Allegory of Il Moro with geometry and a prophecy of jackdaws
Emblems of Fortune and Poverty, squaring the triangle, and the prophecy of the jackdaws and starlings
A crowded page mixing literary inventions with geometry. The main text describes an allegory in which Il Moro appears in the guise of Fortune while messer Gualtieri seizes him and Poverty pursues a youth whom the Moor shelters; a second emblem shows uprooted grass 'for one at the end of his wealth or favour.' Among sanguine and pen diagrams — a ground plan, the squaring of a triangle, and the decomposition of a pentagon into triangles — a prophecy 'Of the jackdaws and starlings' foretells that those who dwell near him will die cruel deaths. An upside-down column of tally marks sits at the foot of the sheet.
On this page
Il Moro as Fortune, with Gualtieri and Poverty
The Moor is to be shown in the guise of Fortune, with his hair, garments and hands in front, while messer Gualtieri with reverent gesture takes hold of him by the garments below, approaching from the front. Poverty, in a frightful figure, runs behind a youth, and the Moor covers him with the hem of his robe and with a gilded rod threatens that minister.
Emblem of uprooted grass
A tuft of grass drawn with its roots turned upward, to signify one who is at the end of his wealth or his favour.
Squaring the triangle and dividing the pentagon
The sheet carries geometric constructions in pen and red chalk: a ground plan (planimetry), the squaring (quadrature) of a triangle, and the decomposition of a pentagon into triangles.
Prophecy of the jackdaws and starlings
Of the jackdaws and starlings: those who trust to dwell near him, who will be great throngs, will almost all die a cruel death. Fathers and mothers together with their families will be seen devoured and slain by cruel animals.
Upside-down column of tallies
At the foot of the sheet, written upside down, is a small columned tally headed pa, g°, sa, with rows of paired strokes (II II) and a final single stroke.