Folio 53r - the nightingale, continued. [De ansere]; Of the goose
she matches it in her devotion to duty.
[Of the goose]
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 were detected when they ascended the Capitol. Rabanus says in this context: 'The goose can signify men who are prudent and look out for their own safety.'
There are two kinds of geese, domestic and wild. Wild geese fly high, in a an orderly fashion, signifying those who, far away from earthly things, preserve a rule of virtuous conduct. Domestic geese live together in villages, they cackle together all the time and rend each other with their beaks; they signify those who, although they like conventual life, nevertheless find time to gossip and slander.
All wild geese are grey in colour; I have not seen any that were of mixed colour or white. But among domestic geese, there are not only grey but variegated and white ones. Wild geese are the colour of ashes, that is to say, those who keep apart from this world wear the modest garb of penitence. But those who live in towns or villages wear clothes that are more beautiful in colour.
The goose, more than any other animal, picks up the scent of a someone happening by, as the discerning man knows of other men by their good or bad reputation, even though they live far away. When, therefore, a goose picks up the scent of a man approaching, it cackles endlessly at night, as when a discerning brother sees in others the negligence that comes with ignorance, it is his duty to call attention to it. The cackling of geese on the Capitol once helped the Romans, and in our chapter-house daily, when
- Commentary
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Commentary
Text
The goose. A good animal for guarding.
Illustration
Two aggressive geese in a roundel.
Comment
Rubric missing at the top of the page. Faint correction at bottom right.The verb 'prodest' is missing before the word 'cum' on the last line. There is a slight indication of an editorial insertion in the right margin, but it does not look like 'prodest'. The sentence should read 'The cry of the discerning brother is helpful when he sees negligence.' (Clark, 1992, 227) Initial type 2.
Folio Attributes
- Transcription and Translation
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Transcription
imitari, imitatur tamen eum sedulitate pietatis.\ [De ansere] \ Anser vigilias noctis as\ siduitate clangoris te\ statur. Nullum autem animal\ ita odorem hominis sentit ut\ anser. Unde et clangore eius\ Gallorum ascensus in Capito\ lio deprehensus est. Unde Ra\ banus: Hec providos homines et erga custodiam suam bene\ vigilantes, significare potest. Anserum due sunt species\ domestice videlicet et campestres. Campestres in altum\ et ordinate volant, illosque designant qui remoti a terre\ nis ordinem bene vivendi servant. Domestici vero in vicis\ simul habitant, multociens conclamant, seipsos rostris\ lacerant, illos significant qui et si conventus amant, lo\ quacitate tamen et detractioni vacant. Campestres anse\ res omnes sunt coloris cinericii, nec aliquam earum\ variam sive niveam vidi. In domesticis vero non solum ha\ betur color cinericius, sed etiam varius vel albus. In cam\ pestribus habetur color cinericius, id est in his qui a seculo sunt remoti\ penitentie vilis habitus. Hii vero qui in urbibus vel in vicis\ habitant, pulchrioris coloris vestem portant. Anser pre\ ceteris animalibus supervenientis hominis odorem sen\ tit, quia discretus homo per bonam vel malam famam\ alios licet longe remotos, cognoscit. Cum igitur anser odo\ rem supervenientis hominis sentit, nocte clamare non de\ sinit, quia cum negligentias ignorantie discretus frater\ in aliis videt, clamare debet. In Capitolio quondam Ro\ manis profuit clamor anseris, et in Capitolio [PL, capitulo] cotidie cum\Translation
she matches it in her devotion to duty. [Of the goose] 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 were detected when they ascended the Capitol. Rabanus says in this context: 'The goose can signify men who are prudent and look out for their own safety.' There are two kinds of geese, domestic and wild. Wild geese fly high, in a an orderly fashion, signifying those who, far away from earthly things, preserve a rule of virtuous conduct. Domestic geese live together in villages, they cackle together all the time and rend each other with their beaks; they signify those who, although they like conventual life, nevertheless find time to gossip and slander. All wild geese are grey in colour; I have not seen any that were of mixed colour or white. But among domestic geese, there are not only grey but variegated and white ones. Wild geese are the colour of ashes, that is to say, those who keep apart from this world wear the modest garb of penitence. But those who live in towns or villages wear clothes that are more beautiful in colour. The goose, more than any other animal, picks up the scent of a someone happening by, as the discerning man knows of other men by their good or bad reputation, even though they live far away. When, therefore, a goose picks up the scent of a man approaching, it cackles endlessly at night, as when a discerning brother sees in others the negligence that comes with ignorance, it is his duty to call attention to it. The cackling of geese on the Capitol once helped the Romans, and in our chapter-house daily, when
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