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which, she attentively looks.
The Ash color, signifies that the penitent must separate his life far from wordly lusts, and not indulge the flesh.
The scourge is the amending of ourselves. And the cross, is the sufferings; through the likeness which the penitent
has with Christ Jesus, by the dispising of the world; according to his words: "Whosoever taketh not up his cross and
follows me, cannot be my Disciple."
Discretione (Discretion)
A middle aged woman of a venerable visage; her garments of gold, and her mantle of a red-purple; holding her head
aside, towards her left shoulder; and the left arm lifted up, and the hand open, as if she had compassion with another;
holding in her right hand a lesbian leaden plummet; upon her knees shall lay a Camel.
She is made middle aged and venerable, because in a full age is judgment and discretion. Wherefore Barnardus,
speaking of discretion, calls her a mother of virtue.
The golden garment and the red-purple mantle, signify not only the wisdom and gravity; but also the right reason
about the truth of the just causes, which are found in a just and discrete man. Wherefore D. Thomas saith: discretion
belongs to wisdom, and is a procurator, keeper, and mistress of the virtues.
She holds her head towards her left side, and her left arm lifted up and her hand open as if she had a compassion
with another. For Aristotle relates, that discretion easily shows herself pity filled to those who go astray; holding
with great judgment some human frailties, in whom they are found for the best.
She holds the Lesbian leaden plummet in her right hand, to signify that a discrete man maintains equity with all
diligence: as this plummet does, which those of Lesbos used to measure their stones. Withall, moving the same as
well downwards as upwards -- and because it was of lead, it fitted for the top and bottom -- without losing its
straightness; also bowes right discretion according to human frailty. Yet therefore, he leaves not the right way of
justice; being grounded in his judgment and accompanied with equity: of which, according to her power, she is a just
executress.
The Camel, as above said, shows the discrete nature of the creature; which will have no more burden upon him than
he can carry. And therefore shall a reasonable man, in the imitation of this creature, do good with discretion. For all
what he does with discretion, is a virtue; and all what is done without discretion, is a vice. And as Isidorus saith: an
indiscrete virtue is esteemed a vice.
Riparo da i Tradimenti (Defence or protection against treachery)
A man with a stork in his arms, which has a sprig of Platanus in his mouth. The stork has a natural enmity with the
night owl; wherefore the night owl often seeks to entrap her, and to break her nest, and to breed out her eggs herself:
a thing which is very hurtful to the stork, proceeding from a private hatred which they have to one another. The
stork, to hinder all this, provides his nest with a sprig of Platanus; for she knows very well that the night owl has a
great hatred to this plant. Wherefore, when he comes to the nest, he smells the sprig; and by this defence, he is freed
from all treachery and cunning wiles of the night owl.
Difesa contra nimici, malefici, venefici (Defence against enemies, malefactors,
and poisoners)
A woman who has an ornament upon her head, put together of these precious stones, as Diamonds and Agates;
having Corals about her neck; and in her hand an onion which is grown; and by her feet shall stand a weasel, which
holds a branch of rue in his mouth. Of the Diamond saith Isidorus, that she is good against all sorceries of the black
art. Of the Agate, saith Barth. Anglicus, that she is good against the hag, and troubles of evil spirits by night; and yet
he adds, that the Eagle brings the Agate in his nest, to keep himself from the venomous bitings of snakes. Plinius
wittnesses that she resists the biting of scorpions. Plinius and Isidorus relate of the Diamond, that she expels all fear,
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