Medieval lore : an epitome of the science, geography, animal and plant folk-lore and myth of the middle age: being classified gleanings from the encyclopaedia of Bartholomew Anglicus on the properties of things [in J.Trevisa's translation] / edited by Robert Steele ; with a preface by William Morris.

Bartholomaeus, Anglicus, active 13th century.

Date:: 1893

Credit: Medieval lore : an epitome of the science, geography, animal and plant folk-lore and myth of the middle age: being classified gleanings from the encyclopaedia of Bartholomew Anglicus on the properties of things [in J.Trevisa's translation] / edited by Robert Steele ; with a preface by William Morris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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and with his ncse throweth down the dragon, and the dragon bindeth and spanneth the elephant's legs, and maketh him fall, but the dragon buyeth it full sore : for while he slayeth the elephant, the elephant falleth upon him and slayeth him. Also the elephant seeing the dragon upon a tree, busieth him to break the tree to smite the dragon, and the dragon leapeth upon the elephant, and busieth him to bite him between the nostrils, and assaileth the elephant's eyen, and maketh him blind sometime, and leapeth upon him sometime behind, and biteth him and sucketh his blood. And at the last after long fighting the elephant waxeth feeble for great blindness, in so much that he falleth upon the dragon, and slayeth in his dying the dragon that him slayeth. The cause why the dragon desireth his blood, is coldness of the elephant's blood, by the which the dragon desireth to cool himself. Jerome saith, that the dragon is a full thirsty beast, insomuch that unneth he may have water enough to quench his great thirst; and openeth his mouth therefore against the wind, to quench the burning of his thirst in that wise. There- fore when he seeth ships sail in the sea in great wind, he flieth against the sail to take their cold wind, and overthroweth the ship sometimes for greatness of body, and strong rese against the sail. And when the ship- men see the dragon come nigh, and know his coming by the water that swelleth ayenge him, they strike the sail anon, and scape in that wise. Horses be joyful in fields, and smell battles, and be Of comforted with noise of trumpets to battle and toHo fighting; and be excited to run with noise that they Ca] know, and be sorry when they be overcome, and glad when they have the mastery. And so feeleth and knoweth their enemies in battle so far forth that they a-rese on their enemies with biting and smiting, and also

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