Bestiary: the Lion, emblem of virtue and of the wary captain
The lion's roar rousing its cubs, and its habit of covering its tracks
A bestiary page in upside-down mirror script devoted to the lion. Its thundering roar wakes the cubs born on the third day and opens their sleeping senses while the forest beasts flee, likened to how the children of virtue are roused by the cry of praise to honourable studies. A second observation, that the lion covers its footprints so enemies cannot track it, is offered as counsel to captains to conceal the secrets of their minds.
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The lion's roar as the cry of praise
With its thundering roar the lion wakes its cubs, born after the third day, opening all their sleeping senses, while every beast in the forest flees. It is likened to the children of virtue, who are roused by the cry of praises and grow to honourable studies, at which cry all the wicked flee and withdraw from the virtuous.
Covering its tracks: counsel to captains
The lion covers its footprints so that its route cannot be made out by enemies. This, Leonardo notes, befits captains, who should conceal the secrets of their minds so that the enemy cannot know their designs.