Folio 45v - the vulture, continued. De [gruibus]; Of cranes.
a sinner delights the in carnal desires which bring about death. The vulture willingly goes on foot, and for this reason is called by some gradipes, 'footslogger', in the same way that the sinner loves and longs for earthly things. Sometimes the vulture flies on high, as the sinner also raises his mind to heavenly things, but with what purpose no-one else knows. For who looks at the eyes of the vulture, that is, at what lies behind men's thoughts? The Almighty reserves this to himself; he alone knows the thoughts of men.
Note also that Isidore says that the vulture gets its name from volatu tardus, slow in flight. For it leaves the ground slowly when it takes flight, as the sinner hardly ever or never abandons his earthly desires.
Of cranes
Cranes take their name, grues, from the sound of their own particular call. or such is the low, muttering sound they make.
It is interesting to recall how cranes organise their journeys. They go to some extent in military formation, and in case the wind should be against them on their way to their chosen land, they eat sand and ballast themselves to a reasonable weight by picking up small stones. Then they fly as high as they can, so that a from higher vantage point they can look out for the lands they seek.
As they fly swiftly on their way, they follow one of their number in a V-shaped formation. Confident in its navigation, it leads the flocks. It scolds the laggards and keeps the formation together with its calls. When it grows hoarse, another takes over.
Cranes are united in their concern for those who tire, to such an extent that if any drop out, they all surround the exhausted birds and support them until their strength is restored by this period of rest.
At night cranes keep careful watch. You can see the sentinels at their posts; while the other members of the flock sleep,
- Commentary
-
Commentary
Text
The vulture continued. Cranes.
Illustration
This refers to the text on f.46r which says cranes keep watch in turn at night, holding a pebble in their claw to ward off sleep. Initial type 2.
Folio Attributes
- Transcription and Translation
-
Transcription
carnalibus desderiis que mortem generant delectatur. Vultur\ etiam pedibus libenter graditur, unde et a quibusdam gradipes appel\ pellatur, quia terrena peccator amat, et terrenis inhiat, quandoque etiam\ vultur in altum volat, quia peccator ad celestia mentem quoque le\ vat, sed qua intentione hoc faciat, alter ignorat. Quis \enim intuetur\ oculos [oculus] vulturis, id est\ intentionem cogitationis? Hoc enim omnipotens sibi\ reliquid quod cogitationes hominum solus novit. Nota etiam ut\ ait Ysidorus a volatu tardo nominetur. Tarde enim cum volare ce\ perit a terra recedit, quia peccator aut vix aut nunquam terrena de\ sideria derelinquit. De [gruibus] Grues de propria voce\ nomen sumpserunt.\ Tali enim sono susur\ rant. Nec piguerit me\ minisse quatinus expedi\ tiones suas dirigant.\ Sub quodam milicie eunt\ signo, et ne pergentibus ad\ destinatam terram vis\ flatuum renitatur, are\ nas devorant, sublatisque lapillulis a[d] moderatam gravitatem sabu\ rantur. Tunc contendunt in altissima, ut de excelsiori specula\ intueantur quas petant terras. Hee autem dum properant, unam\ sequuntur litterato, fidens meatu preit cateruas. Volatus desidia\ castigat, voceque cogit agmen. Et ubi obraucata est, succedit alia.\ Concors cura omnium pro fatigatis adeo ut si qua defecerit con\ gruant universe lassatasque sustollant, usque dum vires ocio\ recuperentur. Grues in nocte sollicitam exercent\ custodiam.\ Dispositos vigiles cernas, et ceteris consortibus gregis quiescentibus,\Translation
a sinner delights the in carnal desires which bring about death. The vulture willingly goes on foot, and for this reason is called by some gradipes, 'footslogger', in the same way that the sinner loves and longs for earthly things. Sometimes the vulture flies on high, as the sinner also raises his mind to heavenly things, but with what purpose no-one else knows. For who looks at the eyes of the vulture, that is, at what lies behind men's thoughts? The Almighty reserves this to himself; he alone knows the thoughts of men. Note also that Isidore says that the vulture gets its name from volatu tardus, slow in flight. For it leaves the ground slowly when it takes flight, as the sinner hardly ever or never abandons his earthly desires. Of cranes Cranes take their name, grues, from the sound of their own particular call. or such is the low, muttering sound they make. It is interesting to recall how cranes organise their journeys. They go to some extent in military formation, and in case the wind should be against them on their way to their chosen land, they eat sand and ballast themselves to a reasonable weight by picking up small stones. Then they fly as high as they can, so that a from higher vantage point they can look out for the lands they seek. As they fly swiftly on their way, they follow one of their number in a V-shaped formation. Confident in its navigation, it leads the flocks. It scolds the laggards and keeps the formation together with its calls. When it grows hoarse, another takes over. Cranes are united in their concern for those who tire, to such an extent that if any drop out, they all surround the exhausted birds and support them until their strength is restored by this period of rest. At night cranes keep careful watch. You can see the sentinels at their posts; while the other members of the flock sleep,
![Folio 45v - the vulture, continued. De [gruibus]; Of cranes. | The Aberdeen Bestiary | The University of Aberdeen](/bestiary/pinterest/f45v.jpg)