A large arm protrudes from a cloud of smoke on the right-hand side, which pets a lion on its head in a gesture of gentle dominance in emblem 88 titled Paulatim. This translates to mean gradually or by degrees. The meaning portrayed by this illustration is similar to Ripa's allegory of Reason from Iconologia--both want to convey the importance of patience and rationale. Although each depicts similar allegories, they are different in slight nuances of detail and meaning.
Peacham's emblem appears much emptier than Ripa's with the presence of flat background space. Alone stands a lion that is being stroked by a large arm emerging from a cloud of smoke of the emblem. Although Peacham does not directly point out what his emblem signifies, he makes it clear in the last line of his verse, " When gentle usage, Siercenes doth allay, And bringes in time the Lion to obey."
Ripa's emblem, made before Peacham's, is highly detailed and contains a heavy concentration of symbols. An armed woman crowned with a golden helmet represents Reason. In her right hand is a sword and in her left the leash of a bridled lion. She is robed and wears an elaborately decorated breastplate. Ripa explains the symbolism of each of these objects in his text. The lion represents wild passions while his bridle suggests the "command over wild passions." The woman's golden helmet reveals, "Reason alone can bring valiant men upon the stage." While Ripa tells his readers what each object intimates, Peacham's verse leaves more to the imagination.
Both of these emblems contain the elements of the lion--in Ripa's emblem the lion is bridled in an outright command over passion, in Peacham's illustration it is represented in a softer manner--a hand gently strokes its head. This difference in representation reveals the subtle difference in meaning, while Ripa states that reason is what brings truly influential men to power, Peacham holds that gentle persuasion is more effective than violence.
--Naomi Cookson
