Vespertilio.

The bat.

Vespere quae tantum volitat, quae lumine lusca est,
Quae cum alias [=alas] gestet, caetera muris habet.
Ad res diversas trahitur, mala nomina primum
Signat: quae latitant, iudiciumque timent.
  Link to an image of this page  [Q6v f113v]Inde & philosophos, qui dum coelestia quaerunt,
Calligant oculis, falsaque sola vident.
Tandem & versutos, cùm clàm sectentur utrunque,
Acquirunt neutra qui sibi parte fidat [=fidem] .

The creature that flies only in the evening, that has poor sight, that is endowed with wings, but has other features belonging to a mouse, is used to represent various things. First it indicates persons of bad standing who lie low and fear being called to account. Next philosophers, who, while they search the heavens, develop blurred vision and only see what is false. Lastly, wily men, who secretly court both parties, but do not win trust on either side.

Philautia.

Self-satisfaction.

Quòd nimium tua sorma [=forma] tibi Narcisse placebat,
In florem, & noti est versa stuporis olus.[1]
Ingenii est marcor, cladesque philautia, doctos
Quae pessum plures datque deditque viros,
Qui veterum abiecta methodo, nova dogmata quaerunt
Nilque suas praeter tradere phantasias.

Because your beauty gave you too much satisfaction, Narcissus, it was turned both into a flower and into a plant of acknowledged insensibility. Self-satisfaction is the rot and destruction of the mind. Learned men in plenty it has ruined, and ruins still, men who cast off the method of teachers of old and aim to pass on new doctrines, nothing more than their own imaginings.