Folio 36v Translation and Transcription
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Folio 36v Translation
Of the magpie
Magpies are like poets, because they utter words, with a distinct sound,
like men; hanging in the branches of trees, they chatter rudely, and even
if they cannot get their tongues round words, they nevertheless imitate
human speech. On this subject someone aptly said: 'The chattering magpie,
firm of voice, greets you as lord. If you do not see me, you will deny
that I am a bird' (Martial, Epigrams, 14: 76).
The woodpecker, picus, gets its name from Picus son of Saturn,
because he used it for taking auguries. For they say that this bird has
something |
Transcription
De pica\ Pice quasi poetice, quod verba in discrimi\ne vocis
exprimant ut homo, per ramos enim\ arborum pendule importuna garruli\tate
sonantes, et si nequeunt linguas in\ sermone explicare, sonum tamen
humane\ vocis imitantur, de qua congrue quidam ait: Pica loquax\
certa dominum te voce salutat. Si me non videas esse ne\gabis avem.
Picus a Pico Saturni filio nomen sumpsit, eo quod\ in auspiciis
utebatur. Nam ferunt hanc avem quiddam habere\ |
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Translation
Of the magpie
Magpies are like poets, because they utter words, with a distinct
sound, like men; hanging in the branches of trees, they chatter
rudely, and even if they cannot get their tongues round words, they
nevertheless imitate human speech. On this subject someone aptly
said: 'The chattering magpie, firm of voice, greets you as lord.
If you do not see me, you will deny that I am a bird' (Martial,
Epigrams, 14: 76).
The woodpecker, picus, gets its name from Picus son of Saturn,
because he used it for taking auguries. For they say that this bird
has something |
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All images Copyright 1995
© Aberdeen University Library
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Translation & Transcription Copyright 1995
© Colin McLaren & Aberdeen University Library
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