Folio 59r - the swan, continued. De anatibus; Of the duck
as Emilianus said: 'When you are observing birds for omens, the swan is always the most favorable bird to see; sailors set great store by it because it does not plunge beneath the waves'.
The swan has snow-white plumage and dark flesh. In a moral sense, the white colour of its plumage signifies the effect of deception, whereby the dark flesh is hidden, in the same way that a sin of the flesh is concealed by pretence.
When the swan swims in a river, it holds its neck and head high, as a proud man is led astray by transitory things and even glories at the time in his temporary possessions.
They say that in the far north, when bards are singing to their lyres, large numbers of swans fly there and sing in harmony with them. In the same way those who long for sensuous pleasure with all their hearts, like the swans flying north, harmonise with other pleasure-seekers.
But when, at the very end, the swan dies, it is said to sing very sweetly as it is dying. Likewise, when the proud man departs this life, he still delights in the sweetness of this present world and, dying, remembers the evil he has done.
When the swan is plucked of its white plumage, it is set on the spit and roasted at the fire. Likewise, when a rich, proud man is stripped at death of his worldly glory, he will descend to the fires of hell where he will be tormented; he who used to seek food in the lowest places, descending into the abyss, is fed into the fire.
Of ducks
The duck, anas, has been aptly named because it is constantly swimming, natare. Some of its species are called Germanie, 'from Germany', because they eat more than the rest.
The goose, anser, derives its name from the duck, either because they are similar or because the goose too is constantly swimming.
The goose marks the watches of the night by its constant cry. No other creature picks up the scent of man as it does. It was because of its noise, that the Gauls
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Commentary
Text
The swan sings sweetly when it dies. It may be plucked and roasted. Ducks are constantly swimming.
Illustration
The ducks are shown not swimming but on land. They are multi-coloured and include the green and brown mallard.
Comment
There is pouncing all around the illustration.Prick marks from the peacock illustration on f. 59v are visible just above the ducks. Initial indicator 'a' in right margin. The folio mark (which should be 'CCC') is missing. Initial type 2.
Folio Attributes
- Transcription and Translation
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Transcription
facere dicunt, sicut Emilianus ait: Cignus in auspiciis semper\ letissimus ales, hunc optant naute quia se non mergit in undis.\ Cignus plumam habet niveam et carnem nigrum. Moraliter color\ niveus in plumis designat effectum simulationis qua caro\ nigra tegitur, quia peccatum carnis simulatione velatur. Cignus dum\ in flumine natat, cervicem capitis erectam gestat, quia superbus qui\ cum rebus transitoriis trahitur, etiam labentium rerum possessione\ ad tempus gloriatur. Ferunt in hiperboreis partibus precinentibus citha\ redis olores plurimos advolare apteque admodum concinere,\ quia qui voluptatibus totis desideriis inhiant, quasi advolantes vo\ luptuosis concordant. Sed et in extremis cum cignus moritur,\ valde dulciter moriens canere perhibetur. Similiter cum de hac vita\ superbus egreditur, adhuc dulcedine presentis seculi delectatur et que\ male gessit ad memoriam moriens reducit. Cum vero pluma\ nivea cignis exuitur, in verum [PL, veru] positus ad ignem torretur.\ Similiter cum dives superbus moriens exuitur mundana gloria, des\ cendens ad flammas inferni cruciabitur per tormenta, et qui ci\ bum querere consueverat in imis, in abyssum descendens fit\ cibus ignis. \ De anatibus \ Anas ab assiduitate\ natandi nomen\ aptum accepit, ex quo\ genere quedam Germanie\ dicuntur quod plus ceteris\ nutriant. Anser anas\ nomen dedit per dirivati\ onem vel a similitudine\ vel quod ipsa natandi frequentiam habeat. Iste vigilias noc\ tis clangoris assiduitate testatur. Nullum autem animal ita\ odorem hominis sentit ut anser. Unde et clangore eius GallorumTranslation
as Emilianus said: 'When you are observing birds for omens, the swan is always the most favorable bird to see; sailors set great store by it because it does not plunge beneath the waves'. The swan has snow-white plumage and dark flesh. In a moral sense, the white colour of its plumage signifies the effect of deception, whereby the dark flesh is hidden, in the same way that a sin of the flesh is concealed by pretence. When the swan swims in a river, it holds its neck and head high, as a proud man is led astray by transitory things and even glories at the time in his temporary possessions. They say that in the far north, when bards are singing to their lyres, large numbers of swans fly there and sing in harmony with them. In the same way those who long for sensuous pleasure with all their hearts, like the swans flying north, harmonise with other pleasure-seekers. But when, at the very end, the swan dies, it is said to sing very sweetly as it is dying. Likewise, when the proud man departs this life, he still delights in the sweetness of this present world and, dying, remembers the evil he has done. When the swan is plucked of its white plumage, it is set on the spit and roasted at the fire. Likewise, when a rich, proud man is stripped at death of his worldly glory, he will descend to the fires of hell where he will be tormented; he who used to seek food in the lowest places, descending into the abyss, is fed into the fire. Of ducks The duck, anas, has been aptly named because it is constantly swimming, natare. Some of its species are called Germanie, 'from Germany', because they eat more than the rest. The goose, anser, derives its name from the duck, either because they are similar or because the goose too is constantly swimming. The goose marks the watches of the night by its constant cry. No other creature picks up the scent of man as it does. It was because of its noise, that the Gauls
