Humilitie
The Seated Virtues and Humility's Role
In a vision, the Virtues sit enthroned while Humility, seated lowest, distributes the tokens of submission offered by beasts and birds.
I saw the Virtues sitting hand in hand in several rows on an azure throne, where all the beasts and birds presented tokens of submission at their command. Humility, who sat lowest to carry out their call, distributed the presents to everyone as the beasts offered them.1
The Distribution of Animal Gifts
Humility justly assigns the gifts of the lion, hare, turkey, and fox to Gentleness, Fortitude, Temperance, and Justice respectively.
The angry Lion offered his paw, which by agreement was given to Gentleness.2 The fearful Hare offered her ears, which Humility, according to their law, passed on to Fortitude.3 The jealous Turkey brought his coral chain; that went to Temperance. Justice was given the Fox's brain; the Fox had been killed along the way by chance.4
The Peacock's Plume and Humility's Tears
When the peacock's plume causes pride and strife among the Virtues, Humility's weeping spoils the plume, unites the Virtues to drive away the attacking beasts, and institutes a reparation for the next session.
At last the Crow brought the peacock's plume (for the peacock himself would not). As they looked on the beauty of that splendid gift, each one began to seethe and claim it as belonging to his own place, until they fell to quarreling. When the beasts saw this, they leapt upon the throne; and if the Fox had lived to lead their side, they would have deposed every one of them.56 Humility, who held the plume, wept so hard at this that the tears trickling down spoiled the whole train. Then, saying, "Here it is—what you're quarreling over," she made them turn their frown against the beasts. So, banding together, they soon drove them away; and then they fined them, requiring double gifts at the next session day.7
Read the original English
I Saw the Vertues sitting hand in hand In sev'rall ranks upon an azure throne, Where all the beasts and fowls by their command Presented tokens of submission. Humilitie, who sat the lowest there To execute their call, When by the beasts the presents tendred were, Gave them about to all.
The angrie Lion did present his paw, Which by consent was giv'n to Mansuetude. The fearfull Hare her eares, which by their law Humilitie did reach to Fortitude. The jealous Turkie brought his corall-chain; That went to Temperance. On Justice was bestow'd the Foxes brain, Kill'd in the way by chance.
At length the Crow bringing the Peacocks plume, (For he would not) as they beheld the grace Of that brave gift, each one began to fume, And challenge it, as proper to his place, Till they fell out: which when the beasts espied, They leapt upon the throne; And if the Fox had liv'd to rule their side, They had depos'd each one.
Humilitie, who held the plume, at this Did weep so fast, that the tears trickling down Spoil'd all the train: then saying, Here it is For which ye wrangle, made them turn their frown Against the beasts: so joyntly bandying, They drive them soon away; And then amerc'd them, double gifts to bring At the next Session-day.
Notes
- 1 ↩Early modern 'gave about' means distributed/handed around; rendered as distributed to all (the Virtues).
- 2 ↩Source personifies Mansuetude (meekness/gentleness); rendered as Gentleness to match the modern names of the other Virtues.
- 3 ↩Source is elliptical (The fearfull Hare her eares); the verb of presenting is understood from the preceding gift-scene. reach to = hand over / pass along.
- 4 ↩Kill'd in the way by chance modifies the Fox (not the brain as abstract gift): the fox was killed on the road by chance, and its brain was then bestowed on Justice.
- 5 ↩Source 'grace' here is aesthetic beauty/elegance of the plume, not theological grace; rendered 'beauty' to keep the sense clear.
- 6 ↩Early modern 'brave' means fine/splendid; '(For he would not)' refers to the peacock refusing to bring his own plume.
- 7 ↩Early modern legal 'amerce': punish by fine; rendered as 'fined' for plain contemporary sense while keeping the court-session setting.
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