Alciato's Book of Emblems

Emblem 49

Against deceivers

The little lizard, a newt bestarred on his body with black spots, who inhabits hiding places and hollow tombs, bears in his colouring symbols of envy and depraved deceit, symbols known alas too well by jealous brides. For whoever drinks wine in which a lizard has been immersed is covered on her face with a loathsome spotting. From this, a common revenge: the mistress is deceived by wine, the flower of her beauty's lost, her lover leaves her.