Le aquile e i draghi. Su un'allusione di Giovan Battista Marino a papa Paolo V e a Scipione Borghese

The aim of this article is to shed light on a hidden allusion in "Il ritratto del Serenissimo Don Carlo Emanuello" (1608) by Giovan Battista Marino which has until now escaped the attention of the readers of this panegyric. When he writes about «eagles» and «dragons», not only does Marino describe the military insignia of ancient Rome, but also hints ironically at the coat of arms of pope Paolo V and his nephew, cardinal Scipione Borghese, who had always been hostile towards the poet, despite the latter’s attempts at reconciliation in the following years.