Crane.) 52 {March 16, 
Cyril’s apologues will be the hest illustration of his peculiarities. We have 
selected one of the shortest, which is introduced by the sentence, Uni dilec- 
tissimo tantum, cum necesse fuerit, pectus erede. The Raven and the Dove, 
Book I, cap. 20. ‘ While a raven was ruminating in his mind to whom he 
could occasionally communicate the secret of his heart, a dove beholding 
him thinking these things, approached him, saying: ‘What art thou think- 
ing, brother, in such deep meditation? To whom he replied: ‘ Verily, I am 
now thinking that infinite is the number of fools and small indeed that of 
the wise, for the thought of the heart, itself is most secret. For who reveals 
What, therefore, art thou, that I may 
give and entrust to thee my heart so precious to me, my most hidden life, 
my very inmost substance, the most gecret root of my being? My secret is 
mine, because my heart is mine!’ Then the dove, having heard these 
things, added: ‘I know, indeed, that thouart cunning by nature. ‘Where- 
fore I ask thee, brother, to instruct me, to how many and to whom, if it be 
necessary, I may safely entrust my heart at times.’ He soon consenting, 
willingly said: ‘Forsooth, either to one or to none, for perfect faith is sel- 
dom found. This, however, is made a very precious vase, for in it the heart 
is advantageously preserved, because neither of itself is it ever destoyed, 
nor broken by the sword or other thing, nor is its wonderful solidity trans- 
fixed by the most subtle sting of heat. For nature hides the vein of gold 
in the secret places of the earth, and the plant strikes its quickening root 
deep in the solid ground, Thus the most precious marrow is hidden in the 
bones, and God has placed the ice-like gem of sight under the hemispheres 
of seven veils. No wonder then that the mouth of the wise is hidden in 
since this is to him most dear, that thus it may be concealed 
art of the 
what he thinks, shows his heart. 
his heart, 
and, possessed by the heart, hidden in the ark of life, But the he 
foolis in his mouth, because the mouth rules his heart, and having an open 
breast despising the heart, it is easily cast forth by a slight breath, where- 
fore he quickly perishes, since for nothing he casts away the vein of life.’ 
After she had diligently noted these things, the dove thus instructed de- 
parted.’’ 
The Speculum Saptentiae, as we have alre 
the history of medieval fiction or the diffusion of popular tales. Scarcely 
a thing to which the adjective fabulous will apply, is to be found in the 
work. Grasse mentions only the story of Gyges (iii, 4), the Indian gold 
mountains (iii, 10), and the death of the viper (iii, 26; iv, 8, 10), which is 
found in all the bestiaires.* Cyril does not seem to be acquainted with 
Aesop, although the fourth chapter of the first book, De cicada et formica 
is Esopian. There are also some fox fables (ec. g. i, 24) which resemble 
some of the episodes of the Roman du Renart, and a number of the fables 
a certain similarity to those in well-known collections.+ 
ady said, is of little value for 
have 
* See, for example, Dr, G. Heider, Physiologus, Wien, 1851, p. 28, and the Bestiaire 
de Gervaise in the Romania, i, p. 420, et seq., verse 501, 
1 references, p. 201, are full of errors: La Fontaine i, 1, = Oyril 1, 4 ; 
+ Greesse 
5 (the fox praises the singing of the cock, who 
i, 20 = fi, 14 (ep. ili, 13); 1, 2= Hi, 1 
