168 Ulisse Aldrovandi

lous, partly hateful, and partly pitiable. They are ridiculous because they audaciously strive for things beyond them; hateful because they achieve them; and pitiable because they are frustrated in their hopes. For this reason, Socrates believed that God always laughs at the vain pursuits of men who, once their tasks are done, imagine they will live forever. Finally, Crantor, as cited by Laertius, declared that whatever happens to one person can happen to anyone.

ADAGES

Many proverbs originate partly from human anatomy and partly from human characteristics, and we have decided to discuss these individually here. First, by looking at the body parts—and most especially the head—we find some unique examples. "To scratch the head" is an adage similar to "biting one's nails," as these are both gestures of a person deep in thought. Horace, reflecting on this, sang: "In composing a verse, he would often scratch his head and gnaw his nails to the quick."

Another proverb is "With head brought near," which advises us on the proper way to rebuke a friend. This should be done first with gentle rather than harsh words, and then in private, without witnesses—literally, with heads drawn close together. "A head void of a brain" is a proverb used for those who excel in physical beauty but lack intelligence.

"To carry on the head" was mentioned by Plato and is applied to those we follow with love. It perhaps comes from mothers or nurses who sometimes carry beloved infants, placed in their cradles, upon their heads.

"A third head" is an adage taken from porters, who carry loads not only on their shoulders and neck but occasionally on their head as well. This can be applied to people distracted by various affairs. To "fit a greave to the head and a helmet to the shin" was spoken of by Lucian regarding those who do everything backward.

"Neither head nor feet" is said of a matter so complicated that no logic can be found to explain it; thus, the ancients would say such a business had neither head nor feet. "From head to heel" is used when we wish to encompass a matter in its entirety, much as we might say "from head to foot," "from the start to the finish," "from the crown of the head to the lowest ankles," "from the fingernail to the hair," "from feet to head," or "from the hair to the very bottom of the heel."

"A head without a tongue" is applied to those who, when present at debates and consultations, always nod along with the opinions of others. This could also be described as a "foot-voted opinion," since "foot-voters" (*pedarii*) was once the name for senators who were not asked for their individual view but simply moved their feet to stand with those whose opinion they shared.

"He knows no difference between the head and the groin" is said of those for whom the distinction between the honorable and the base is unknown, since the head is reckoned among the honorable parts of the body and the groin among the dishonorable. Thus Juvenal sang of a drunken woman: "For what does a drunken Venus care? She knows no difference between the groin and the head."

"Having four heads" is an adage recorded by Athenaeus regarding drunkards, for whom everything seems doubled.

Furthermore, even hair has provided material for adages. For it is said: "Even a single hair"—with the unspoken addition "has its own shadow"—to signify that even the smallest benefit helps, and even the tiniest thing can cause harm. "Slave’s hair" is used for a base man imbued with wicked habits; the adage is derived from the practice of freeing slaves, whose hair was formerly shaved off. Those who are driven by force are said to be "dragged by the hair." For in Homer, Pallas Athena is said to have pulled Achilles back from the fight by his hair.

Not unlike this is "to seize the locks," a phrase used by Plautus to show that when an opportunity presents itself, it must be snatched and held fast once caught. The adage seems to come from the human custom of sometimes being held back by one's hair.

A man worthy of a hair