The Ape
1 This animal is very mischievous and fond of imitation. Whatever it sees men do, it immediately does the same. So whoever wants to catch an Ape takes a kind of lime called bird-lime, and pretends to anoint his eyes with the lime; then he goes away from that place and leaves the lime there. When the hunter has gone well away from the place where he left the lime and has hidden himself in a particular spot, then the Ape comes out of his nest and anoints his eyes as the hunter did, and he becomes blind and does not know where he is. As soon as the hunter sees that the Ape has anointed his eyes with the lime and has become blind, he runs up with a cord which he has ready, and ties the cord around the Ape’s neck, and fastens the end of the cord to a tree. And the Ape steps up and down and becomes tame by force. 2 In this way the Devil, the great hunter, chases us. He comes into the world and brings with him the lime of sin, for sin is like bird-lime. And he shows man how to blind his eyes and darken his mind, and draws him on from sin to sin and from evil to evil, and he makes a great snare of rope, for sin is insatiable, and the man becomes spotted with it, body and soul. And when the Devil finds the man following him, he holds him fast in the snare, saying: "There is now no salvation for you; you have brought yourself to the ground; you are not worthy to enter the Church, for your sins are countless—how can you clear yourself of them? If you have not repented this year, you will surely put off repentance in the future." And today or tomorrow Death the thief comes and carries away the impenitent. So the prophet says: "Woe to those who commit sin." I warn you, do not listen to that Evil One, or he will triumph over you through his cunning. So as often as we sin, let us repent as often and hasten to God and cry with holy Paul: "Shall the fallen one not stand up again?" As often as you fall, stand up again as often, and at once you see clearly the love of God and his mercy granted to us penitents. Physiologus spoke well about the Ape.
The Lion
1 Let us now speak of the Lion, the king of beasts and truly of all living beings. For when Jacob praised Judah, did he not call him a young lion from his birth? (Gen 49:9). 2 Physiologus tells of the Lion that he has three attributes. 3 His first attribute is this. When he roams the mountains and in his wanderings the scent of the hunter reaches him, he brushes away his footprints with his tail, so that the hunter may not find his cavern by following his track and do him harm. 4 So our Savior—the strong conquering lion of the tribe of Judah, of the root of David (Rev 5:5)—sent from the eternal Father—has hidden his holy footsteps, that is, his divinity. With the angels he became an angel, with the thrones a throne, with the powers a power, with mankind a man, until he bowed himself and came to the mother Mary, and in this way he redeemed the wandering race of men. "The word became flesh and dwelt among us." Then the angel, not recognizing the one who had descended, said: "Who is this King of Glory?" But the Holy Spirit answered: "The Lord of Hosts: He is the King of Glory" [Ps 24:10]. 5 [From Thetbaldus] The high hill on which the Lion stands is the kingdom of heaven. Christ is the lion who descended from that hill and alighted here on earth. The Devil is the cunning hunter who still could not trace where Christ came from or how he made his dwelling in the deft maid Mary for our salvation. 6 [From Philip de Thaun] It is written that the Lion is of such a nature that when he is hunted he wipes out with his tail the traces of his footsteps as he goes along so that no one can trace him. 7 The track of the Lion typifies the incarnation. For in this way God covertly lowered himself by degrees through the orders of prophets and apostles until he became a man of flesh, and thus he vanquished the Devil. The Devil had deceived man: so God by a more cunning stratagem deceived the Devil. If the Devil had known that God had become a mortal man, he would never have led him on so far as to crucify him. So God acted cunningly and without being perceived. The angels in heaven did not know it. Therefore when the Son of God came in his majesty they asked the angels who were with him, "Who is this King of Glory?" Those who were with God gave this answer: "It is the King of Glory who returns with victory." And again the angels who were in heaven asked: "Why does he have a red garment?" The angels and our Lord answered: 8 "For martyrdom suffered on earth to gain our souls." And this is what we are to understand by the Lion’s track. 9 The second attribute of the Lion is this: When he sleeps in his cavern, he is all the more wakeful, for his eyes are open. Solomon testifies to this in The Song of Songs when he says: "I sleep and my heart wakes" (Song 5:5). For the fleshly part of the Lord slept on the Cross, but his Godhead wakes at the right hand of the Father. For the Shepherd of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. 10 The third attribute of the Lion is this: When the lioness gives birth to her young, she bears it dead. But the Lioness watches over her cub until the third day, when the father comes and roars and breathes in its face and wakens it. So the God and Father of the Universe woke the first born of all creation, our Lord Jesus Christ, his Son, from the dead. Jacob spoke well, then, when he said of Judah, the Lion’s cub: "Who shall rouse him up?" 11 [From Pitra, cod. B] The fourth attribute of the Lion is this: When he finds nothing to eat, he goes to a desolate place or onto a mountain, and encloses a great space within a circle, which he sweeps out with his tail trailing behind him on the ground, and so he builds a kind of pen. And when he comes near the place where he began, he stretches himself out on the ground with his eyes open. Then, when the animals come and are afraid to pass by the Lion, they go away from him around the pen; and, since they do not find him there, they come close to the Lion, and he seizes them and destroys them. Just as the Lion flees from the hunter, brushing out his footsteps with his tail so that the hunter cannot track him—so, wise man, when you give alms, do not let your left hand know the work of your right hand, so that the devil may not in any way track you down by your good works and lead you to evil instead. 12 Physiologus spoke well about the Lion.
The Ant-Lion
1 Eliphas the king of Theman said: "The Ant-Lion perished for lack of food" (Job 4:11). 2 Physiologus says that he has the face of a Lion and the hind parts of an ant. His father is a flesh-eater, but his mother is a plant-eater. When they produce the Ant-Lion, they produce him with two attributes: he cannot eat flesh, for that is contrary to the nature of his mother; and he cannot get nourishment from plants, for that is against the nature of his father: so he perishes because there is no food for him. 3 So, likewise, every man has a double spirit, contrary in all its ways. A man cannot go two ways or speak double in prayer. It is not good to say Yes and No. Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No: "For woe to the sinner who goes two ways" (Sir 2:12).
The Tiger
1 There is a four-footed beast like the Lion with a longer and more curved nose. It is found in India, and is called the Tiger, and they say that it guards its young in a hollow glass globe. When it finds that its cub is stolen, it hurls itself on the track of the robber as swiftly as the wind, and overtakes him however great the distance between them. Then the robber gives the Tiger his cub in the glass globe, and the anxious beast is afraid of breaking it and so injuring the young one. He brings it back to his cave rolling the glass globe before him. [The doctrinal part is missing.]
The Panther
1 The prophet prophesied and said: "I will be like a panther to Ephraim" (Hos 5:14). 2 Physiologus says of the panther that he has the following attribute: He is the friendliest of all beasts, but he is an enemy to Dragons. He is as many-colored as Joseph’s coat. He is very quiet and gentle. When he has eaten and satisfied himself, he goes to sleep in his cavern. And on the third day he wakes from his sleep, and cries with a loud voice. And the animals both far and near hear his voice. And after the cry a very pleasant odor comes out of his mouth, and the animals follow the pleasant odor, and run to be near him. 3 So also, when Christ awoke the third day and rose from the dead, He spread a pleasant odor of peace both far and near. The true wisdom of God is very manifold. The psalmist says: "The Queen stands at your right hand clothed in a garment of gold and many colors" (Ps 45:10), which is the Church. Christ is very manifold, because he himself is chastity, temperance, love, faith, virtue, patience, harmony, and peace. 4 Physiologus spoke finely about the Panther.
The Fox
1 "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests" (Matt 8:20): thus says the Scripture concerning the Lord: and in The Song of Solomon Salome says: "Bring us the little foxes, for they destroy the grapes" (Song 2:15), and David says in a psalm: "They will become the portion of the foxes" (Ps 63:10). 2 Physiologus says of the Fox that he is a very crafty animal. When he is hungry and can find no prey, he lures it in this way: he settles himself in a warm place where there is chaff, or else throws himself on his back and holds his breath and swells up his body completely so that he appears dead. The birds believe that he is really dead, and they fly down to him in order to eat him up; but he springs up and catches them and eats them up. 3 So also the Devil is very crafty in his ways. Whoever partakes of his flesh dies. To this flesh belong adultery, covetousness, lust, murder. For this reason Herod too is likened to this animal: "Go," says the Lord, "and speak to that fox" (Luke 13:32). 4 Physiologus spoke well about the Fox.
The Hyena
1 The Law says: "You shall not eat the Hyena or his kind" (Deut 14:8). 2 Physiologus says of this animal that it is man-woman, now male, now female. It is an unclean beast, because it changes its nature. For this reason Jeremiah says: "My heritage is the cave of the hyena" (Deut 12:8). 3 Now do not make yourself like the Hyena, which the Godly Apostle rebukes when he compares it to the men and women of Rome who had changed the natural use for what is against nature.
The Ichneumon
1 There is a beast called Ichneumon. He is the enemy of dragons. If he finds a very wild dragon, he goes and smears himself with mud, and covers his nose with his tail. 2 In the same way our Savior took on himself our earthly body and hid his divinity in it until he had killed the great Dragon which sat on the river of Egypt (Ezek 29:3). For if Christ had attacked the Dragon without taking a mortal body, the dragon would have opposed him, since he was God and Savior. But he who was above all bowed himself down so that he might save all (Phil 2:8).
The Weasel
1 The Law commands: "You shall not eat the Weasel or any of his kind" (Lev 11:29). 2 Physiologus says of the weasel that it has the following attribute. It conceives in its head, and gives birth to its young through the ear. 3 There are some who lightly receive the spiritual bread in the Church; but, when they are gone away, they cast the word of the Lord out of their ears and become like the deaf adder, which stops her ears. Also, do not eat the Weasel or its kind.
The Otter
1 There is a beast called the Otter which has the form of a dog. It is an enemy of crocodiles. When the crocodile sleeps, it keeps its mouth open. Now the Otter draws near and smears its whole body with mud, and, when the mud is dry, it springs into the mouth of the Crocodile and tears its entrails. 2 The Crocodile resembles the Devil, but the otter is the type and image of our Savior. For after he took on his earthly flesh he went down into hell and loosed the pains of death, and rose again the third day.
The Bear
1 Physiologus says of the Bear that it is a beast clumsy by nature and unable to run easily like other beasts, but drags itself along slowly. It prefers to bury itself in the ground and keep itself hidden in a hole, for its limbs are not adapted to carry such a monstrous body swiftly. In the time of cold it always stays in its hole. 2 The Bear is like us, because he presents the image and picture of sin, which is clumsy and hangs on man and drags after him so that he is held backwards. And he does not run easily, that is, he (the Devil) does not urge him suddenly into sin; but he moves slowly, that is, the hunter by trickery lures him into desiring a sin. And he loves to hide and bury himself in his lurking-place, that is, in what satisfies his desires. Also in the time of cold he keeps himself tightly in his hole, that is, when man is snared through his lust he (the Devil) brings him into the pit prepared for him, and holds him for the rest of his life. 3 [From Basil] But there is a certain wisdom in the Bear: for when he is ill or has wounds on his body, he goes and finds a root called pholmis, and lays it on 4 his sores and they are healed. The nature of this root is to dry up whatever it is applied to, and with its own natural moisture it easily dries up the humors of the wounds, and they begin to heal. 5 So also the Fox, when he is wounded, goes and takes some of the resin which comes from the tree biturea. This he lays on the wounds, and they vanish and are healed. In like manner the turtle, when it eats the flesh of the viper and begins to suffer pains from it, goes to the root origanum (marjoram), and eats some of it and is healed of its pains. So also the snake, when its eyes are painful, goes and eats foeniculum (fennel), and is healed and its sight is restored. In this way we men also, when our bodies are stricken with evil and our souls spotted with the wounds of sin, may take out the evil that is in us by careful wisdom. Let us arise and take the root of life and salvation from the holy table with trembling and care and lay it on our wounds and eat it. And at once we shall be healed through the holy food, and our sickness will be taken from us, and our darkened eyes will be opened, and we shall see our souls and learn to know ourselves.
The Hedgehog
1 Physiologus says of the Hedgehog that he is a small beast shaped like a ball covered all over with prickles. He gets his food in this way: he goes to a vine, pulls down the clusters, tears off the grapes, and throws them on the ground. Then he throws himself down, and the grapes stick to his prickles, and he brings them home to his children, and leaves the clusters empty on the vine. 2 The hole in which the Hedgehog lives is provided with two openings and has air-holes bored in it, and, when the North wind begins to blow, he blocks the opening that faces the North wind, but when the South wind blows he blocks the opening that faces the South wind, and opens the North hole that he had blocked before. 3 And you, man, apply yourself to the right and true vine, which is Christ, the true God, and consider how you can allow the evil spirit to draw you from your safe place and drag you into error with the prickles of death so that your place of safety is lost and your soul becomes as empty as the vine.
The Beaver
1 There is a beast called the Beaver, who is very gentle and quiet; but his organs of reproduction are very useful to him in the protection of his body; for, when he is pursued by the hunter and is about to be captured, he bites them off and throws them back to the hunter; and afterwards when the beaver encounters any other hunter he throws himself on his back, and, when the hunter sees that he is mutilated, he leaves him alone. 2 So you, man, give back to the hunter, the Devil, what belongs to him, such as unchastity, adultery, greediness. Cut away all these and give them to the Devil and he will let you go, and you shall say: "My soul is like a bird escaped from the net of the fowler." (Ps 124:7)
The Wild Ass
1 It is written in Job: "Who has let loose the Wild 2 Ass?" (Job 39:5) 3 Physiologus says that, when the herds of the Wild Ass are grazing, the male wanders about in search of another male, and when he finds him he mutilates him so that he is no longer of any use. 4 The patriarchs sought for increase but the Apostles, in whom the true way of life was, practiced abstinence, longing only for heavenly seed. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah: "Sing, barren woman, you who did not bear; sing and cry aloud, you who did not labor in childbirth, for the lonely has more children than the children of the married." (Isa 54:1)
The Wild Ass and the Monkey
1 Physiologus says of the Wild Ass that he is found in kings’ palaces, and on the 25th of the month Phamenot men learn from the Wild Ass that day and night are equal, for when the Wild Ass has brayed twelve times in succession, then the King and the Court know that day and night have become equal. And also, when the Monkey turns around seven times in the day, then it is known that day and night are equal. 2 The Wild Ass is the Devil, and when the night, that is, the generation of the heathen, has become equal to the day, that is, the line of the prophets, then the Wild Ass, that is, the Devil, brays. 3 [de Thaun] For the Ass is grieved when day and night are equal: he loves the long night better; and the Devil deplores the decrease of his people. 4 In this also the Ape is the image of the Devil, for he has a beginning but no end, that is, he has no tail. In the beginning the Devil was one of the Archangels, but he fell, and his end is not to be found. 5 Physiologus spoke well about the Ape and the Wild Ass.
The Hart
1 "As the Hart pants after the water-brooks," says the godly David, "so my soul pants after you." 2 Physiologus says of the Hart that he is very thirsty, and the reason for his thirst is that he eats snakes. For the snake is an enemy of the Hart. When the snake goes to its hole in the earth, then the Hart seeks the spring and takes a deep draft of the spring-water, and fills its mouth, and spits it into the earth-hole, and drives the snake out and kills it. In the same way the great snake, the Devil, will be driven out by the waters of godly learning. So was the Lord also able to destroy the great snake, namely the Devil, through the heavenly water, namely through godly learning. The snake cannot come near the Hart, nor can the Devil approach the excellent word of the Lord. So you, man, fill your throat with the words of the Lord, which tell you that you shall not steal nor murder nor commit adultery. And, if you discover any evil in yourself, spit it out, and you will destroy that most wicked of all dragons, the Devil. And, when the Lord allowed the water and blood to stream out of his side, he destroyed the power of the dragon over us through the bath of the second birth and took from us every devilish influence. 3 In another way the Hart resembles the eremites of the desert, who lead virtuous and painfully troubled lives, and who, when they become thirsty, hasten to the spring of salvation bringing repentance, and through the power of tears extinguish the glowing darts of the Evil One, and crush under their feet and destroy the great dragon, the Devil. 4 [Pitra] The Hart has another attribute, for it resembles the wild gazelle and has antlers with three branches after their third renewal. The Hart lives for fifty years, and at the end of that time it runs like a strong runner through the wooded valleys and down the ravines of the mountains, and it scents the holes of the snakes, and at once lays its nostrils to the entrance of the hole and holds its breath. Then the snake rushes out and goes into the mouth of the Hart, and the Hart swallows the snake, and therefore he is called elaphos, because he drew the snake out of the depths. Then with the snake he runs to the water-brook, for unless he drinks water within three hours afterward, he dies; but, if he finds water, then he lives again another fifty years. Therefore David said: "As the Hart desires the fresh water-brook so does my soul desire you, O God." 5 And you too, pious man, have three renewals in you: these are the baptism of immortality, the mercy of adoption as a son, and penance. 6 And when you catch the snake that has entered your breast, that is, sin, then run at once with it to the water-course of scripture and of prophecy. Enlightened by these, drink the water of life, that is the holy gift, and renew yourself with penance, and your sins are destroyed. 7 Physiologus has spoken well indeed about the Hart.
The Wild Goat
1 There is a beast called the Wild Goat. Physiologus says of him that he loves the higher mountains, but 2 he finds his food in the lower mountains, and he observes from afar all who approach him, and knows at once whether they come to him with evil or with friendly intent. 3 The Wild Goat is the image of the wisdom of God. For he is the one who loves the high mountains, as Solomon said: "My beloved wanders on the high mountains and leaps on the hills" (Song 2:8). The mountains are a type of the prophets and the hills a type of the Apostles. And, as the Wild Goat is very keen-sighted, so he signifies that the Savior sees all things. For he is called God (theos) because he sees all our deeds (theorei). And he knows those who come to him with deceit, as he knew Judas when he came to betray him with a kiss. For he knew, said the Psalmist, those who were with him (Ps 1:6). And John said also: "Here is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." (John 1:29)
The Unicorn
1 "You have exalted my horn," said the Psalmist, "like the horn of the Unicorn." (Ps 92:11) 2 Physiologus says of the Unicorn that it has the following attribute. It is a small beast like a goat; but it is very wary and the hunter cannot approach it because it is very cunning. It has a horn in the middle of its head. Now let us tell how it is caught. They send to it a pure virgin, fully robed. And the Unicorn springs into the lap of the maiden, and she subdues him, and he follows her; and so she leads him to the King’s palace. 3 By this we see that the Unicorn is the image of our Savior, the horn of salvation raised for us in the house of our father David. The heavenly powers could not accomplish the work by themselves, but he had to become flesh and to dwell in the womb of the true virgin Mary. 4 There is a further attribute of the Unicorn. In the places where he dwells there is a great lake, and to this lake all the beasts come to drink. But before they gather, the snake comes and casts her poison on the water. And the beasts when they observe the poison do not dare to drink, but stand aside and wait for the Unicorn. He comes and goes straight into the lake, and marks the sign of the Cross with his horn; and at that the poison becomes harmless, and all those beasts drink.
The Antholops
1 There is a beast called the Antholops. He is very crafty, so that the hunter cannot approach him. He has on his head great horns in the shape of a saw, so that he can saw through the trunks of the highest trees reaching up to heaven and throw them down to the ground. When he is thirsty, he goes to the Euphrates and drinks. Near that river grow sweet-brooms with branches bending over. The Antholops begins to play with the sweet-brooms, and entangles his horns in the branches; and soon he finds himself held fast and twists around and cries out loudly, because he wants to get away but cannot. When the hunter hears this he knows the Antholops is caught, and comes and kills it. 2 And you, man, have both horns, the Old and the New Testaments, with which you can attack your enemies, which are unchastity, adultery, greed, and other passions. Remember that they are like the sweet-broom: do not entangle yourself in them, so that the evil hunter cannot kill you.
The Urus
1 The Urus is the largest of all beasts. It is like a bull, and has two horns in the shape of a saw, and it is more terrible to look at than any other beast. It shakes the loftiest trees and saws them in two, and tears off the boughs, for there is no stronger beast than this. It does not travel far from the sea, but when it has drunk it becomes as if intoxicated and threatens the earth with its horns like a bull. There is, however, a kind of tree called tanus, with white branches, and, when the Urus shakes this tree with his head, his horns become entangled and he is held tight so that the hunter is able to seize and kill him. 2 You, man, consider carefully how much more nobly God has made you than he has made the Urus. For in place of horns he has given you two Testaments, which are weapons against the power of evil. For the prophet says: "For you we will seize our enemies by the horns." 3 The ocean signifies the fullness of the kingdom, and the tanus-tree the pleasures of life, in which that man becomes entangled who neglects the truth. The hunter also, that is, the Devil, seizes the man whom he finds given over to lusts and forsaking his faith, and brings him into his power.
The Elephant
1 There is a beast called the Elephant. The male has no desire for offspring. When, therefore, the female wishes to bear, she goes to the far East near Paradise. In that part grows a tree called mandragora. To this tree comes the male Elephant with the female, and she eats of the tree first and gives some of it to him, and plays with him until he also partakes of it. And, when the time draws near for the birth, she goes into a lake until the water reaches her breast. And so at last the young one is born, just above the water, and at once goes to its mother's breast and sucks. But meanwhile the male Elephant keeps a strict watch against snakes, for the snake is an enemy of the Elephant. When he finds a snake, he tramples on it, and kills it. 2 The Elephant has the following attribute. When he falls down, he is unable to rise again, for his legs have no joints. But how does he ever come to fall? In this way. When he wants to sleep, he leans against a certain tree, and so sleeps. Now the Indian, who knows the sleeping place of the Elephant, goes there, and saws the tree partly through. Now the Elephant comes to lean on it as he usually does, and, as soon as he comes close to the tree, it gives way, and he falls with it to the ground. 3 Now after he has fallen he cannot rise again. So he begins to weep and cry aloud. Another Elephant hears his cry, and comes to help him; but he cannot raise the fallen one. Then they both lament and cry aloud; and twelve more Elephants now come to help, but they are not able to raise the fallen one. Then they all cry out. Last of all comes the little Elephant, and lays his trunk around the fallen Elephant and lifts him up from the ground. 4 The nature of the little Elephant is such that, if you burn his hair or his bones in any place whatever, that place is forever free from Devils or snakes, and no evil thing will ever be found there. 5 The pair of Elephants is like Adam and Eve. Adam and his wife, as long as they lived in the plenty of Paradise, were innocent of all carnal desire; but, when the woman had eaten of the tree, the potent mandragora, and given it to him, then they fell into evil passions, and she bore Cain over the miry waters (Gen 4:1). As David said: "Save me, O God, for the waters rise to my soul." (Ps 69:2) 6 Now when the great Elephant, which is the Law, had come, he could not raise the fallen one. Then came the twelve Elephants, namely the prophets, but these could not raise him. At last came the true Elephant, Christ the Lord, and raised the fallen one from the earth. For the first of all was the smallest of all. He humbled himself and took the form of a servant so that he might redeem all. (Phil 2:7)
The Prion and the Dolphin
1 This beast has long wings, and, when it sees a ship sailing, it raises its wings on high and sails, competing jealously with the ship. Yet, when it has covered only twenty or thirty stadia, it grows tired and folds its wings over itself, and lets the waves carry it back to its old place. The ship may be taken as an image of the Apostles and the martyrs who, having traveled through the stormy waves, that is, the troubles of life, have sheltered themselves in the safe haven, the heavenly kingdom. But the beast is the type of those who, having begun the service of the ascetics, have turned again to their former way, the worldly life. Physiologus spoke well indeed of the Prion. 2 It is further related [Arabian] that there is a beast in the sea called the Dolphin: it possesses two long wings, and when a ship at sea, overwhelmed by the violence of the waves, is in danger of sinking, then this beast feels compassion for the mariners, and raises its wings on high, and goes under the ship, and raises it to the surface out of the waves. And it continues to bear the burden for a time, but soon grows weary and abandons the increasing toil. We may liken the sea to this world, and the waves to the hateful thoughts and things that happen to man. The Dolphin we may liken to the man who begins to do what is good and righteous, but, when contrary circumstances overcome him, is struck to the ground, and becomes troubled. But you should persevere in good and righteous deeds, and bear the adverse circumstances with a brave spirit like the Three Young Men who said in their hearts: "If we are cast into the fiery furnace we will endure it and will not deny our religion nor forsake the creed of our fathers." 3 We know the signs and wonders that followed, and how God protected them so that not one hair of theirs was burned, and great honor was paid to them before God. And so many of the holy ones fought and struggled with perseverance so that they might achieve signs and wonders, as the Lord Jesus has said: "Whoever believes in Me and holds fast to My commandments will do what I do, and what I do he himself shall do"; and what He has said will be found sure and certain. Glory be to Him forever and ever. Amen.
The Whale
1 Solomon teaches in the Book of Proverbs: "Do not go near a loose woman. Honey drops from her lips and her mouth is smoother than oil, but later you will find the bitterness of gall and the sharpness of a two-edged sword. Her feet lead whoever goes with her down to death and hell." (Prov 5:3) 2 There is a great monster in the sea called the Whale. He has two attributes. His first attribute is this: When he is hungry, he opens his jaws wide, and from them streams a very sweet scent. And all the little fishes gather in heaps and shoals around the whale’s mouth, and it laps them all up; but the big and full-grown fish keep away from him. 3 So do the Devil and the heretic, through their pleasant speaking and the seduction of their scent, tempt the simple and those who lack judgment. But those of good and firm understanding cannot be caught this way. Job was a fully-grown fish, as were Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and the whole choir of prophets. Likewise Judith had the power to escape from Holofernes, Esther from Artaxerxes, Susannah from the elders, and Thekla from Thamyris. 4 The other attribute of the Whale is as follows: The monster is very large, just like an island. The sailors in their ignorance moor their boat to him as to the shore of an island. They make a fire on it to cook their meal. And, when the monster feels the heat, then he dives down into the depths of the sea, and carries the boat down with him, man and mouse. 5 If you, man, fasten yourself to the empty hopes of the Devil, you will sink with him into the fires of hell. 6 Well indeed has Physiologus spoken concerning the Whale.
The Hydrippus, or Sea Horse
1 There is also a beast called the Hydrippus. The front part of his body resembles a horse, but from the haunch back he has the shape of a fish. He swims in the sea, and is the leader of all fishes. But in the Eastern parts of the earth there is a gold-colored fish whose body is all bright and burnished, and it never leaves its home. When the fish of the sea have met together and gathered into flocks, they go in search of the Hydrippus; and, when they have found him, he turns toward the East, and they all follow him, all the fish both from the North and from the South; and they draw near to the golden fish, the Hydrippus leading them. And, when the Hydrippus and all the fish have arrived, they greet the golden fish as their King, and then each returns again to his own region. And as they go the male fish swim in front and the females behind, so that they may receive the spawn which is cast away by the males. 2 The Hydrippus signifies Moses, the first of the prophets. The sea signifies the world, and the fishes signify the way of righteousness. They turn first to the prophets by whom they are conducted to the Holy Spirit. Those who do not follow the Hydrippus, but wander away, fall into the nets of the fishers, who signify the prophets of Baal and the counsels of destruction. But those who listen to prophesying and obey it do not fall into the nets. 3 Physiologus spoke well indeed of the Hydrippus.
The Sirens and the Centaurs
1 The prophet Isaiah said that Devils, Sirens, and hedgehogs would dance in Babylon. (Isa 13:21) 2 Physiologus relates that the Sirens and Centaurs are death-dealing creatures dwelling in the sea. Like the Muses, they sing with their voices, and the sailors, when they hear their melody, cast themselves into the sea and perish. They have the form of a woman down to the waist, and the lower half has the appearance of a bird. In the same way the Centaurs have the upper part of a man, and from the breast down the form of a horse. 3 So every man has two souls, and is unstable in his ways. 4 So there are many who assemble in the Church with a show of godly behavior while all the time they deny its influence. In the Church they are like men, but when they have gone out they become dead. These are like Sirens and Centaurs, double-willed and hypocritical heretics, for through their empty talk they lead astray the hearts of the good, like Sirens. For evil company corrupts good manners. 5 Physiologus spoke well of the Sirens and Centaurs.
The Gorgon
1 The Gorgon has the appearance of a beautiful, enticing woman. Her hair is like gold; but her face is death. At times she plays and laughs, and at other times she roams, raging furiously around the mountains of the West. And when the day of her longing comes she stands up and cries out, first like a lion and the other wild animals, then like a man, then like a herd of cattle, and then like a winged dragon, and she says: "Come to me and satisfy the desire of the flesh." And all who hear her come swiftly and look at her. For she knows all languages of beasts and of men, of cattle, and of birds. But when they see her, they die at once. 2 Now in what way does the enchanter overcome her? He can read in the stars the place where she dwells, and wanders there, enchanting her from afar. She then at once begins to cry out like a lion and like the other wild animals. And, when he comes within hearing of her voice, he answers her and says: "Dig a hole near the river and lay your head inside so that I do not see you and die, and I will come to you." And she does it at once. Then the enchanter comes, and without looking cuts off her head. And he does not look at the head so that he may not die. And when he takes the head, he holds it in a vessel. But, when he sees a dragon or fierce animals or wicked men, he holds the head of the Gorgon before them and turns them to stone, just as King Alexander subdued and conquered all people. 3 And you too, man, if your mind is wisely inclined toward God, shall rule unharmed over all the Powers of Evil. 4 Physiologus spoke well of the Gorgon.
The Woodpecker
1 The Woodpecker is a brightly colored bird. He climbs up into the trees and pecks at them with his beak, and then listens with his ear. And, when he finds the tree is hollow and decayed, he builds his nest in it; but, if the tree is sound to the heart, he flies away from it. 2 As the Woodpecker, when he finds a hollow tree, builds his nest in it, so also does the Devil with man; for when he finds someone faint-hearted in the path of virtue, he makes his home in him, and brings there the wandering spirits of evil and unholy passions. But when he finds someone valiant in holiness and faith, he flies away from him at once.
The Eagle
1 The holy and blessed David said: "Your youth shall be renewed like the eagle’s." (Ps 103:5) 2 Now Physiologus says of the Eagle that he has the following attribute: When he is aging, his flight grows heavy and his eyesight dim. What does he do then? He first seeks a pure spring of water, and flies aloft to the ether of the sun, and burns off his old feathers, and loosens the film over his eyes, and flies down to the spring, and dives under in it three times and renews himself and becomes young again. 3 And you, man, disciple of Christ, when the garment of the old man encumbers you and the eyes of your heart have grown dull, seek the youth-renewing spring, the fountain of living water, which is the word of God, which says, You have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and fly aloft to the sun of righteousness, Jesus Christ, and cast off the old man with all his works. And dive under three times in the ever-flowing spring of penance in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and put on the new man after the image in which God created men; and 4 Then the prophecy of David will be fulfilled and your youth will be renewed like the eagle's. 5 [Ponce de Leon] The Eagle is the king of birds, and his name signifies the length of his life (derés), for he lives a hundred years. But, when he becomes old, his beak bends and his eyes become dull, so that he can neither see nor get food for himself. So he rises into the air, and, rushing before the wind, he dashes himself against a steep rock and shatters his beak. Then he bathes himself in cold water, and then mounts up to the rays of the sun, at which the dullness vanishes from his eyes and he becomes young again. 6 And you, wise man, when you are burdened with your multitude of sins, also raise yourself to the heights, namely your own conscience, and dash yourself on the rock, namely the orthodox faith, and lament your sins and purify yourself in the running water, namely your tears of penitence; and then warm yourself in the beams of the sun, that is, the community of believers, and cast away the inflammation, sin, which clouds your sight, and your youth shall be renewed like the eagle’s, and you shall be called righteous before God.
The Vulture
1 Our Lord and Savior spoke well in the Gospel: "Woe to those who are with child and to those who are nursing." (Matt 24:19) 2 Physiologus says that the Vulture is found in high and exposed places, and nests in the rocks or a crevice of the mountains. When it becomes pregnant, it flies to India in search of the birth-stone. This stone is about the size of a nut. When it is shaken another stone is heard to move inside, shifting and rattling. When the Vulture comes to the stone, it places itself over it, and then gives birth without trouble. 3 You, man, when you become full of the Holy Spirit, take to the powerful and birth-helping cornerstone once rejected by the builders, and place yourself on it. Truly this stone, our Lord Jesus Christ, made without hands, and born of a Virgin, is helpful to the birth of the Holy Spirit. And, as that stone has another stone within it, so also has the body of our Lord the Godhead within it. 4 [Mustoxydes] The female Vulture, when the time of birth draws near, sits sighing in her nest. And, when she cannot easily give birth, then the male Vulture flies away far to the East. There is a deep chasm in the rocks, and he casts himself from on high into the chasm, and takes the birth-stone, and carries it back to the nest; and the female gives birth easily. And then the male Vulture takes the stone back again to its place. 5 And you, rational man, when you fall into sin, do penance so that it may heal you of your foul disorder. Fear the day of punishment so that you may not lose your soul. 6 [Pitra] Physiologus relates also that the Vulture is more voracious than all other birds. He fasts forty days, and afterwards when he finds food he eats forty measures, and so makes up again for the fast of forty days. 7 And you, wise man, fast forty days, choosing the time of our Lord’s Resurrection. Will you not give up drunkenness, so that you do not destroy the fast of forty days? 8 [Mustoxydes] When the Vulture is in need of food, he seeks it in the following manner. He seats himself on the top of a rock, looking all around for food. And, whenever there happens to be a fallen beast lying near, the claw of the right foot changes color, and he knows at once that a carcass is near; and he flies up high in the air, and that is why he is called Gyps, because he rises from the earth into the heights. And, when he has raised himself to a great height, suddenly a beam like a star's streams from his eye, showing him the way to the food. And, when the sign leaves him, then he casts himself from the height down to the earth, and finds his food. 9 And you, wise man, do not lift yourself up, so that you do not cast yourself into the depths for your food.
The Halcyon
1 [From the Homilies of Basil] There is a bird living on the sea called the Halcyon. It builds its nest on the seashore, and lays its eggs in the sand, and hatches them in the winter season when the strongest might of the monstrous storm wind raises the waves and drives them on the shore. And in this rough season the roaring of the winds and the violence of the waves become idle, as it were, and calm rules the sea for seven days, as long as the Halcyon, this insignificant little bird, broods on her eggs. For in these seven days the young ones creep out and cast off their shells, coming out into life. And, when they have come out, the Halcyon must watch over them for seven more days, so that they come to no harm and gather strength. And all this is granted to the gentle bird as a gift from the dispenser of all things, who bears all in his heart. And this provident care over the little bird is known to all sailors and they name all these days after the Halcyon. 2 Let these things also serve you as an incentive and a command for how you should pray to God to perfect your bodily life. For, if he shows such great consideration for what lacks reason, how much greater is his care for you, who are the image of God, through all the perils that may happen to you? And if the great and terrible sea is controlled, on account of an insignificant little bird, and commanded to stay its tumult in the middle of winter, how much greater a wonder may happen to you if only you take refuge in God?
The Night Raven
1 David said: "I have become like a Night Raven in the deserted town." (Ps 102:6) 2 Physiologus says of the Night Raven that he loves the night better than the day. 3 So also our Lord Jesus Christ has loved us who lived in darkness and in the shadow of death, that is, the heathen, better than the Jews, who also have received the promise of the Father (Isa 9:2; Matt 4:16). The Lord spoke of this when he said: "Do not fear, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) 4 But you will say to me that the Night Raven is unclean according to the Law, so how then can he appear in the presence of the Savior? How does the Apostle put it? "Him who knew no sin He made to be sin on our behalf" (2 Cor 5:21). "He has humbled Himself so that He might deliver us and raise us" (II Cor 11:7). And so the Lord has loved the darkness, namely the heathen, more than the murderous and god-hating Jews, because of their apostasy; and those who in the past were not a people have become the people of God. "For I will call those my people who were not my people and my beloved who were not beloved." (Rom 9:25) 5 Physiologus has now spoken well of the Night Raven.
The Crow
1 Jeremiah spoke well to Jerusalem: "You sat like a deserted Crow." (Jer 3:2) 2 Physiologus relates of the Crow that it lives in monogamy—neither the male nor the female takes another mate when one has died. So also with the synagogue of the Jews, the earthly Jerusalem: after she killed Christ, the Lord is no longer her husband. For it says, "We have betrothed you to a man as a pure virgin" (2 Cor 11:2). So, when we hold the man in our hearts, then the Devil cannot enter, but, when the manly word has gone out of the soul, then the adversary steps in, for look, he who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, and the robber may never break into his strong house.
The Swallow
1 The Swallow appears in the summertime when the winter is past and gone. Then in the early dawn she twitters and wakes the sleepers and calls them to work. 2 So the perfected ascetic, when the winter of the body is past and every fleshly desire extinguished, rising in purity from his bed, remembers first, in the early dawn, to turn to the word of God; and in him that Scripture is fulfilled: "In the morning the Lord shall hear your voice." "Awake, you who sleep, and Christ shall shine upon you." (Eph 5:14) The Swallow bears only once, and never bears again. 3 So our Savior was only once born, only once buried, and only once did He rise from the dead. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Father of all. 4 Physiologus has now spoken finely of the Swallow. 5 The Swallow has yet another attribute. It is a harmless bird. Half its time it wanders in the wilderness, and half its time it seeks food in the towns. When the young are born, often one of them is blind, and then the mother flies into the wilderness, and brings a plant from there, and lays it on the blinded eyes, and at once the sight is restored. 6 And you too, wise man, conduct yourself so that you may gather fruit in the present life as well as in the future; and, when you are blinded by sin, go to the wilderness and take the plant, that is, penance, and lay it on your understanding which is blinded by ungodliness against the light of the blessed Trinity; and the blindness of sin will be healed. 7 Physiologus spoke well of the Swallow.
The Lapwing, or Hoopoe
1 It is written: "Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death." (Exod 21:15) And how are some murderers of father or mother? There is a bird called the Lapwing. When the young of this bird see that their parents are growing old, they pull out their old feathers, and lick their eyes, and warm the parents under their own wings, and renew them; so that they become young again. And they say to their parents: "As you took the trouble to care for us and to nourish us when we were helpless, so we do the same for you." And therefore the Lapwing is known above all birds as a father-and-mother-loving bird. 2 How wicked are those who do not love their parents. "Remember that you were born of them, and repay them for the things they have done for you." (Sir 7:28) 3 [Mustoxydes] The Lapwing is more dutiful to its parents than all other birds. Know then, wise man, that, although he is but a little bird, God has given him such wisdom that he cares for those who cared for him. Both parents fly and tend their young in holes of trees and they go out from there and bring food and feed their young. And, by the time the young are grown up, the parents lose their feathers and become weak as young ones, and cannot fly and get food. How are they to live? But the young ones have a beautiful thought: "As our parents raised us with toil and trouble and have brought us to full stature, so we also will bring food for them and nourish them until their feathers grow again and they can fly with us once more." 4 See, wise man, what wisdom God has given to the Lapwing, and remember that your own father and mother nourished you with trouble and with pains, and give them the same reward, and return their care to your parents to the very end of their lives so that their prayers may stand by you to protect you from every evil.
The Turtledove
1 In the Song of Songs Solomon testifies and says: "The voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land." (Song 2:12) 2 Physiologus says of the Turtle-dove that she always returns to the wilderness because she does not care to be in the midst of a crowd of people for long. 3 So also the Savior kept watch on the Mount of Olives when He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and went up the mountain, and Moses and Elias were seen by them, and the voice was heard from the clouds saying, "This is my son in whom I am well pleased." 4 And as the Turtle-dove rejoices at her return, so also shall the true followers of Christ rejoice at his return. 5 It is written, "Like a Turtle-dove I chattered, and like a dove I mourned." (Isa 38:14) 6 Physiologus relates further of the Turtle-dove that she is very talkative. When she is widowed, she never mates again, but dies of longing for the dead one. 7 So this bird is like Christ, who is our very wise and talkative Turtle-dove, the truly sweet-voiced bird who with his Gospel messages enchants all under heaven. He is truly the gentle, innocent, and simple dove, for no falsehood was found in his mouth. 8 Further the Turtle-dove has this attribute. Of all birds and all beasts it is the most faithful to its mate. They fly together and bring up their young together. But, if she is separated from her mate, she joins with no other to the end of her life. 9 And you, man, cling to one wife only, so that you may find a dwelling in the Second Company.
The Dove
1 The holy John said: "I saw heaven open and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove." (John 1:32) 2 There are many kinds of Dove, and of various colors. But, when the keeper brings all his Doves together, he can in no way persuade any of them to enter the dovecote until the flame-colored Dove has entered first. 3 When the Father, before the coming of his Son in the likeness of a Dove, sent Moses, Elijah, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hezekiel, Daniel, and the other prophets to call men to life, there was no one who was able to bring man to life. But, when Christ was sent down from Heaven by the Father, He led all into life, saying, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden." For He Himself is the flame-colored Dove, as is written in the Canticles: "My beloved is ruddy," said the bride (Song 5:10), which is the Church of Christ. 4 Physiologus has now spoken well of the Dove. 5 Physiologus relates also that when Doves fly close together in a flock the hawk does not dare to approach them because of the loud rustling of their wings; but, when the hawk finds one wandering by itself, he catches and destroys it easily. 6 And this we see also in a crowd of young women. When, like a flock, they gather themselves together in the Church, raising a melodious song of praise with one accord to God after prayer and fasting, then the Devil does not dare to draw near them, being scared by their eager prayer and their sweet concord. But, when he finds one wandering by herself, he catches her and devours her easily. So now let no Christian virgin forsake the Church of Christ, so that she does not become the prey of the Evil One. 7 Physiologus has now spoken well concerning the Dove. 8 [Mustoxydes] Learn this attribute by which the Dove is distinguished among other birds. The white Doves and the colored, the black and the flame-colored, fly together, and rear their young. And they are not able to separate from each other. As long as the flame-colored Dove flies ahead and shows them the food, they fly after her. As it is said: "Of all the birds that are created you have named for yourself one Dove." (II Esdras 5:26) 9 So also before the coming of the Savior the prophets Moses and Aaron, Samuel and David, Micah and Isaiah, Jeremiah and the others all spoke about Jesus. But they could not make the word manifest until the flame-colored Dove came to the place where John the Baptist stood. This made the word manifest, showing it to all and saying: "Here is the Lamb of God!" 10 The hawk cannot injure the Doves because they keep close together. 11 So you, wise man, do not go far from the godly assembly, so that the Enemy does not find you alone and kill you. 12 Physiologus spoke well of the Dove.
The Partridge
1 Jeremiah said: "The Partridge gathers eggs which she has not laid, providing herself with abundance without any trouble, but in the midst of her days she is forsaken by them and in her last days she becomes mad." (Jer 17:11) 2 Physiologus says of the Partridge that it hatches the eggs of other birds and brings up the young as its own. But, when the young are grown, each one flies away to its own kind, and leaves her desolate. 3 So the Devil gets those who have not yet grown strong in mind. But, when they have come to the age of discretion, they begin to recognize their heavenly parents, Christ and the Apostles and Prophets, and turn themselves to them. 4 Physiologus spoke well of the Partridge.
The Peacock
1 The Peacock is the most gaily colored of all birds. He is beautiful in color and lordly in plumage. When he passes by, he looks at himself and rejoices greatly in himself. He shakes himself, turns a somersault, and looks proudly around. But, when he glances at his feet, he screams wildly, for his feet do not suit his beautiful appearance. 2 And you too, wise man, when you look at your pomp and your possessions, delight in yourself and rejoice and feel proud; but, when you look at your feet, that is, your sins, then cry aloud and lament to God, and despise your sins as the Peacock despises his feet, so that you may appear right in the presence of your bridegroom. 3 Physiologus spoke well concerning the Peacock.
The Asida, or Ostrich
1 Jeremiah the Prophet said: "The Turtle-dove and 2 the Swallow know the time of their return and the Asida knows her time from the skies." (Jer 8:7) 3 The Asida is a bird, yet it is not made for flight. It is known to us as the Ostrich. It has two wings yet it does not fly. This bird contemplates the skies. When it wishes to lay its eggs, it is careful not to lay them on the earth before the Pleiades go out; but, when the Pleiades have disappeared and the grain is in the ear and the hot days have come, then the bird lays its eggs at once. Now listen to the reason. This bird is lazy. It digs a hole in the earth, and lays the eggs in it, and covers them with sand; and since it is lazy it does not trouble itself about the eggs any further. It lays them in the summertime so that the warm sun may do what it should do itself. 4 If the Asida and the Turtle-dove know their time, all the more surely we should know our Lord, and follow his commands and serve him. 5 [Pitra] Physiologus further relates that the Ostrich, while it hatches its eggs, never turns its eyes elsewhere; for if it looked in any other direction, from then on it would be of no further use to the eggs, and they would remain infertile. 6 It is also said of him that he swallows even glowing iron and nails and fiery coals, and all these do good to his stomach, for his nature is very cold. [The remainder is missing] 7 [Syriac] Physiologus also relates of the Ostrich that this bird has very great strength, and is known in India and in other regions by the name Tzefarfilo or elephant-bird, because he carries off young elephants, while they are still small, from the side of their mother; and, after placing them on his back, flies through the air; and in the wilderness, where he lives, he devours them. For it is written of him in the 8 Holy Scripture, as well as in secular stories, that he can carry away a horse and its rider. (Job 39:18) 9 And Physiologus further relates that the Indians, when they want to hunt him, tie oxen to a wagon with tough thongs that cannot be torn, on which they lay large stones. When he comes to steal an ox, he fixes his claws in its head, and cannot pull them out again, so that he is easily caught and killed. 10 For God has made him stupid and without the reason to match his strength (Job 39:17), so stupid, indeed, that he leaves his eggs behind on the bare ground in the middle of the road, where they are trampled on and broken, and this is ordained so that they will not multiply and become a danger to man. 11 [Thetbaldus] The Asida has this form: it has the two feet of a camel and the two wings of a bird. It flies near the ground, and Isaiah says of it that it knows the time to nest, which is when the star Vigilia appears in July. Then the Asida makes a hole, and covers the eggs with sand, and then forgets and leaves them, trusting that the warmth of the sun will hatch them. 12 So the wise man leaves the world behind him, as the holy hermits do.
The Phoenix
1 Our Lord Jesus Christ said: "I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it again" (John 10:18). And the Jews were angry at what he said. 2 There is a bird in India called the Phoenix. And at the end of five hundred years he comes to the trees of Lebanon, and fills his wings with pleasant fragrances, and he announces his return to the priest of Heliopolis early in the month Nisan or Adar (that is Phamenoti or Pharmuti). And the priest, when he hears the news, comes and fills up the altar with vine wood. And the bird comes to Heliopolis laden with the fragrance of pleasant spices, and settles on the altar, and kindles a fire and burns himself. And on the following morning the priest searches through the ashes on the altar and finds a small worm in them. And on the second day, look, he grows feathers and becomes like a young bird. And on the third day they find him just as before, the Phoenix, and he greets the priest, and flies away and returns to his old dwelling-place. 3 If this bird has the power to kill himself and come to life again, how can reasonable men complain about our Lord Jesus Christ when He said: "I have power to lay down my life and to take it again." 4 For the Phoenix takes on the image of our Lord, when, coming down from heaven, he brought with him both wings full of pleasant fragrances, the excellent heavenly words, so that as we stretch out our hands in prayer we become filled with the pleasant scent of his mercy. 5 Physiologus spoke rightly of the Phoenix. 6 [Ponce de Leon] The Phoenix is a bird more beautiful than the Peacock, for the Peacock does have golden and silver wings, but the Phoenix has wings of jacinth and emerald, and is adorned with the colors of every costly precious stone. On his head he has a crown, and spurs on his feet. He dwells in India, lives five hundred years, and nourishes himself on the air by the cedars of Lebanon without food or drink. But, after five hundred years, he fills his wings with pleasant fragrances, and, when the priest at Heliopolis begins the sacrifice, he comes out of his nest and flies to the priest. [Continuation as above] 7 [Syriac] Every Phoenix is the only one of his kind and lives for himself alone and is bound by no marriage. He journeys to the land of Egypt every five hundred years, and is seen by the priest high above the altar coming from the East. And, when he comes, he brings under his wings sweet-smelling cinnamon and other spices; and he collects wood, and heaps it on the altar, and lays himself on his back on the burning wood, and is burned completely to ashes. And out of the ashes rises a worm, which grows into a young bird, and grows wings; and on the third day resumes his full form, and becomes the Phoenix complete and perfect as he was before. Then he goes on his way and flies to India, where he lived before. 8 What an image and symbol the Creator has pictured here for the instruction of mankind! For God, the Creator of the mystery which was fulfilled in Christ, in this way informed us of what he had decreed. Christ came for our salvation, like the Phoenix, after a long period of years, and, taking on our nature, He brought the sweet spices of life and salvation, as Isaiah had prophesied. And He strengthens us through this same sweet odour until we also become sweet smelling. And He willingly raised his Cross on Golgotha in the city of Jerusalem, just as the Phoenix made ready and laid himself on the altar of the City of the Sun in Egypt. And Christ suffered death and parted his soul from his body, just as the Phoenix lies down on his back and burns himself to death. And as on the third day the newly risen worm takes the form of the Phoenix, so through that same mystery God the Word caused His body to rise again on the third day, because it had suffered no corruption in the grave. And as the worm of the Phoenix on the third day took its full and perfect form, so in the same manner the body of Christ, when He arose from the grave on the third day, became immortal and unchangeable. And as the Phoenix at last returns to India, his former dwelling-place, so Christ, after He had risen, carried His body to His eternal dwelling-place.
The Plover, or Charadrius
1 There is a bird named the Charadrius, which is mentioned in Deuteronomy. (Deut 14:18) 2 Physiologus relates of Charadrius that it is wholly white and has no black on it. It is found in the palaces of kings. And, when anyone is ill, they learn from it whether the sick man will die or will recover. They carry it to the bedside of the sick man, and, if the sickness leads to death, the Plover turns its face away from the man, and everyone knows that he will surely die. But, if the sickness leads to life, then the Plover looks sharply at the sick man, and the sick man looks toward the bird; and the Plover sucks up the illness into himself, and flies up into the regions of the sun, and sprinkles his wings, and burns up the illness, and he himself is saved and the sick man with him. 3 This appears beautifully as the image of our Savior. For our Lord is wholly white and has no black on him. When He came to the Jews, who would not recognize Him because of their wickedness, He turned away His divinity. But He came to us, the feeble ones, who hurried to him. And He took our sins on Him, and bore our sickness, and was lifted 4 up on the Cross. And He has made us whole, we who were sick with the sickness of idol-worship. Physiologus has spoken rightly and fittingly of the Plover.
The Ibis
1 The Ibis is unclean according to the Law (Lev 11:17). He does not know how to dive under the water, but loves the shallow waters and the mouths of rivers, and there he seeks his food. He cannot dive down to the depths where the pure fish swim, but lives entirely in the shallows, where the impure fish live. 2 Learn, man, to dive deep so that you may reach the depths of the wisdom and knowledge of God. 3 Moreover, if you do not stretch out your hand and make the sign of the Cross, you will never sail over the sea of life. For the sign of the Cross is powerful over all creatures. 4 The sun, unless it stretches out its beams, gives no light; the moon, unless it stretches out both its horns, gives no light; the bird, unless it stretches out both wings, cannot fly. Moses, when he stretched out his hands, conquered Amalek; so Daniel subdued the lions, and Jonah remained in the belly of the sea-monster. Thekla was thrown to wild beasts and Sea-lions, and the sign of the Cross saved her. Susannah was delivered from the Elders, Judith from Holofernes, Esther from Ahasuerus, and the three men from the fiery furnace. All were saved by faith.
The Stork
1 The Stork is a bird that loves its nest and its children. From the middle up he is white; from the middle down he is dark-colored. The stork does not go far from his nest, and always either the father or the mother stays near it. So also our Lord Jesus Christ showed the heavenly ones the upper side of Godhead, while he showed men the underside of manhood; because the angels saw only from above, and the earthly ones saw only from below. 2 [Mustoxydes] The Storks fly in pairs, and bring up their young together. When the eggs are laid, the female sits and guards them while the male brings food. Then they trade places and never leave the nest unguarded. 3 Wise man, do not let the day pass without prayer, or you will not conquer the devil. 4 At a certain time all the Storks fly in one flock and travel to another place; and again at their proper time they return and build their nests and hatch their young. 5 As the Stork flies away and returns to the old nest, so the Lord was taken from us and will return again in his proper time, building up again what has been broken down, as the prophet also said: "So the sparrows build there where their dwelling-place is appointed."
The Heron
1 As the holy prophet David said: "The dwelling-place of the Heron is over them all." (Ps 104:17) This bird is truly the very wisest of all birds. For he has only one dwelling-place and one single home. 2 He does not seek many camping places, but where he has once lain down, there he feeds and sleeps. Nor does he ever touch a dead body. Nor does he fly to many places: his food and his dwelling he finds in the same place. 3 And you now, man, do not seek the many places of the heretics. You shall have one resting-place, the holy orthodox Church of God; one food, the bread descended from heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not touch the dead food of heretical and unorthodox learning. 4 This bird lives with such great discretion that, before he chooses a mate, he mourns forty days. Then, when he has mourned these forty days, he chooses a mate. And, if he has committed sin, he mourns yet another forty days for the sin he has committed. 5 This bird builds his nest in high trees where nothing shades him, but he has the pure breeze. And other birds build their nests under his nest, so that they may be protected by it, as the prophet David says: "The dwelling of the Heron guards them." 6 And you, wise man, copy this bird, and behave with discretion, observing the Commandments; and flee far from sin as the godly Apostle says: "Flee from unchastity, for every sin that a man commits is outside the body." But if you sin, then repent, and lament your sins like the bird, because repenting and lamenting are the bath which washes away the sin from the soul. And remember the holy prophet David, who committed adultery and murder and received pardon through the tears of repentance. Tears obtain great forgiveness of sin. And if you repent and turn yourself and mourn over your sins, you may receive pardon from God at once. And set your nest, like this bird, in high trees; that is to say, turn yourself from evil and do good, so that your nest may be in the high places of the royal city of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Whose glory and power is from eternity to eternity. 7 Physiologus spoke rightly of the Heron.
The Pelican
1 The holy prophet David sings: "I am like a Pelican in the wilderness." (Ps 102:7) 2 Physiologus says of the Pelican that he loves his young very much. When the young are born, and as soon as they are a little grown, they strike their parents in the face. Then the parents strike back, and kill them. But soon the parents begin to feel compassion for them and, after they have mourned three whole days over the children they killed, the mother comes at the end of the third day and opens her side and drops her blood on the dead bodies of the young and awakens the life in them. 3 So also our Lord said through the prophet Isaiah: "I have raised up sons, but they have fallen away from me." God has created us, and we have fought against him. We, the creatures, have set ourselves against the Creator. Yet, when He came to the height of the Cross He opened His side and dropped blood and water for our redemption and eternal life—the blood because He said: "He took the cup and gave thanks," and the water because of the baptism of penance. 4 And Physiologus tells further of the Pelican and the snake that the snake is very evil-minded toward its young. But the Pelican—what does he devise? He fastens his nest on a high place, and builds a hedge around it on all sides against the snake. But the evil-minded snake—what does he do? He looks around noticing where the wind comes from, and from there, blowing the poison toward the nest, he kills the young ones. Now the Pelican comes and sees that her children are dead, and she looks up to a cloud and flies there; and, striking her side with her wings until blood streams, she lets the drops fall through the cloud down on the young ones, and they come to life again. 5 The Pelican is the Lord, the children are Adam and Eve and their race. The snake is the Evil One; and the nest is paradise. Then the Evil One, the snake, blows and they become dead through sin; but now our Lord is raised on the precious Cross because of his love for us, and, pierced in the side, sends to us through the cloud of the Holy Spirit the gift of eternal life.
The Gerahav
1 There is a bird called the Gerahav, which inhabits the sea. This bird lays eggs only with great pain, and it strives to make the eggs very large. It hides the eggs in the depths of the ocean and never leaves them, or at most only once or twice, so much does it fear its enemies. Then, rising to the surface of the water and with its eyes fixed on the depths, it broods over the eggs until the young crawl out of the shell. Then the bird dives down into the depths, and leads the young ones to the shore, and feeds them. 2 So God sends down his gaze on the children of the earth, and from the height of heaven broods over them with his eyes until we rise out of this abyss of misery into the New Jerusalem. As the Gerahav barely raises itself from the depth of the sea in order to brood over its young and bring them to the light of day, so Christ draws us with great trouble back from the pit of sin, in order to draw us out from the hands of the Devil and his hellish companions.
The Gryphon
1 The Gryphon is the largest bird of all the birds of heaven. It lives in the far East in an inlet of the ocean-stream. And, when the sun rises over the water-depths and lights the world with its beams, the Gryphon spreads out its wings and receives the rays of the sun. And another rises with it, and the two fly together toward the sunset, as it is written: "Spread your wings, dispenser of light; give the world light." 2 In the same way the two Gryphons stand for the Godhead, that is, for the Archangel Michael and the Holy Mother of God, and they receive your spirit, so that it may not be said: "I do not know you." 3 Physiologus spoke well about the Gryphon.
The Bat
1 Physiologus says there is a bird called the Nightbat. And this is by nature a four-footed animal, and of all birds it alone has teeth, and bears its young in the manner of four-footed creatures, and feeds them from its udders. But it flies through the air flying around close to the earth, not swiftly or with outspread wings, but with wings which are like sails made of skin. And they love companionship, so they are always gathered together when flying... 2 Who, godly man, does this represent in the spiritual sense but the Devil, who is a Night-bat, that is a lover of darkness? Of all the birds of heaven, this bat is the one most like a four-footed beast, for it uses teeth like the Devil, who through his abominable sins has become a stranger to heavenly customs and to heavenly ways of living. With the dull-witted beasts he crawls on the earth like the Bat, which flies around close to the earth with its wings of skin. And so do the wings, resembling sails of membrane, signify the evil deeds of the Devil, which are full of death and empty of life. And he does not raise himself on high with swift and broad-spread wings, which are the right judgment and purity through which man discerns goodness and loves it more than evil and condemns wickedness and loves and treasures righteousness.
The Sun Lizard
1 There is a beast named Sun-lizard, and Physiologus says of it that, when it grows old, it becomes hindered and dazzled in its sight, and is not able to bear the sunlight. What does the Lizard do now by virtue of his own beautiful attribute? He seeks a wall facing east, and slips into a crevice in it. At the rising of the sun he opens his eyes and looks sharply at it, and his sight is cured. 2 In the same way, man, when you wear the garb of the old man and the eyes of the soul have become dull, seek the rising sun of righteousness, Christ the Lord, and He will open the eyes of your heart, and disperse the darkness.
The Serpent
1 Our Lord says in the Gospel: "Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." (Matt 10:16) 2 Physiologus says of the Serpent that it has four chief attributes. The first is this: When the Serpent grows old, its eyes become dim, and it sees nothing clearly. What does it do now? If it desires to become young again, it first fasts forty days and forty nights until the skin becomes withered. And it seeks a narrow opening between two rocks, and, gliding in, it presses its body through and rubs off the old skin, and thus becomes young again. 3 And you too, man, when you desire to cast away the old garment of sin, squeeze your body through the narrow way of fasting and discipline, for the gate is narrow, and the way that leads to life is constricted; and you will become young instead of old, and will be delivered. 4 The second attribute of the Serpent is this: When it goes to the stream to drink, it does not carry its poison with it but leaves it behind in its hole. 5 So we, when we hurry to the Church of God, the never-failing water which is full of heavenly mysteries, must take no evil passion with us, but must come to it at peace with all, for whoever does not do so eats and drinks damnation on himself, according to the holy saying. 6 The third attribute of the Serpent: When it sees a naked person, it is at once afraid, and turns away; but it springs at once on a clothed person. 7 So we should reflect on our nakedness, because when our father Adam was naked in Paradise, the enemy was not able to entice him into the snare. And when you wear the garment of the old man, he springs on you; but when you cast it off, he himself turns and flees. 8 And the fourth attribute is this: When the hunter comes to the Serpent to kill it, the Serpent abandons his whole body to death, but guards only his head. 9 And so we also, in the time of persecution, must abandon the whole body to death, preserving only the head, or the faith—that is, we must not deny Christ, for the head of every man is Christ.
The Adder, or Asp
1 The Adder has the appearance of an ordinary snake. But the male is in the East and the female is in the West, and they both go to the South. And the female gnaws the head of the male and becomes pregnant; but the male dies. When the female has given birth to her young, the children rise up and gnaw the head of their mother; and she also dies. But, when they are fully grown, they also do the same as their parents did. 2 And every Adder burns up the grass near where it lies in its nest. And, as the dryness of its breath spreads, it burns up all the earth within a circle of three feet, and nothing living can draw nearer than seven feet; and, if anything comes within this range, man or beast, it surely dies. 3 How, then, does the enchanter catch the adder? He goes to the place where she lies, and makes seven bundles of dried plants, and soaks them seven days until they rot. And he takes a rod seven ells long, and he stops up his lungs, ears, and nose, so that the adder’s breath cannot reach him. And he approaches from a distance with flattering words, and draws near and throws the seven bundles on her, one after another. And she burns up the first bundle, and the second likewise, and so with all the others. When the enchanter draws nearer still, the Adder lies low and looks at the man, and stops her ears so that she cannot hear the voice of the enchanter; for, if she hears his voice, she dies at once. And, when he has come within seven ells of her, he stretches out his rod and separates her tail from her ears; and she dies at once. And the enchanter who has subdued her becomes her master, and takes from her whatever he wishes. 4 In the same way the Jews in their time were fixed in error. Through the hardening of their hearts they consumed the head of the male, that is the Law and the prophets. They consumed the head of the male and of the female, that is of John the Baptist and both Testaments. And therefore the prophet David said: "Like the deaf adder that stops her ears that she may not hear the voice of the charmer, so truly the poisoner is poisoned by the wise man" (Ps 58:4–5). The Jews were rightly called the Adder that stops her ears, since they do not hear the voice of the charmer, the bridegroom, nor the voice of the holy Scriptures. The Devil also is called the Adder; the parching heat is the power of evil; the floor is hell and its torrents. Who is the charmer?—he is Christ. What are the bundles?—the seven heavens. What is the rod of ten ells?—the sons of David. What is the enchantment?—it is the voice of the Savior, who overcame the Devil. 5 Physiologus spoke well of the Adder.
The Frog
1 There is a Frog called the Land-frog. Physiologus says of him that he can endure the heat and the glow of the sun, but when the rain touches him he dies. But the Water-frog, when it rises out of the water so that the sun’s ray touches it, it immediately dives under the water again. 2 Now the Land-frog resembles good men who endure the heat of temptation and yet, when the cold winter of persecution touches them, then their virtue perishes. But the children of this world are Water-frogs. When the sun of temptation touches them, they dive deeper again into their all too unrestrained passions. 3 Physiologus spoke well of the Frog. 4 [Ponce de Leon] The Land-frog endures the warmth of the sun; he also endures cold, rain, wind, and winter-storms. But the Water-frog can bear none of these: at the beginning of the winter he sinks into the depths; but, when the sun shines brightly, he comes out of the water and basks in the warmth—yet, when the heat of the sun increases, he can no longer endure it, and dives again into the depths. 5 So also those monks who spend their time in idleness cannot endure hunger, thirst, nakedness, abstinence, and lying on the hard ground. But those who do not yield to laziness, fast willingly, and [...]
The Salamander
1 It is written: "When you pass through fire the flame shall not burn you." (Isa 43:2) 2 Physiologus says of the Salamander that, when it enters the furnace, it puts out the flame; and, when it enters the oven, it makes the whole bath cold. 3 If the Salamander extinguishes fire by its own attribute, how much more should the righteous by their own godly behavior extinguish the fire, as they stopped the mouths of lions, and as the three men cast into the fiery furnace suffered no harm and indeed put out the fires of the furnace? 4 Physiologus spoke well of the Salamander.
The Bee
1 The wise Solomon said: "The bee is the smallest among birds, and yet its fruit is the chief among sweet things." (Sir 11:3) 2 Physiologus says that Bees live together in a great company; they go in by one door; they work at the same work; and provide diligently, flying together and hurrying to do the common toil. And—what is greater than this—they live under a king or prince of the same nature as themselves; and they do not begin their common work or hurry to the meadows and flowers until the king who is over them has made the beginning. They do not choose the king for this honor, but his overlordship comes to him by the rule and custom which the Creator set before them to guide them. Every prince also has a sting, but he is not accustomed to wound. Yet, when he turns from his way and stings, he is at once punished for his boldness; for, as soon as he wounds a man with his sting, it stays behind in the wound and he himself surely dies from the pain. The Bees gather honey out of plants, making use of their mouths; and they draw wax out of the flowers, helping also with their feet. And the Bees carry away the honey they gather, and out of the wax they build their cells with great skill; and they divide the wax, as it were, into most skillfully made holes; and they pour the honey into the holes. At first this is very clear and fluid, but later, after it has been stored in the holes for some time, it becomes cooked, and is then better and thicker. And, when violent winds arise while they are away from their home, they drop down and sit on a stone or rock until the violence of the wind has abated; and then they return home to their house. 3 Let us consider what this means in a spiritual sense. What does this depict for our human reason? The feeble Bees who dwell together in a community and carefully set about a common work are the holy souls of the sons of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. These live like a flock in the same Church, and engage in the same work in common, that is, the holy mysteries. Just as a prince, or leader, who shares their nature is appointed over them, so God has placed the Archpresbyter, who partakes of human nature as leader in his Church, so that no confusion may come upon the Ordinances. This leader truly possesses a sting with which he does not wound—that is, liberty, which is given by God alike to the Archpresbyter and to his disciples. Yet the Archpresbyter does not wound with the sting; that is, he guards holiness with his liberty and does not turn to license. 4 And as the Bees gather honey from the plants making use of their mouths, and wax out of the flowers making use of their feet, and carry it away and separate it and pour it out while it is still thin, so also the holy ones of the Church graze on the plant of God and on the holy flowers of the godly books, and collect from them the one food of spiritual sweetness.
The Wasp
1 Holy David struck the psaltery and prophesied, saying: "They have surrounded me like wasps; they are destroyed like a fire of straw." (Ps 118:12) 2 Physiologus teaches about the wasp that it is separated or narrowed in the middle of the body, and does not have the power to breathe or to draw in the breath with lungs in the same way as we and the beasts do. But their whole food and nourishment comes from the air; and if you touch one with oil, it dies easily, because the greasiness of the oil stops the natural air-holes. But if you sprinkle the wasp with vinegar after the oil, then its life is gradually rekindled, because the air passages are opened by the sharpness of the vinegar. 3 What spiritual truth do we learn from this? For this has not been arranged foolishly by the Creator of all things, but has been ordained for our instruction, all of it, the great and the small, so that, when we consider the things visible to us, we undertake to know the invisible. For we, in our bodies as we now are, cannot attain the invisible except through the visible. For what cannot be seen because of the dullness of our bodies is pictured to us, as it were, through a form or image of him who cares for all the things he brought into being. 4 The wasps, who are divided in the middle of their bodies and are destroyed like a fire of straw and who perish as soon as oil drops on them, are the rebellious Devils and Fiends, who are divided in the middle of the body, that is, by their mutual strife; and they are badly armed for conflict, for if only you take oil with you, that is, the good works full of faith and courage, you may very well engage in battle with them. For as soon as they come near the holy oil, their teeth become blunted by your zeal; their air passages become choked by its greasiness; and they are as good as dead as long as they do not have their breath by your permission. For if you do not persist in the anointing, or pour out vinegar while you slacken the vigilance of the oil, that is, fail in righteousness, then you are likely to die, for their life is given to them again as the air-passages open, and they will wound you with their sting, and mock and kill you.
The Ant
1 Solomon says in the Proverbs: "Go to the ant, you sluggard." (Prov 6:6) 2 Physiologus says of the ant that it has three attributes. 3 The first is this: As the Ants go in a single line, one behind the other, each one carries a grain in its mouth. And those that have no grain to carry do not say to the others ‘Give us some of your grain,’ nor do they take it by force, but they go out and find a grain for themselves. 4 Let both the wise and the foolish virgins take notice of this. 5 The second attribute is this: When they store up their food in the earth, they bite the grain in two pieces so that the grain does not sprout during the winter; and in this way they suffer hunger. And, again, the Ants know through their wisdom when it will be hot or when the moist breeze is about to wet them. If you watch the Ant bringing inside the grains that are outside her hole, then you may know that the rainy season and the winter are at hand. But, when she brings out her food from within and spreads it out, then know that it will be warm weather. 6 And put away from yourself the words of the Old Testament, so that the letter may not kill you. For Paul says that the Law is spiritual. For by considering the bare letter of the Word the Jews became hungry and killers of each other. 7 The third attribute is this: The Ants often go to the field, and climb up the stem of grain, and drag down the grain. But, before climbing, the Ant smells the lower part of the stalk, and through the scent it can tell which is wheat and which is barley. It leaves the barley, and goes to the wheat and carries away the grain. Now barley is the food of cattle. For Job said: "Instead of wheat, let barley grow for me" (Job 31:40). Therefore flee the food of cattle and take the wheat gathered in the barns. For barley is like the learning of the heretics, but the wheat is the true belief in Christ.
The Sea Crab
1 Physiologus warns us to be careful not to imitate a despicable creature which lives in the sea and is called Cancer. How great is the slyness and deceit of the Sea-crab! For this beast desires the flesh of the fish called Oyster. But the Oyster is difficult to get at, since it is protected by a chalky covering, as if surrounded by a wall, so that the tender flesh which nature has placed in this protection remains secure. The inner lining of the shell is like polished potsherd, formed of hollow scales lying one within another. Such is the natural armor provided for it by the Creator. But the feet of the Crab can in no way prevail against this protection; nor can it break in through it. Now when the Crab sees an Oyster coming out and warming herself in a place protected from the wind, he waits until the sun shines on her and she begins to open her back to receive the warmth: then the Crab comes cautiously and places a little stone between the shells so that she cannot close them again. And through the space that remains open the Crab seizes the Oyster and pulls it out. This much the feeble power of the Crab is able to accomplish through its great cunning. How wonderful is the wickedness of this beast; speech or voice cannot express it. But learn from the dexterity of the Crab to do fine deeds and turn them to the increase of righteousness, but in no way afflict your fellow men with it. 2 The Crab resembles those who with evil cunning set themselves against their neighbors, who lie in hiding against their brother, and satisfy their minds with the misfortunes of others. Let us avoid imitating wicked men, and let us be satisfied with what we rightfully possess. For poverty with justice and truth is better than all the pleasures and all the gain of those who live in wickedness. You, wise man, look around you and study the lesson, and take example from it as Physiologus has written. 3 3; THE TREE PERIDEXION
The Peridexion Tree
1 There is a tree in India called Peridexion. Its fruit is the sweetest of all, pleasant and very useful. The Doves delight in it, and feed there, and nest in the tree. But in that land lives a snake who is hostile toward Doves. The snake is afraid of this tree, even of its shadow, and does not dare to approach the Doves nor come under the shadow of the tree. But, when the shadow goes to the Western side of the tree, the snake flees to the East, and goes around it and comes back when the shadow turns. But if a Dove leaves the tree in the darkness, then the snake finds it and kills it. 2 The tree signifies the Father of all, and its wood is Jesus Christ; for the wood is the tree of life for all who hold to it, which will give its fruit in due season. But the shadow of the tree is the Holy Spirit, "for the power of the highest shall overshadow you, and in the shadow of your wings I shall rejoice." 3 If now we keep close to wisdom, we eat the fruit of the spirit, which is peace and sobriety, and are protected by the wood of life. But, when we wander away into the darkness, then the Devil finds us, since we do not stay near the wood of life, and catches us easily. And so holy Paul, because he knew this, said: "Far be it from me to glory except in the Cross of my Lord, by which the world is crucified to me and I to the world." (Gal 6:14) 4 Physiologus spoke well of the tree Peridexion.
The Sycamore Fig
1 Holy Amos said: "I am no prophet nor a son of a prophet, but I was a goatherd and split figs." (Amos 7:14) 2 Amos finely presents the image of Christ when he says that he climbed as a splitter of figs, as did Zaccheus when he climbed the Fig-sycamore tree. 3 Before the Figs are split, there are insects in them called Ants; and dwelling in the darkness they see no light. Among themselves they say to one another, as it were, ‘We inhabit a spacious land, yet we sit in darkness.’ But, when the Fig is split, they see the rays of the sun and the moon and the stars, and they say to themselves, ‘Truly we sat in darkness and in the shadow of death before the fig was split.’ And if the fig is split on the first day, on the third day it is fit for food. 4 So also our Lord Jesus Christ was split open in the side, and blood and water came out of it. But on the third day he rose from the dead, and we saw the light of the stars like the insects. 5 The goats that Amos herded typify penance, because we men weave out of their hair the garments of penance. "In sackcloth and ashes," it is said, "do your penance" (Matt 4:16). And also: "The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and to those who sat in the shadow of death, to them the light has risen" (Isa 9:2). And as when the Fig is split it serves for food on the third day, so also our Lord Jesus Christ, after He was split open in the side, rose up on the third day and became life for all.
The Diamond
1 Physiologus says of the Diamond that it is found in the East. It is never found in the day-time but only at night. It is called Adamant, because it subdues (Saudfes) everything and is itself subdued by nothing. 2 And our Lord Jesus Christ himself judges all, but is judged by none. For He Himself said: "Which of you convicts me of sin?" "And his name is the Bud" (Zech 6:12). And again: "A star comes forth out of Jacob, and the dwellers in darkness have seen the light" (Isa 9:2). All holy prophets and Apostles, who are like the diamond, are those who have yielded to no temptation but have remained noble and unsubdued. 3 The Diamond has yet another attribute. It neither fears iron nor does it take the smell of smoke. And, when the Diamond is found in a house, neither can the Devil break in nor will any evil thing be found there; but he who possesses it overcomes every devilish influence. 4 Now the Diamond is our Lord Jesus Christ. If you have him in your heart, nothing evil will ever trouble you.
The Agate and the Pearl
1 When the craftsman seeks Pearls, he finds them by means of the Agate. He fastens the Agate to a stout rope, and lowers it into the sea. Now the Agate goes to the Pearl, and remains there and does not move. And as soon as the sailors see the place of the 2 Agate, they follow the rope until they come to the place of the Agate, and there they find the Pearl. 3 Hear now how the Pearls come. There is a shell-beast in the sea named the Pearl-mussel. This mussel rises up out of the sea in the dawn of the morning and opens her mouth and sucks in heavenly dew, and shuts up in her shell the rays of the sun and the moon and the stars and out of the heavenly lights brings the Pearls to birth. The shell-beast has two shells in which the pearls are found. 4 The Agate is the type of John the Baptist, for he himself pointed out to us the spiritual pearl when he said: "Here is the Lamb of God, who bears the sin of the world" (John 1:29). We must now take the sea for the world and the diver for the choir of prophets; the two mussel-shells for the Old and New Testaments—the sun, the moon, the stars, and the dew for the Holy Spirit, which is enclosed in the Old and New Testaments; and the Pearl for our Lord Jesus Christ, for He Himself is a costly pearl. And you, man, sell all that you possess and gain the costly Pearl, which is Christ the Lord, so that you may have a treasure in your heart and be redeemed.
The Magnet Stone
1 Physiologus says of the Magnet-stone that it lifts iron, fastening it tight to itself and drawing it to itself. 2 If now created things draw one another, how much more does the Creator, who has hung the heavens over the earth, the God of all things, who has stretched it out like the skin of an ox.
The Indian Stone
1 There is a stone called the Indian Stone, and it has this attribute: 2 When a man has dropsy, the wise physicians seek this stone, and they bind it to the man with dropsy for three hours; and the stone sucks up the fluid of the dropsy into itself. Then they untie the stone, and weigh it against the man in the scales, and the little stone lifts the body of the man up. But, when the stone has been laid three hours in the sun, all the water that it sucked up from the man has been discharged; and the stone has become quite pure again, as it was before. 3 The stone is the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect love which has driven out fear. We are the ones with dropsy, who have the dirty water of sin in our hearts. But He, coming down from heaven and suffering, dwelt in our hearts and healed us: for He Himself took our infirmities and bore our diseases.
The Kindling Stones
1 There are stones called Kindling Stones. When two of these stones approach each other, they kindle themselves to a blaze and set fire to everything that comes near them. They have this property. The male and the female are kept far apart from each other; when they come near each other, they set each other and everything around them aflame. 2 And you, pure man, avoid all women. Do not approach them, for fear that you burn up your whole virtue. For Samson, when he gave himself up to a woman, lost all his strength by having his hair shorn. And many, as it is written, "have been deceived by the beauty of women, for by it love is kindled like a fire." (Sir 9:8)
The Echeneis
1 [From the Homilies of Basil] And you must hear yet another wonder. A very large ship, to all appearances wonderfully seaworthy, with wide and broad-spread sails, holding its straight course before the wind, is easily stopped by a little fish called Echeneis. Its name means the one who stops a ship, and it holds it back for a long time so that the ship cannot move from the spot. And so you can see a great ship in full sail fastened, as it were, and rooted in the sea. 2 And do you not see the power of the Creator in this little beast and its deed? The Creator has done all this for this purpose: so that the vigilance of your spirit may be increased. And as your hope and your trust in him increase, so you will guard yourself from the power of the Devil.
The Sea Urchin
1 [From the Homilies of Basil] What happens in the sea is beyond all speech or understanding. I have heard from one who lives on the coast that the sea-urchin is a small, contemptible beast that lives in the sea and tells the sailor whether the waves will be calm or rough. This Urchin seeks a rock on which he hangs and clings, and he fastens himself to it as to an anchor, so that the waves, though they toss him here and there and up and down, cannot tear him away. And he does this as though he intended to point out in advance the coming of the storm, the tumult of which is already in his mind. As soon as the sailors see him they know by this sign that danger threatens them from the violence of the wind. There is no Chaldaean, no astrologer, who can read in the courses of the stars what the movements of the winds will be. Who has taught this to the Urchin, a stupid little beast—who but the Lord himself, the ruler of the sea and the wind, who has revealed to the Urchin a glimpse of his omniscient majesty? For nothing happens that does not testify to his care, and there is nothing of his Creation which we can hold in contempt. The eye of his majesty pierces through everything, and everything depends on his care, for his eye is watchful and is intent on all to whom he has given life and food. If God does not shut out the Sea-urchin from his providence, will men not share in his watchful care?
The Polypus
1 [From the Homilies of Basil] We must not pass over the deceitfulness, cunning, and trickery of the fish called Polypus. On whatever stone or rock in the sea he fixes himself, he makes his color resemble the thing he hangs on; and the fishes, while they stupidly swim around him, imagine he is dead and gone, because his color does not distinguish him from the rock. Then they come so close to the stone that they touch him, and so he finds his food brought to him by his own trickery. 2 Such are those who hide their cunning under a bright appearance and change their minds to please their rulers and adapt their deeds to their liking so that to outward appearance they seem to obey cheerfully. But it is hard to keep clear of them or to avoid being contaminated by them, and it is impossible to protect oneself from their harmful strokes. Let us flee from the laying of snares and from cunning of every kind, and let us stand firm in uprightness and simplicity, which restrain us from violence. The Serpent is wicked, and because of its deceit it bears the condemnation that it shall crawl on its belly. The righteous man in whom there is no deceit is like Jacob, a plain man (Gen 25:27) in whom there is no deceit. And of such it was said, "God makes the solitary dwell in a house." (Ps 68:7)