Folio 61r - the peacock, continued. De aquila; Of the eagle
signifies that the preacher longs in his mind for heaven. The red colour in the the peacock's feathers signifies his love of contemplation. The length of the tail indicates the length of the life to come. The fact the peacock seems to have eyes in its tail, is a reference to every teacher's capacity to foresee the danger that threatens each of us at the end. The colour green, [on the peacock's serpent-like head], is also present in the tail, that the end might match the beginning. The diversity of the peacock's colouring, therefore, signifies the diversity of the virtues.
Note also that the peacock, when it is praised, raises its tail, in the same way that any churchman gets ideas above his station out of vainglory at the praise of flatterers. The peacock sets out its feathers in an orderly fashion; in the same way, a teacher believes that no matter he does, he has done it in an orderly way. But when the peacock lifts its tail, it exposes its rear, in the same way that whatever is praised in the conduct of the teacher is derided when he succumbs to pride. The peacock, therefore, should keep its tail down, just as what a teacher does, he should do with humility.
Of the eagle
The eagle is so called because of the sharpness of its eyes, for it is said to be of such keen vision that it glides above the sea on unmoving wings, out of human sight, yet from such a height sees small fish swimmming below and, swooping down like a missile thrown from a siege engine, it seizes its prey on the wing and carries it to land.
When the eagle grows old, however, its wings grow heavy, and its eyes grow dim. Then it seeks out a spring and, turning away from it, flies up into the atmosphere of the sun; there it sets its wings alight and, likewise, burns off the dimness in its eyes in the sun's rays. Descending at length, it immerses itself in the spring three times; immediately it is restored to the full strength of its wings, the former brightness of its eyes.
In the same way, you, O man, with your old clothes and dim eyes, should seek the spiritual spring of the Lord and raise the eyes of your mind to God, the fount of righteousness, and your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle.
It is also said of the eagle that that it exposes its young to the sun's rays, holding them in its claws in mid-air. If any of them, struck by the light beating down from the sun, maintains a fearless gaze without damaging its sight, this is taken as proof that it has shown itself true to its nature. But if the young bird turns its eyes away from the rays
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Commentary
Text
The peacock should keep his tail down. His pride exposes his bottom. The eagle has keen sight and catches fish. When the eagle grows old he refreshes himself by flying to the sun and plunging into a spring.
Comment
The repair to the top of this page took place after the script was finished. On this folio is has an uneven lower edge, but overleaf on f.61v it has been neatly spliced to avoid damaging the image. Initial type 2.
Folio Attributes
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Transcription
desiderium designat [A in mente. Color r]ubeus in pennis, amo\ rem designat contemplationis. Longitudo caude, longitudi\ nem innuit future vite. Quod autem quasi oculos in cauda habet,\ ad hoc pertinet quod unusquisque doctor previdet quod periculum\ in fine singulis imminet. Est etiam in cauda color viridis, ut\ inicio conveniat finis. Varietas igitur colorum designat diversita\ tem virtutum. Nota etiam quod pavo dum laudatur caudam\ erigat, quia prelatus quilibet adulantium laudibus per vanam glo\ riam mentem levat. Pennas in ordine ponit, quia quicquid doctor\ agit se ordinate fecisse credit. Cum autem caudam erigit, po\ steriora nudantur, et sic quod laudatur in opere, deridetur in elati\ one. Oportet igitur ut pavo caudam summissam gerat, ut quod\ doctor agit, cum humilitate fiat.\ De aquila / Aquila ad acumine oculorum vocata, tanti enim dicitur esse\ contuitus ut super maria immobili penna feratur nec\ humanis pateat obtutibus de tanta sublimitate pisciculos na\ tare videat ad tormenti instar descendens, raptam predam pen\ nis ad litus pertrahat. Cum vero senuerit, gravantur ale ipsius, et\ obducuntur caligine oculi eius. Tunc querit fontem et contra eum\ evolat in altum usque ad aerem solis, et ibi incendit alas suas\ similiter et caliginem oculorum exurit in radio solis. Tunc de\ mum descendens in fontem trina vice se mergit, et statim reno\ vatur in multo vigore alarum, et splendore oculorum. Sic et tu\ homo qui vestimentum habes vetus, et caligant oculi tui, que\ re spiritualem fontem domini et eleva mentis oculos ad deum qui est\ fons iusticie et tunc renovabitur sicut aquile iuventus tua. Asse\ ritur quoque quod pullos suos radiis solis obiciat, et in medio ae\ ris ungue suspendat. Ac siquis repercusso solis lumine intrepidam\ oculorum aciem in offenso intuendi vigore servaverit, is probatur\ quod veritatem nature demonstravit. Qui vero lumina sua radio\Translation
signifies that the preacher longs in his mind for heaven. The red colour in the the peacock's feathers signifies his love of contemplation. The length of the tail indicates the length of the life to come. The fact the peacock seems to have eyes in its tail, is a reference to every teacher's capacity to foresee the danger that threatens each of us at the end. The colour green, [on the peacock's serpent-like head], is also present in the tail, that the end might match the beginning. The diversity of the peacock's colouring, therefore, signifies the diversity of the virtues. Note also that the peacock, when it is praised, raises its tail, in the same way that any churchman gets ideas above his station out of vainglory at the praise of flatterers. The peacock sets out its feathers in an orderly fashion; in the same way, a teacher believes that no matter he does, he has done it in an orderly way. But when the peacock lifts its tail, it exposes its rear, in the same way that whatever is praised in the conduct of the teacher is derided when he succumbs to pride. The peacock, therefore, should keep its tail down, just as what a teacher does, he should do with humility. Of the eagle The eagle is so called because of the sharpness of its eyes, for it is said to be of such keen vision that it glides above the sea on unmoving wings, out of human sight, yet from such a height sees small fish swimmming below and, swooping down like a missile thrown from a siege engine, it seizes its prey on the wing and carries it to land. When the eagle grows old, however, its wings grow heavy, and its eyes grow dim. Then it seeks out a spring and, turning away from it, flies up into the atmosphere of the sun; there it sets its wings alight and, likewise, burns off the dimness in its eyes in the sun's rays. Descending at length, it immerses itself in the spring three times; immediately it is restored to the full strength of its wings, the former brightness of its eyes. In the same way, you, O man, with your old clothes and dim eyes, should seek the spiritual spring of the Lord and raise the eyes of your mind to God, the fount of righteousness, and your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle. It is also said of the eagle that that it exposes its young to the sun's rays, holding them in its claws in mid-air. If any of them, struck by the light beating down from the sun, maintains a fearless gaze without damaging its sight, this is taken as proof that it has shown itself true to its nature. But if the young bird turns its eyes away from the rays
