Beasts of all sorts

Of Beasts of all sorts. · Book 2, encoded section 75 · Text transcription

Original source (English)

A Sheep signifieth advancement, and obtaining of goods, wherefore it is good to dreame you have many of them, or see them of others and feed them: Especially to those which desire to handle Government and charge of people, and those which have attained thereto already: it is also good for Sophisters, Pedaunts, and Schoole-masters. The Ramme signifieth the Master, or the Prince and King. It is good to dreame to be lifted on high surely, and by plain and easie places, especially for Orators, Atorneys, Proctors, and all those which have desire to heap up gold and silver, by his labour. Goats signifie no good but are worse to Navigators. Asses bearing charge, strong, and obedient, are good for friendship and company, and signifie the Wife, companion, or friend; being not proud above their estate, or fierce, but gentle, and very obedient, and they are also good in all affairs and enterprises. Mules are good for al works, especially to husbandry, only they crosse weddings and procreations. If the Asses or Mules are hot or mad, and do any hurt, or be savage, it argueth deceit, by some of our owne house, or subjects. Mules also signifye sicknesse, as I have known by experience. Oxen in labour are good for all, but in a heard they are trouble divulgation, and perill: the Bul signifies any great personage, especially if they threaten and pursue you; to Mariners it is tempest, and if he wound you, it is hurt and shipwrack, by some inconvenience which shal fall from the top of the Mast, as I have often experienced, and it daily often falls out. Thus much shall suffice concerning domesticall and familiar Beasts. Now let us speake of Wilde and Savage Beastes. To sée a gentle, familiar and fawning Lyon, signifyes good, and profit: by the King to a man of warre: by the sentence of the Judges to the Wrestler or Fencer: by the Magistrate to the Mechanick, and by the Master to the servant. For the Lyon represents these persons for his force and might; but if he be hot, and would hurt, it signifies fear and sicknesse, and threatning by such persons, and danger of fire: to sée, or have the forehead of a Lyon, is good for all; and most often the begetting of a manchild: the Lionnesse signifieth as the Lyon, only lesse goods, and lesse hurts, and not by men, but by women. I have also known by this dreame of a Lyonnesse scaring or byting, rich personages have falne into crimes and accusations: the Leopard signifieth (both the man and the woman) wicked and deceitfull, by reason of the diversity of colours: also people of a strange Countrey, sicknesse, exceeding feare, and sore eyes: the she Beare signifyeth the Wife, sicknesse, and return from a strange Country: the Elephant seen in a dreame, is feare and danger. I have often observed and knowne, that the Elephant affrighting one, signified sicknesse: and catching and killing one, signifyed death. I knew in Italy a rich and healthful woman, which dreamt that she was mounted upon an Elephant, and shortly after dyed. You must understand that every wilde beast generally representeth our enemies, and therfore it is alwayes better to overcome them then to be overcome of them: the Wolfe signifieth the yeare, and a cruell Enemie hunting plainly against us. The Foxe signifieth the same that the Wolfe, and an Enemy hunting secretly, by surprising and spying; and most often deceit by a woman: the Ape signifyes a Malefactour and deceiver: the Wilde Bore signifyeth Raine and Tempest to those which travaile, and to such as pleade a strong Adversarie, to Plowmen sterilitie, and to him which marrieth, a rude and angry Wife: to ships it signifies the governance and course, and in land journeyes, the way easie or hard to hit, according to the disposition of the heart. In other places it signi yes, that there are fugitives and deceivers, false and perjured Persons, fearfull, and unassured. One may judge of every other Beast, according to the former manner, and by those to whom they appertaine. And you must remember, that domesticall Beasts whichshew themselves fierce and savage, signifye ill: and contrariwise cruell and savage Beasts, which in your dreame represent themselves gentle, and domesticall, signifye good. Besides they signifye exceeding profit if they speake our language, especially if they say any good thing or joyfull; and all which they speake, commonly fals out.