History of Monsters. 360

namely, he looks at it in the Section on Omens. Therefore, when monsters do not deviate significantly from their natural state, they do not seem to portend anything; among the Egyptians, such portents would be extremely common, as monsters of this kind are born there more frequently than in other regions.

MORAL LESSONS

[[ASSET:page_360_initial_Q.png]] Just as it happens in human nature that monsters—specifically, two-headed men—are sometimes born, a similar thing occurs within the Church. Monstrous men live there who, driven by various intentions and desires, are called "two-headed," yet they remain ostensibly uniform members of the same ecclesiastical body. This occurs when many people feign a single purpose but are rightfully called double-minded or two-headed, in as much as they serve multiple conflicting intentions and desires, effectively dividing themselves into many heads.

Furthermore, if monsters are born whose upper parts resemble two people while the lower parts resemble a single person, then the lower parts, being single, must support and sustain the double upper parts. A similar monster is sometimes observed in the Church: for though we Christians are many distinct persons, we are sustained as one body in the Church by the same feet—that is, by the same foundations of faith. Therefore, if it should happen that someone perishes, struck by the wound of a mortal sin, then the others must support that person, who is dead in their crimes, with a great fervor of charity. As the Apostle wrote to the Galatians: "You who are spiritual, instruct such people in a spirit of gentleness, and bear one another’s burdens."

SYMBOLS

[[ASSET:page_360_initial_E.png]] Learned men have not hesitated to compose symbolic schemes from monstrous animals as well. From the work of Silvestro Pietrasanta, we find an image of a monstrous woman who appears to represent the Siren of the ancients, bearing the motto: "Safe, she despises the storms." He assigns this symbol to Geronimo Colonna, Duke of Paliano and Prefect of King Ferdinand’s forces, intending to demonstrate that he always acts with a tranquil mind in both prosperity and adversity; the Siren seems to embody this, as she remains equally at rest in a turbulent or calm sea, as if in her own home.

In the same author, another marvelous monster is seen: a horse's head graced with a human face and a long beard reaching down to the chest, with the feet of a crane and the tail of a rooster, accompanied by the letters "FAB." This symbol is ascribed to Fabius the Delayer, who used this monstrous image to express the virtues of a perfect leader. The horse's head signifies command and leadership in war; the human face, beard, and chest signify prudence; the crane’s feet represent deliberation and vigilance; and finally, the rooster’s tail signifies victory.

Since we have come upon a monstrous horse, we must not overlook the image of a winged horse trampling a lion with its hind feet. This is depicted in the work of the aforementioned author with the inscription: "Eternal Praise." He records that this symbolic scheme belonged to King Henry I of Portugal, who used it to show that he would subdue all the nations of Africa, however barbarian they might be.

Indeed, if a winged horse is depicted in that symbol, another part of the cited book features a winged tortoise with the inscription: "Love Added [them]." The author declares this was the symbol of Felix, Prince of Salerno, which he used to signify to the King his love, loyalty, and eagerness for immediate service, without any mixture of rashness or improvident haste.