Scorpion, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The scorpion is rather curiously recorded as a type of land worm. They will sting the palm of the hand and are said to signify the heretic.

Transcription

Translation

Scorpio est vermis terrenus qui potius ver-
mibus ascribi deberet quam serpentibus. Sed quia
est animal armatum aculeo. et cauda figit. et
arcuato vulnere venena diffundit; inter ser-
pentes nominatur. Proprium autem scorpionis est. quod
manus palmam non feriat. Nomine igitur scorpio-
nis aliquando dicitur flagellum. aliquando hereticus. aliquando qui
inchoatas virtutes ante consummationem viciat. ali-
quando desperatio qui in fine nocet. Quando pro flagellis accipi-
untur; fiunt de spinis vel pomariis quasi virge nodose.
Vel flagellum saracenorum cum duabus virgis vel tribus. q .in sum-
mitate habent plubeas grandines. quibus martires flagellaban-
tur;

Scorpio is an earthly worm, which should rather be ascribed to worms than to serpents. But because it is an animal armed with a sting, and its tail stabs, and spreads poison with an arched wound; He is named among the serpents. But it is peculiar to the scorpion that the hand does not strike the palm. Therefore, by the name of the scorpion, sometimes it is called a scourge, sometimes a heretic, sometimes one who defeats the beginning virtues before their consummation, sometimes desperation which hurts in the end. When they are taken for whips; they are made of thorns or orchards like a gnarled vine. Or the scourge of the Saracens, with two or three rods, at the top of which the martyrs were scourged.