The Manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci, Vol. 6

— FOLIO 5 (verso) ¹. — — FOLIO 6 (recto) ¹. —

[Written upside down:] ENVY original: "INVIDIA"
Of the kite kite: a medium-sized bird of prey. It is read that when it sees its children in the nest being too fat, out of envy it pecks at their ribs and keeps them without eating. —

Joy is attributed to the cock original: "gallo", who rejoices at every little thing and sings with various and playful movements. —

Sadness is compared to the raven, which, when it sees its newborn children are white, departs with great sorrow and mournful lament, abandoning them; it does not feed them until it sees at least a few black feathers ².

ENVY.
Of the kite one reads that, when he sees his children in the nest being too fat, he gives them, out of envy, pecks to the ribs, and keeps them without eating.
Joy.
Joy is appropriate to the cock, who rejoices at every little thing and sings with various and joyful movements.
Sadness.
Sadness is compared to the raven, which, when it sees its newborn children are white, goes away in great pain, abandons them with sad complaints, and does not The French editor notes the Italian original says "not" here feed them until he sees on them some black feathers ².

1. A circle, an autograph mark by Leonardo, follows each title.
2. J.-P. Richter, Vol. II, no. 1222.

[Written upside down:] PEACE original: "PACE"
Of the beaver original: "castoro" it is read that when it is pursued, knowing it is for the virtue of its medicinal testicles A common medieval myth was that beavers were hunted for "castoreum," then believed to be located in the testicles, and being unable to flee any longer, it stops; to have peace with the hunters, it tears off its testicles with its sharp teeth and leaves them to its enemies. —

Of the bear it is said that when he goes to the beehives to take their honey, the bees begin to sting him; he then leaves the honey and runs to vengeance; and wishing to avenge himself on all those that bite him, he avenges himself on none, so that his path turns into rage; throwing himself on the ground with his hands and feet, he defends himself in vain by thrashing about [becoming exasperated] —

PEACE.
Of the beaver one reads that, when he is pursued, knowing that he is for the virtue of his medicinal testicles, being no longer able to flee, he stops, then, to have peace with his hunters, he detaches with his sharp teeth the testicles, and leaves them to his enemies.
Anger.
Of the bear it is said that, when he goes to the dwellings of the bees to take their honey, the bees begin to sting him, so that he leaves the honey and runs to vengeance; and wishing to take revenge on all those who bite him, he takes revenge on none, so that his way [course] changes into rage; throwing himself to the ground in exasperation, he defends himself in vain with his hands and with his feet ².

1. A circle, an autograph mark, after the titles.
2. J.-P. Richter, Vol. II, no. 1222.

— FOLIO 6 (verso) ¹. — — FOLIO 7 (recto) ¹. —

[Written upside down:] mercy OR GRATITUDE original: "misericordia OVER GRATITUDINE"
The virtue of gratitude is said to be most found in the birds called hoopoes original: "upica [upupe]"; these, recognizing the benefit of the life they received and the nourishment from their father and mother, when they see them old, they make them a nest, brood over them, and feed them; they pluck out their old and bad feathers with their beaks, and with certain herbs they restore their sight, so that they return to a state of prosperity.

The toad feeds on earth and always remains thin, because it can never satisfy itself, such is the fear that the earth will fail it ².

Mercy or GRATITUDE.
The virtue of gratitude is said to be found especially among the birds called hoopoes; these, knowing the benefit of the life received and of their nourishment by their father and mother, make a nest for them when they see them old, brood them and feed them, take away with their beak the old and bad feathers, and with certain herbs restore their sight, in such a way that they become prosperous again.
Avarice.
The toad feeds on earth and remains always thin, because it does not sate itself, so great is the fear that the earth may fail him ².

1. A circle, autograph mark, near the titles; two crosses, reading marks in gray pencil, before the second line.
2. J.-P. Richter, Vol. II, no. 1223.

[Written upside down:] INGRATITUDE original: "JNGRATITUDINE"
Doves are compared to ingratitude because when they are of an age where they no longer need to be fed, they begin to fight with the father; and this fight does not end until they drive the father away and take his wife, making her their own.

The basilisk A legendary serpent-like creature said to kill with its look is of such great cruelty that when it cannot kill animals with its venomous sight, it turns toward the grasses and plants, and fixing its gaze upon them, it makes them wither.

INGRATITUDE.
Doves are likened to ingratitude, seeing that when they are of an age to no longer need to be fed, they begin to fight with their father; and this fight does not end before they drive out this father and take his wife, making her theirs.
Cruelty.
The basilisk is of so great a cruelty that when he cannot kill, with his venomous sight, animals, he turns towards the grasses and the plants, and fixing his sight on them, he makes them dry up ².

1. A circle, autograph mark, before the titles; a cross in gray pencil, reading mark, before the 1st title.
2. J.-P. Richter, Vol. II, no. 1224.