Moniti Meliora Sequamar

Arthur Neuendorffer

2012-05-07 18:18:27 UTC

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At the seal’s center is Athena, the patron goddess of ancient Athens
and of wisdom, shown in profile with her helmet. Encircling her image
are the full school name, "The Hotchkiss School," its founding date
"MDCCCXCI," and the words of the Hotchkiss motto: "Moniti Meliora
Sequamur." The Latin phrase is taken from Virgil’s Aeneid, Book 3,
and might be loosely translated to mean, “After instruction,
let us move on to pursue higher things.”

Et moniti meliora sequamur. — Mn. iii. 188.
(And being advised what is better, let us follow it.)
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Engraved title page to Of the Advancement and Proficience of Learning
or the Partitions of Sciences, the first English translation of
Francis Bacon’s De Dignitate & Augmentis Scientiarum (1623). The book
was published in 1640, being printed in Oxford by Leon. Lichfield,
Printer to the University, for Rob. Young and Ed. Forrest. The
engraving was made by William Marshall. The translation was done
by the Rev. Doctor Gilbert Wats, and the book was dedicated to
King Charles I and his son, who later became King Charles II.

The Latin motto at the top of the picture reads ‘Ratione et
Experientia Foederantur’ (transl: ‘Reason and Experience have been
confederated/allied together’. The motto beneath the ship reads ‘Multi
pertransibunt & augebitur Scientia’ (transl: ‘Many shall pass through
and learning shall be increased’ – Daniel 12). ‘INSTAVR.MAG.P.I’
beneath the clasped hands refers to the Instauratio Magna
(‘The Great Instauration’).

The globe at the top right-hand of the picture is that
of the ‘Mundus Visibilis’ (transl: ‘the Visible World’),
whilst that at the top left-hand is that of the
‘Mundus Intellectualis’ (transl: ‘the Intellectual World’).
The right-hand ‘Oxonium’ (‘Oxford’) pillar has ‘Scientiæ’
(‘Sciences’) on its base, whilst the left-hand ‘Cantabrigia’
(‘Cambridge’) pillar has ‘Philosophiæ’ (‘Philosophies’).
The motto shared by the two pillars reads ‘Moniti Meliora’,
an abbreviation of the fuller motto ‘Moniti Meliora Sequamar’
(transl: ‘Let us, being admonished, follow better things’
– Virgil, Aeneid iii, 188).
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Art Neuendorffer