NEW! SC - beavers

[Laura C. Minnick]

"James F. Johnson" wrote:
 
> Hey, Sweetie, are any of those hunters in the Bestiaries exclaiming:
> 
> "Greats Balls o' Fur!"
> 
> :->

Um, no, but one hunter, one of four in a scene in a bestiary in the
British Library (MS Harley 4751, f.9v) has an expression on his face
that can only be interpreted as "But these [which he is holding in his
hand] are bigger than mine!"

I cam across an interesting note that is somewhat in opposition to the
traditional use of the beaver as an invitation to cast off the worldly
and fleshly lust, etc. The 'Give it up' for God and holiness is stood on
its head by Richard of Fournival in the late 13th century. Apparently in
his _Bestiaire d'Amour_ (Bestiary of Love), which is a thoroughly
secular love-themed text, Fournival exhorts the (female) object of his
desire to emulate the beaver by giving up her heart to him- which
follows of course the classic courtly euphemism for virginity. Instead
of 'giving it up' to resist temptation as the monks, he wants his
beloved to 'give it up' in surrender... 

Hard to say which one has the most amusement potential for this gang...

'Lainie