Ant, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230
The tiny ant emerges as symbolic of remarkable industry, foresight, and wisdom. With its diligent work ethic and ingenious survival strategies, the ant serves as a model for human behaviour and spiritual enlightenment.
Its industrious nature is evident in its meticulous preparation for the future, gathering grains of wheat during harvest season to sustain itself through the winter. Unlike other creatures, the ant relies on its own efforts, marching in line and carrying its own grain back to the nest.
Moreover, the ant demonstrates remarkable foresight, predicting rain by observing the behaviour of the grains it collects. Its ability to forecast weather patterns demonstrates its wisdom and practicality, ensuring the preservation of its precious food supply.
Not content with mere survival, the ant also shows a knack for resource management, dividing its grain stores to prevent spoilage and taking measures to protect its nest from floods.
The ant's actions have deeper spiritual significance. Just as the ant divides grains into two, so too must mankind divide their time and attention between spiritual and worldly matters, between the Old and New Testament.
The ant's aversion to barley, considered the food of brutes, serves as a cautionary tale against embracing false doctrines and spiritual laziness. Just as Job warns against the growth of barley instead of wheat, so too must believers discern between true spiritual nourishment and deceptive teachings.
Amidst the wisdom and industry of the ant, there lurks a threat in the form of the antlion, a symbol of temptation and spiritual danger. This small creature preys on the ants, reminding humans of the constant battle between virtue and vice, wisdom and folly.
Ultimately, the ant's story serves as a timeless parable, urging readers to emulate its virtues, heed its warnings, and "consider her ways and be wise" (Proverbs NKJV 6:6).
Transcription
Translation
Cuius sollercia multa. Providet enim in futurum.
et preparet in estate quod in hieme comedat. In messe
enim colligit triticum ordeum non tangit. Ordina-
te ambulant. et granum in ore baiulant. et hee que
vacue sunt non dicunt. Date nobis de granis vestris
sed vadunt per vestigia priorum. ad locum ubi frumen-
tum inveniunt. et afferunt frumentum in cubile suum.
Dum pluit super frumentum totum propriis humeris eicit.
Novit enim formica explorare serenitatis tempora. ut
sub iuge(changed to iugi) solis calore; siccentur frumenta sua. Namque
enim imbres videbis; cum foris fuerint formicarum frumenta.
Cum autem ea reposuerint; imbres sperare poteris. La-
borem alterius non tollit. set itinere proprio vadens.
proprium granum portat. Cum domum venerit; di-
vidit granum in duo. ne forte pluvia perfundatur
in hieme. et germinent granum. et ipsa fame pereat.
Preterea canales facte formica circa tectum suum. ut
cum inundatio veterit; preterfluant aque; et salve-
tur ipsa et cibus eius. Dicuntur in ethiopia esse. for-
mice. ad formam canis. que arenas aureas eruunt;
pedibus. quas custodunt ne quis auferat. captan-
The ant is called so, for it carries grains of wheat. Its ingenuity is considerable. Since it provides itself for the future, it prepares in summer what it will eat in winter. During harvest, it collects wheat, but it does not touch barley. Ants march in line and carry grain in their mouths. Those who carry nothing do not say "Give us some of your grains" but follow the tracks of those who went before them to the place where they find grain and take it to their nest.
If it rains on the grain, they carry it all on their back. An ant knows how to forecast rays of sunshine, for it knows that grain dries up in the heat of the sun. Therefore, you will see rainclouds when the grain is outside but you can hope for rain when they carry it back in. An ant does not saddle itself with the labour of another ant but goes on its own way and carries its own grain. When the ant goes back to the nest, it divides the grain into two, lest it be soaked by rain in winter and the grain sprout, or else it would starve to death. Moreover, ants mould channels around their nest, so that the water may flow away in the event of a flood and therefore, they save themselves and their food.Apparently, there exist ants in the form of dogs in Ethiopia, which extract golden sands with their feet and they guard them, lest they be taken:
aurum accipere; accipiunt equas cum viventibus pullis. et
fame affligunt eas tribus diebus. Denique religant pullos
earum ad litus aque que currit inter eos et formicas.
Et eque transeunt aquam illam inpositis clitellis super dor-
sum earum. Que ubi vident trans fumen herbas viren-
tes; pascuntur per campos untra flumen. Formice autem vi-
dentes scrinia et clitellas super dorsum earum; conpor-
tant aureas arenas in eis. volentes eas ibi recondere. Ves-
perascente autem die postquam saciate sunt eque; audiunt
pullos suos hinnientes propter famen. et ita regrediun-
tur ad eos cum auro multo. Formicaleon autem est. qui
formicis est. leo; sed aliis est formica. Est enim animal par-
vum. formicis satis infestum. quod se inpulvere abscon-
dit. et formicas frumenta gestantes; interficit. Nomine
igitur formice dicitur prudens et sapiens. Unde in parabolis.
Vade ad formicam o piger. et considera vias eius et disce;
sapientiam. Formica dividit grana in duo. Sic et tu homo
divide inter vetus et novum testamentum. et inter spiritualia
et carnalia. Iudei granum littere a spiritu non dividen-
tes. fame necati sunt. Formica ordeum non curat. Orde-
if someone takes them, they will be pursued to their dying day. Those who wish to receive gold from them will receive mares with living foals and they will starve the mares for three days. Finally, they tie their foals near the bank of the stream that flows between them and the ants. The mares cross that stream with packsaddles placed on their backs; when they see green grass on the other side of the stream, they feed thereon amid the fields beyond the river. Upon seeing the boxes and packsaddles on the mares’ backs, the ants put golden sands therein in order to hide them. When it grows dark after they are replete, the mares hear their foals neighing out of hunger. Therefore, they return to them with plenty of gold.
There is also the antlion, which is a lion towards ants but it is an ant towards others. It is a small animal, rather harmful to ants, for it hides in dust and kills ants carrying grain. Therefore, ants are said to be skilled and wise by name. Hence, the parable says: “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,” (Proverbs NKJV 6:6). An ant divides grains into two. Similarly, you, o man, divide your time between the Old and New Testament, and between spiritual and carnal things. The Jews were starved to death, for they were not able to divide the grains of the letters from the grains of the spirit . Ants disregard barley, for
it is the food of brutes. Job says with regard to the doctrine of heretics and of the Catholic one: “Instead of wheat, barley grows."