The Manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci, Vol. 6 (1881) - Page 22

[ LIBERALITY AND THE EAGLE. CORRECTION AND THE WOLF ].

[Written upside down:] LIBERALITY
Of the eagle it is said that it is never so hungry that it does not leave a part of its prey to those birds that are around it; these birds, being unable to provide food for themselves, must necessarily be courtiers to this eagle, because in this way they are fed.
CORRECTION
When the wolf goes stealthily around some livestock stall, and if by chance it places its foot wrongly so that it makes a noise, it bites its own foot to correct such an error.

LIBERALITY.
Of the eagle it is said that it never has such great hunger that it does not leave a part of its prey to the birds that are around it; these, being unable to have pasture by themselves, find it necessary to form a retinue for the eagle, so that in this way they may nourish themselves.
CORRECTION.
When the wolf goes with circumspection around some stable of cattle, and if by chance it sets its foot falsely, in such a way that it makes a noise, it bites its foot to correct itself for such an error Leonardo often uses animal behavior as a direct model for human discipline; here, the wolf represents the rigorous self-correction required of a wise person..

1\. A circle, an autograph mark original: "marque autographe", after the titles; two crosses in gray pencil, reader's marks, in the margin. 2\. J.-P. Richter, Vol. II, no. 1225.

[ FLATTERIES AND SIRENS. PRUDENCE AND ANTS. FOLLY AND BULLS ].

[Written upside down:] FLATTERIES OR ADULATION
The siren sings so sweetly that she puts the mariners to sleep; then she climbs upon the ships and kills the sleeping mariners.
PRUDENCE
The ant, by natural counsel, provides in the summer for the winter, killing the gathered seeds so that they do not sprout again, and they nourish themselves on these in due time.
FOLLY
The wild ox original: "bo salvatico," referring here to a wild bull, having a hatred for the color red, hunters dress the trunk of a tree in red; the ox runs at it and with great fury strikes it with its horns, whereby the hunters kill it.

FLATTERIES OR ADULATIONS.
The siren sings so sweetly that she puts the mariners to sleep, and she climbs upon the vessels and kills the sleeping mariners.
PRUDENCE.
The ant, by natural instinct, provides in the summer for the winter by killing the harvested seeds Ancient and medieval naturalists believed ants bit the germ out of seeds to prevent them from growing in the damp underground nests., so that they do not grow again; and they feed on them at the [appointed] time.
FOLLY.
The wild bull having a hatred for the color red, hunters cover the foot of a plant with red; the bull runs against it and pins its horns there with great violence, and then the hunters kill it.

1\. A circle, an autograph mark, near the 2nd and 3rd titles; a cross in gray pencil, reader's mark, in the margin. 2\. J.-P. Richter, Vol. II, no. 1226 (translated by error as: "over sirene" or "Syrens"; the original says "over soie" This refers to a philological debate regarding whether Leonardo meant "Sirens" or "Adulations/Flatteries.").

[ JUSTICE AND BEES. TRUTH AND THE PARTRIDGE ].

[Written upside down:] JUSTICE
And one can liken the virtue of justice to the king of the bees At the time, the leader of the hive was thought to be a king rather than a queen., who orders and disposes every thing with reason; for some bees are ordered to go for flowers, others ordered to work, others to fight with wasps, others to remove the filth, others to accompany and court the king; and when he is old and without wings, they carry him; and if one fails in its duty, it is punished without any remission.
TRUTH
Although partridges steal eggs from one another, nonetheless the children born of those eggs always return to their true mother.

JUSTICE.
And one can assimilate the virtue of justice to the king of the bees, who orders and disposes each thing with reason, seeing that some bees are ordered to [tasked with] going among the flowers, others are ordered to work, others to fight with the wasps, others to remove the filth, others to accompany their king and form his retinue; and when he is old and without wings, they carry him, and if one of them fails in its office, it is punished without any mercy.
TRUTH.
Though partridges steal eggs from one another, nevertheless the young born of these eggs always return to their true mother.

1\. A circle, autograph mark, near the titles; two crosses in gray pencil, reader's marks, in the margin. 2\. J.-P. Richter, Vol. II, no. 1227.

[ FIDELITY AND CRANES. FALSEHOOD AND THE FOX ].

[Written upside down:] FIDELITY OR LOYALTY
Cranes are so faithful and loyal to their king that at night, when he sleeps, some go around the field to guard from afar; others stay close by and each holds a stone in its foot, so that if sleep should overcome them, the stone would fall and make such a noise that they would wake up; and there are others who sleep together around the king, and they do this every night, taking turns so that their king shall not be found wanting.
FALSEHOOD
The fox, when it sees a flock of magpies or jackdaws or similar birds, suddenly throws itself on the ground with its mouth open so that it appears dead; the birds want to peck at its tongue, and it grabs them by the head.

FIDELITY OR LOYALTY.
Cranes are so faithful and loyal to their king that at night, when he sleeps, some go around the meadow to guard [him] from afar; others hold themselves near and each holds a stone in its claw, so that if sleep should master them, the stone would fall and make a noise such that they would wake. There are others who sleep together around the king, and they do this every night, alternately, so that their king does not come to be left alone.
FALSEHOOD.
The fox, when it sees some troop of magpies or jackdaws, or similar birds, immediately throws itself to the ground in a manner that, with its mouth open, it appears dead; the birds want to peck at its tongue and it takes them by the head.

1\. A circle, autograph mark, after the titles; a cross in gray pencil, reader's mark, in the margin. 2\. Cf. folio 117 [26] verso. 3\. J.P. Richter, Vol. II, no. 1228 (translates the words "dissga ze" in the last paragraph as "di sgarze" - "of herons").