On the Lion

The lion has three natures and three forms therefrom,
Which I, O Christ, have written for you in twelve-fold verse original: "bisseno carmie"; likely referring to the twelve animals covered in the book..
Other animals are mentioned in the divine books,
Concerning which I have added what mystical things I have come to know,
Trying if I might be able to write in diverse meters,
And these animals alone complete a solid number.

¶ This book, whose subject matter has been seen, is divided in its first division into twelve principal parts, according as there are twelve chapters here. These parts will become clear in order through the course of the book. And this division of the book is general. The first part is divided into two: First, he provides a prologue. Second, he carries it out at the point: For the lion standing strong.

The first part is further divided into two: First, he shows that he wishes to describe the natures of twelve animals. Second, he answers a silent question by showing to what purpose these natures of animals are useful, at the point: Other [animals] of the divine.

The first part is again divided in two: First, he does what was said; second, he shows he wishes to use a diverse kind of meters original: "metroȝ"; different poetic rhythms or structures., at the point: Trying in diverse.

He says, therefore, first thus: O Christ, the lion has three natures and also three properties; which natures I, Theobald, your servant, have written for you—that is, to your praise—in twelve-fold verse—that is, in twelve-fold meter.

¶ Note that this author follows in part Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy|Boethius was a 6th-century philosopher whose famous work alternated between prose and many different types of poetry; Theobald imitates this "prosimetrum" style here. by using diverse kinds of meters.

Then at the point: Other [animals] of the divine. Here the author answers a silent question. For someone might say: what is the use of this author treating the natures of twelve animals? To this he responds and says that the divine books—that is, theological books—mention other "animals," namely the twelve apostles. Therefore, just as there are twelve apostles, so there are twelve animals treated in the present book. And just as Christ is the thirteenth among the apostles, who is their king and lord, so the lion is the king of beasts, and is the thirteenth animal among these twelve animals The commentator frames the Lion as a symbol of Christ, standing above or completing the set of twelve.; and to which I, Theobald, have added again those mystical and allegorical things which I knew.

Then at: Trying in diverse. ¶ The author shows that in this little book he wishes to preserve diverse kinds of meters, saying thus: I, Theobald, attempt to write this book in diverse kinds of meters, and the twelve animals complete or fulfill a "solid number"—that is, a number [which...]