAKEN BY CHRIST IS TAKEN BY THE TREASURY
64. DO NOT YIELD EVEN UNDER TORTURE
65. ON RASH AMBITION
66. LOVE & DEATH
67. BACCHUS
68. BRIEF HAPPINESS
69. THE DEVOTION OF SONS TO PARENTS
70. ONE MAN SINS, ANOTHER IS PUNISHED
71. A SCHOLAR OVERCOME BY LOVE
72. LOVE OVERCOMING LOVE
73. THE POWER OF LOVE
74. JUST REVENGE
75. ONE WHO PERISHES BECAUSE OF HIS OWN
76. THE POWER OF EROS
77. ONE MUST GO WHERE THE GODS SAY
78. THE IMAGE OF HOPE
79. PEACE
80. THE LOVE OF VIRTUE
81. THE SIGN OF BRAVE MEN
82. THOSE WHO GO TOO HIGH WILL FALL
83. IMPOSSIBLE
84. SOMETIMES SAFETY MUST BE BOUGHT WITH MONEY
85. CAPTURED BECAUSE OF GLUTTONY
86. THE IGNORANT RICH MAN
87. ON FLATTERERS
88. ONE WHO BRINGS RUIN TO HIMSELF
89. THE REMEDY IS DIFFICULT, EVIL IS EASY
90. ELOQUENCE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN STRENGTH
91. ON THOSE WHO HARBOR MURDERERS
92. SYMBOL OF FIDELITY
93. ON HUMAN LIFE
94. EROS
95. HE WHO HAS WASTED HIS OWN SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED WITH OTHERS' GOODS
96. SCHOLARS SHOULD NOT MALIGN EACH OTHER
97. THE REPUTATION OF WOMAN, NOT HER BEAUTY, SHOULD BE WIDELY KNOWN
98. GOOD MEN SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FROM THE RICH