Prophecies of Grain, Grafted Trees and Incense
Three of Leonardo's riddling prophecies at the head of an otherwise blank spread
This double-page spread is almost entirely blank, carrying only a short group of Leonardo's "prophecies" (prophetic riddles) at the upper left of 212v, each introduced by a heading. In riddling form they describe men casting out of their houses the victuals that sustain them (grain and seeds), stepchildren better nourished than true children (grafted trees), and figures in white garments threatening the harmless with metal and fire (incense). British Museum collection stamps ("B.M.") are impressed on both halves of the sheet.
On this page
Three prophetic riddles with their solutions named as headings
Under "Of grain and other seeds," men will throw out of their houses the victuals dedicated to sustaining their life. Under "Of the trees that nourish grafts," fathers and mothers give far more benefit to their stepchildren than to their true children. Under "Of the terrible nature of incense," those in white garments advance with arrogant movement, threatening with metal and fire those who did them no harm.