Eagle, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230
The name eagle refers to any of a wide range of species that are large enough to hunt large prey. Most of the 68 species of eagles are from Eurasia and Africa although species are recorded on every continent.
The medieval bestiary records that eagles have the sharpest sight and can see far further than man. It will see fish in the sea from the air and will dive like a thunderbolt to catch it. As it gets old its wings become heavy and its sight will get cloudy so it will look for a fountain and then fly high up towards the sun its wings catch fire and its eyes lose the darkness it dives under the water three times and its wings and eyes are restored (Barber 2008).
Transcription
Translation
que tam acute videt. ut dum super maria imobili pen-
na feratur. nec humanis pateat obtutibus; detanta
sublimitate pisciculos natare videat. ac tormenti in-
star descendens raptam predam pennis ad litus trahit.
Pullos quoque plumescentes; alis verberat et ad volandum
provocat. Item cum pullos plumescere videt. piis un-
guibus adsolem suspendens; convertit. et illum quasi
proprium nutrit filium; qui irreverberata acie; solem
aspicit. Si lumina deflectit; quasi degenerem abicit.
Pullos quoque ad volandum provocat; et lassos alis sus-
tentat. Item cum senuerit; gravantur ale ipsius. et
oculi eius caligine obducuntur. Que in altum vo-
lans; radio solis exurit et alas et caliginem oculorum.
et denscendens trina mersione in fonte; se renovat
in multo vigore alarum et oculorum. Nomine aquile
According to the naturalists, the eagle is so called, because of its acute vision, in that, whilst it is in flight over the seas, its as if it has motionless feathers and in a way unclear to humans, it can see the little fishes swimming below, from its great height. And like a missile, it falls upon and captures its prey and carries it to the shore, whilst still in flight. As for other feathered ones like chickens, whilst flying with beating wings, the eagle confronts them. it turns them towards the sun, to hang from its perfect talons. And it is as it were that he feeds it, as if it were his own son. Which breaks the focus, he then looks towards the sun. If it deflects the light; he throws it away as if it is some contemptible thing. The eagle also keeps the chickens in the air and maintains their weariness. Also, when it is grown old and its own wings weigh it down. And the eyes have become covered by a veil, then it is that flying high; the rays of the sun burn both the wings and the darkness of the eyes. And descending three times into the water, it renews itself many times over, in the strength of its wings and eyes.
The name of the Eagle sometimes
hereticus. aliquando contemplativi qui rapine et cupiditati
terrene vacant. aliquando contemplativi et sancti quo-
rum conversatio est. in celis. Pullos plumescentes alis
verberat et ad volandum provocat aquila; sic christus dic-
tis et exemplis et doctrina duorum testamentorum. sive ge-
mine caritatis exhortans ad alta provehit. ut sequa-
mur quo ipse precessit. Lassos alis sustentat; et christus in
humeris suos portavit; dum in cruce peccata eorum
sustinuit. Super etiam exaltatus et humanis subtrac-
tus aspectibus. in mari huius mundi natantes; oculis mi-
sericordie videt. et pennis amoris pertrahit ad litus eter-
ne securitatis. Unde si exaltatus fuero a terra; omnia
traham ad me ipsum. Aquila plumescens ad solem
suspendens convertit. et cetera. ut supra; sic deus adverum
solem nos invitat. Infirmitatibus nostris compatitur.
et alis gracie sustentat. Qui vero verum solem atten-
dere nouerit diligens tenebras mundi; a deo despi-
citur; sicut ab aquila negligitur. non acerbitate na-
ture; sed viditii integritate; qui ei degener inve-
nitur. Item aquila cum senuerit; gravantur ale ipsius. (et cetera added)
is (to do with) Christ, sometimes the Devil, sometimes an overbearing heretic, sometimes religious mystics who give themselves to rape and earthly lust. Sometimes those self same religious and holy men whose dwelling is in heaven. The eagle beats the fledgling chicks and challenges them to fly; thus also does Christ by His sayings and example and the teachings of the two testaments. So also he, encouraging, carries (us) upwards by (this) twin of love . So that we may follow where he has gone before. He endures the weariness; and Christ has carried his own on his shoulders; while he bore their sins on the cross. Above everything, he was lifted up and removed from the sight of humans. those that swim in the seas of this world; he regards with the eyes of mercy. He carries (them) away to the eternal shores of safety. Whence I exist lifted above the earth and draw all things to myself. As it hovered, the feathered eagle turned toward the sun. And again, as above, so God draws us towards the true sun. He has compassion on our weaknesses. And (by) grace with (his) wings he upholds (us). Who indeed (would) enthusiastically face the true sun (but then) acknowledge (lit ‘nod to’) the darkness of the world? (Such a one) is despised by God. Likewise (such a) one is held in disdain by the eagle; such a one is found unworthy by him. not with a bitter nature; but with integrity (of vision); who to him is found unworthy. In the same way, when the eagle has grown old, they are (become) burdened (by) their own wings.
et senuerint ab illa virtutum veste quam habue-
rant. et caligaverint oculi cordis eorum; per penitencie
alas volant ad vetum solem. et in caritatis eius ig-
ne; deponunut suam vetustatem. et in fonte baptis-
mi vel gracie. vel penitencie; renovatur ut aquile
iuventus eorum. Ferunt quod avis cui nomen fulica est.
que grece dicitur phene. susceptum illum abdica-
tum sive non agnitum aquile pullum; cum sua
prole connectit. et eodem quo proprios fetus ma-
terne sollicitudinis officio et pari nutrimentorum
sub ministratione; pascit et nutrit. ergo phene alie-
nos nutrit. Nos vero nostros inmiti crudelitate;
proicimus. Aquila enim si proicit; non quasi suum proicit.
sed quasi degenerem; non recognoscit. Nos vero quod peius
est; quos nostros recognoscimus abdicamus.
Thus, when the saints have been preoccupied with some offense, and have grown old from that garment of virtues which they had, and the eyes of their heart have become dim, they fly wings to the ancient sun through penance, and in the fire of his charity, they lay down their old age, and in the fountain of baptism or grace. or by penance, their youth is renewed like an eagle. They say that the bird whose name is the sparrowhawk, which in Greek is called phene, takes up that chick, abandoned or not recognized by the eagle, connects it with its own offspring, and feeds and nurtures its own offspring with the duty of maternal care and equal nourishment under the ministration, therefore phene nourishes strangers. We, however, cast out our enemies with cruelty. For if an eagle throws it, it does not throw it as if it were its own, but as if it were degenerate, and does not recognize it. But what is worse, we renounce those whom we recognize as our own.