The Wrong Inclination
Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712
Image Title: The Wrong Inclination
Scripture Reference:
- Isaiah 59 (further images / scripture text)
Description: A passing hiker speaks to a man, who wants to store the World in a nest. Located behind the nest is a pedestal, which is crowned with a flower vase with a serpent that is twisted around it and a bat that flutters above it. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649-1712), whose initials are at the lower right, was responsible for drawing and etching this emblem and for the poem that accompanies it (below). The attendant scripture text is Isaiah 59:5.
Poem:
He who takes the world’s Egg from the nest,
And keeps it warm and well-covered,
As if he had something of the very best,
Which man might be allowed to enjoy:
He incubates the eggs of a Serpent,
To his bosom admitted,
While he hopes, that from there, before long
A beautiful Bird will hatch.
But if he knew what the situation was,
His heart might throb from these treasures,
While venom gradually swells,
To finally seize his throat.
So ignorance breeds even his death,
And thinks however to acquit him,
But if he knew the approaching distress,
He would throw away that vile Egg.
However, even though the time comes,
In which clearer eyes than his,
Show him what lies behind it,
He keeps to his own belief.
Oh Man! look in front of thee, at what thou dost carry
And what thine mind has chosen,
So that thou dost not complain too late,
When this snake has hatched.
It will not be a cute animal,
To gratify the joyous eye and ear,
But a creature of venom,
To deal out Adder bites,
This shows, that thou at the right time,
Dost cast that Egg from thine bosom.
(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
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