The Lion's Fears and the African Panther
Bestiary: the lion terrified by empty carts and cockcrow, and the beautiful, dreaded panther of Africa
A page of Leonardo's mirror-script bestiary in pen, with two entries. The lion, for all its terror, fears nothing more than the din of empty carts and the crowing of cocks; it is much afraid at the sight of them, eyes the cock's crest with dread, and loses all courage when its own face is covered. The second entry describes the African panther, shaped like a lioness but taller, more slender and long, all white and dotted with black rosette-like spots; every animal delights to see it and would gather round it, were it not for the terribleness of its face.
On this page
The lion's fears
This most terrible animal fears nothing more than the din of empty carts and the crowing of cocks; it is greatly afraid at the sight of them and regards the cock's crest with a fearful look, and it grows utterly cowardly when its face has been covered.
The African panther's beauty
The panther of Africa has the form of a lioness but is taller in the legs, more slender and long, all white and dotted with black spots like rosettes. All animals delight to see it and would always stay around it, were it not for the terribleness of its face.