A monstrous giant, and prophecies
A fantastical verse on a black giant, with riddling prophecies noted in red chalk
A page of Manuscript I written in mirror script, combining pen and red chalk. In pen at the top runs a fantastical verse describing a figure blacker than a hornet who rides a huge horse, with lesser giants lashed to his saddle and tusked pigs at his heels. In red chalk below stand riddling prophecies of darkness spreading from the East over Italy and of men fleeing into Africa, together with the titles of two reference books. The sheet also bears the stamp of the Bibliothèque de l'Institut.
On this page
Verse on a black giant on horseback
The pen lines describe a being blacker than a hornet, his eyes red as burning fire, riding a great cart-horse six spans broad and more than twenty long. Six giants are lashed to his saddle-bow, one held in his hand and gnawed with his teeth, while behind him come pigs whose tusks jut some ten spans from their mouths.
Prophecies of darkness and flight
Below, in red chalk, are riddling prophecies. Darkness will come from the East and with such gloom will dye the sky that covers Italy, and all men will flee into Africa. Further headings name 'the peasants in shirts who labour' and 'barbers.'
Note of two reference books
Two lexicon titles are jotted down, the Catholicon and Iuniano (Junianus Maius), the latter a well-known word-book. Beside them an unfinished note begins 'It will be gr...'.