Peacock, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The medieval bestiary records that peacocks have very hard flesh that is hard to cook. Their wings have been described as being jewelled when open (Barber 2008).

Transcription

Translation

Pavo de sono vocis nomen habet. In domibus di-
vitum habitans. pennas in stellarum modum
lucentes. et pulcra varietate diversorum colorum
distinctas habens. Gaudam longissimam et pul-
cherrime lucentem; trahens. que capita regum
et divitum ornat. et a servore solis descendit. Capi-
te parvo. et desuper plumis superexcrescentibus crista-
to; et corpore magno incedit. Vox eius quasi dia-
boli. penna quasi angeli. passus; quasi latronis.
capud quasi serpentis; vulgo dicitur. Cuius caro
tam dura est; ut putredinem vix senciat. nec facile

The peacock has its name from the sound of its voice. Dwelling in rich houses, having feathers shining like the stars, and having a fair variety of distinct colors. Drawing the longest and most beautifully shining joy, which adorns the heads of kings and the rich, and descends from the servant of the sun. He walks with a small head, and a crest of feathers growing from above, and a large body. His voice is like that of a devil, his wings are like those of an angel, his suffering is like that of a thief, his head is like that of a serpent. Whose flesh is so hard; so that it scarcely perceives decay, and is not easily

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coquatur. De quo quidam sic ait. Miraris quoci-
ens gemmantes explicat alas. si potes hunc sevo;
tradere dura coco. Mater ova sua abscondit. et
nidum in occulto loco frequentat. ne inveniens
pater ova; ea commedat. Femina non est adeo lucen-
tibus pennis nec adeo longis; ut masculus decora-
ta. Nomine igitur pavonis; significantur sancti. decore
virtutum perfecti. Vel ypocrite speciem virtutum
tenentes. Unde in regum et in paralipomenon le-
gitur. quod naves regis salomonis ibant in tarsis;
cum servis yram semel in tribus annis. et deferebant
inde aurum et argentum. et ebur et simias et pavos.

cooked. Of whom one says thus. You wonder when it spreads its wings with a sigh, if you can save this one; to deliver hard cocoa. The mother hid her eggs. and frequents the nest in a secret place. lest the father find the eggs; eat them. A woman is not so bright nor so long; decorated as a male By the name of the peacock, therefore, are signified the holy, the beautiful perfect virtues. Or hypocritically possessing the appearance of virtues. Whence it is read in Kings and Chronicles, that King Solomon's ships went in tarsi; when the servants went once in three years, and they brought from thence gold and silver, and ivory, monkeys, and peacocks.