The Goal of the Wise

...not only for the reasons stated, but for the acquisition of their end, birds of prey original: "aves rapaces" are used as tame instruments original: "mansuetis instrumentis". Furthermore, from the perspective of the end, it is more difficult and instructive in two ways. First, to hunt with birds rather than with quadrupeds, because through coercion, natural instincts are more effectively enticed by humans than [is the case with] other birds and quadrupeds that call men to the hunt. Birds of prey do not live on seeds or on things that are harvested, as many others do, and [so they do not] live on those [things] with which they [humans] are occupied. And for this reason, they are not accustomed to humans, nor do they convene with them on their own. If by chance birds are hunted that live on seeds and other things that are available to humans, it is clear that birds of prey naturally flee from humans more than other birds and quadrupeds aforementioned; for birds of prey do not nest in places inhabited by humans. Even though many quadrupeds flee from humans, they are for the most part wandering and private. And therefore, it is difficult to tame them and teach them to hunt. Yet, it is more difficult to teach birds of prey to hunt. For those quadrupeds do not have such an aptitude for fleeing or distancing themselves, since they have movement on the earth and swim in others. Since birds possess the faster movement of flight through the air, sometimes the method is lost; they can [more easily] fall under the power of humans than birds can. And they can also [be taught] in one way or another when they move upon the earth. Birds, however, when they fly through the air, cannot be captured except by the ingenuity of humans, and [only then] can they be caught and taught. Because of this, this art of hunting is more difficult than other hunts, and more worthy. Furthermore, all birds of prey can be taught through this art to capture larger birds—such as cranes, bustards, geese—and smaller ones of a different kind than they would capture on their own. And not only small birds in the way they would capture them on their own, but in many other ways. Through which the knowledge of the difficulty and utility of the art is proven. Furthermore, birds of prey naturally abhor the face of a human and associating with a human, but through this art, they are taught to act for the work of humans, which they would [otherwise] do for themselves, and to become accustomed to the human, which they naturally fled. Furthermore, birds of prey are taught through this art to hunt the same prey together and to cooperate with individuals of their own species and another, both in flying and over the prey. Which [they would not do] by themselves without...

...movement in that which they fly over the earth and swim in as if in others. Since birds possess the faster motion of flight through the air. Therefore, sometimes the way is lost; they can fall under the power of humans rather than birds. And they can also, by one way or another, move when they are upon the earth. Birds, however, when they fly through the air, cannot be captured except by human ingenuity, and [after] they are caught they can be taught. For this reason, this art of hunting is more difficult than other hunts and more worthy. Furthermore, all birds of prey can be taught through this art to capture larger birds, such as cranes, bustards, geese, and smaller [birds] of another species than they would capture on their own. And not [only] smaller birds in the way they would capture them on their own, but in many other ways. Through which the knowledge, difficulty, and utility of the art is proven. Furthermore, birds of prey naturally abhor the face of a human and associating with a human. But through this art, they are taught to work for the benefit of humans, what they used to do for themselves, and to adapt to the human whom they naturally fled. Furthermore, birds of prey are taught through this art to hunt the same prey together and to agree with individuals of their own species and [those of] another, both in flying and upon the prey. Which [they would not do] by themselves without...