The history of brutes, or, A description of living creatures wherein the nature and properties of four-footed beasts are at large described / by Wolfgangus Franzius ... ; and now rendred into English by N.W.

CHAP. VIII. (Book 8)

Of the Panther, or Leopard. (Book 8)

THe Panther, or Libbard, is called in Low-Dutch Lin Panterthier, which is also called in Dutch Panther, the Female is called a Libbard or Panther; it is a Creature which is found in Asia, the Males are as big as a Calf, the Females as big as a Beagle; it is a fierce and crafty Creature, his skin being full of little spots.

1. He is very fierce, and especially aims at a mans eyes, as Basil saith in these words, I have seen and partly heard, as a thing most certain, that the Panther, of all Creatures, is the greatest enemy to man; some have shewed him the picture of a man, which with a great deal of rage he hath tore to pieces, which is an evident argument of his hatred to man; thus we may plainly see what an Enemy Satan is to God, by that enmity which he shews to man, which is his Image; thus far St. Basil.

2. As he is fierce, so he is very swift and nim∣ble; thus Osonins, in his History of Portugal, lib. 9. reports that the King of Portugal sent forth a Pan∣ther which was somewhat tamed, who notwithstan∣ding when he was let loose into the fields or woods, did with a wonderful eagerness destroy several beasts which were in the field; as Harts, &c. A fur∣ther instance of their swiftness we have, Hab. 1. 8.

God saith he would bring the Chaldeans upon them, whose Horses should be swifter than Leopards.

3. It hath a very beautiful skin, spotted with divers Colours, the spots are like an eye, so that his skin looks as if it were full of eyes, the spots are blacker in the Male than in the Female, to which the Prophet alludes, Jer. 13. 23. saying, Can the Leopard change his spots?

4. It is very crafty and subtle, and hath a very deformed head, insomuch that it frightens all o∣ther Creatures (as all other Creatures hate a Cat, or any thing like it) but the rest of her body is very beautiful and comely, which is the reason why she hideth her head between her legs: it is obser∣ved that she is most cruel to any beautiful Crea∣ture; thus Jer. 5. 6. The Wolf of the Evenings shall spoyl them, and the Leopards shall watch over their Cities, every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: For he oftentimes feigneth himself dead, or fast asleep; or elfe she hideth her self that so she may better take other Creatures for her prey.

5. Of all Creatures the Panther hath a most fra∣grant and pleasant smell, by which means he draweth other Creatures to him, and so maketh a prey of them; thus Aristotle, in his Problems, Sect. 23. Quest. 4. enquireth into the reason why a Pan∣ther of all other Creatures should smell the sweetest? Some learned men tell us that it is from the place they are in, Asia being a hot Region, all sweet scents being hot and dry; yet we may very well doubt of this reason, untill we have plainer evi∣dence

of the truth of it.

6. If he hath at any time eaten any poyson, he presently seeketh for some of mans dung, which he with a great deal of eagerness devoureth, and it is a certain remedy for him, speedily curing him.

7. It is observed that they will sleep three whole dayes together, and after he is awake he roareth out, and then it is that his body smelleth the sweet∣est, at which time abundance of Creatures are drawn to him by the scent of his body.

8. Although he be so fierce and cruel a Crea∣ture, yet it is reported of him, that he is not un∣mindful, or ungrateful to any one that doth him a∣ny courtesie: for the truth of which we have the testimony of several Historians, which do affirm that if he meeteth a Passenger that is wandring up and down in a Wood and cannot get out again; if he hath formerly shewed any kindness to his young ones, he will take him and set him in his way. Aelian telleth us that the Leopard, while young, ac∣companieth with the Kid; it is reported that a certain Kid being cut to pieces, and given to the Leopard to eat, he would not touch it, being his old companion. Although men oftentimes do in∣deed devour as it were their neer relations.

9. If at any time he hath touched any poysonous flesh, he immediately dieth. The Panther hath an inveterate hatred against three kinds of Crea∣tures more especially.

The first is the Dragon, whose voice he cannot endure, neither the scent of him.

2. He hath an inveterate hatred against the

Hyaena, and that not only while he is alive, but after he is dead; so he hateth the Leopard, that if he seeth a man that hath only his skin, he will fall upon him and destroy him; it is affirmed by some, that if the skin of a Hyaena and a Leopard be hung up both together, the hairs of the Leo∣pards skin will all fall off. 3. He is a great Ene∣my to the Cock, he cannot endure his flesh, inso∣much that he will not meddle with a man that he smelleth hath eaten of a Cock.

11. The Female is not so cruel as the Male, for she hath a very large heart; the reason why she is so timerous and fearful, if at any time she doth any mischief, it is meerly out of fear.

12. The Female is very leacherous, she not only coupling with the Panther, but with the Lyon also.

13. The Females skin hath a more fragrant and odoriferous smell with it then the skin of a Male.

14. Although this Creature be so valiant and s••btle, yet it is easily intoxicated with wine, which he is very greedy of; therefore it is that the Hunts∣man pours wine into the water that he drinketh first in a morning, and when he is very thirsty, he is drawn with the scent of the wine to the place; after he hath drunk, it flyeth into his head, which maketh him wanton, sporting himself in the fields with other Creatures, until at last they are tired, and fall asleep; so that then they are easily taken: and thus we have shewn the several properties of this Creature, let us now see what is to be learned from them; and although we may compare them

to all cruel men, to Devils, &c. yet we will first take notice what the Scripture saith; thus we find it comparing the Grecian Monarchy (as also Alex∣ander the Great, who was a chief member of it) to the Panther or Leopard; the reasons of which according to Pererius, and others, are these that follow.

1. As the Panther is no bigger than a Beagle, yet is very strong, thus we see that Alexander the Great had but a small Empire, yet with an Army consisting but of 40000 men, conquered the Ea∣stern Countries.

2. As the Leopard is a very swift Creature, thus we read how that Alexander the Great, in the space of twelve years had got the whole Empire to himself, for at twenty years of age he enjoyed his Fathers Kingdom, he dyed when he was but thirty three years of age, at which age men use to have but little of any experience and prudence; but how much he gained in those twelve years, we shall know hereafter more at large: he being once asked how he brought about such great things in so small a time, he answered, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, never delaying nor procrastinating any busi∣ness; but it is much to consider what a fiery bloody Empire he had; therefore Apelles pictured him carrying Lightening in his hand, his Mother Olym∣pias when she was with Child dreamed that it light∣ned into her womb, and that it caused a great flame. Iu seventeen dayes time he built that noble City of Alexandria, seated upon the River Tanais. In three fights he conquered all Asia, and built

seventy Cities, and as Hieronymus saith well, that he was rather famous for his victories than his war, thus we read in the Prophet Daniel, who speak∣ing of the Leopard, chap. 7. v. 6. saith, th•••• dominion was given to it; for when he came to Je∣rusalem and met the High-Priest there, he fell on his knees and worshipped him, being asked the reason why he would so debase himself, he answer∣ed, that he did not Worship the man, but God; for the night before God did appear to him in the shape of a High-Priest, and promised him several Victories.

3. As the Leopard hunteth all living Creatures, and maketh a prey of them, so the Dominion of Alexander was very large, as the Prophet Daniel saith, that he had dominion over the whole Earth; thus 1 Machabees, it is said that he went even to the ends of the Earth, for he had overcome the greatest part of Europe. All Asia, Macedonia, Armenia, Ilerica, Albania, Cappadocia, Syria, Egypt, Mount Taurus, Caucasus, Media, Persia, India, and indeed, all the Eastern Countries in general; several Kings being subject to him; and he had gone further, had not his Army mutynyed; as the learned have observed out of Q. Curtius; coming from the East to Babylon, he found there the Ambassadors from several Nations, not only from those which he had conquered, but from those which he had not conquered; as out of Africa, Spain, France, Italy, and also from the Romans themselves, and he had conquered the whole Me∣diterranian, and the rest, had he lived a little lon∣ger.

4. As the Leopard hath a most sweet and fra∣grant smell, thus Alexander was not only civil and courteous to all, and happy and successful in all he undertook, but as Plutarch affirmeth, he had a sweet smell came from his Body, he being of a hot and moist temper; we will not now speak any thing of his converting the Barbarous Nations, how he instructed them how they ought to cherish and nourish their Parents, and not to destroy them, as some of them did, he also taught them to ab∣stain from incest, it being common among them to lye with their own Mothers. From his loyns came four Kings, viz. Antipater in Macedonia, Antigonus in Asia, Seleucus in Syria, and Ptolome•• in Egypt.

5. As the Leopard is a fierce and cruel Creature, thus Alexander, he overcame and destroyed all his Enemies, he never sat down before a City, but he took it; although he hath fought with the Ene∣my when they have been Armed, and his Souldi∣ers unarmed, yet he got the Victory; many times he hath fought alone himself, and scaled the walls himself.

6. As this is a most crafty subtle Creature, so Alexander by his policy overcame many wise and grave Seniors, he had a quick and ready wit, he having an extream love to all learned men.

7. As the Leopard is full of spots, but beautiful ones, so there were in Alexander many vertues to∣gether, for he was like Achilles, and like Aga∣memnon for chastity, for piety like Diomede, and like Cyrus for Magnanimity, and for a quick wit

like Themistocles, and for learning like his Father; but whatsoever we have said of him, or can say of him, is less than he deserveth.

8. As the Leopard is a furious Creature, and cannot be taken but by wine; thus Alexander is said to have loved wine extraordinarily, and when he was drunk he was guilty of many enormous crimes; he often drunk so much that he slept three dayes together; he would often appoint drinking matches, giving large rewards to them that over∣came; when he was drunk he set that famous City Persepolis on fire, and killed his dear friend Clitus when he was in drink, at which he grieved so much, that it had almost killed him; he once made a feast, to which he invited 9000. guests, and to e∣very one he gave a golden plate; so that he who once overcame the whole world, and was most chast and continent, at last could not overcome his voluptuousness and gluttony. Q. Curtius, in his tenth Book, goeth about to excuse him for this; we may also learn from what we have read of this beast, to apply them to several other noble men, who being destitute of divine grace, although at first were famous for many noble and Heroick acti∣ons, and would stick at no dangers, yet at last lost all this, and came to sad and tragical ends. Hercu∣les was in some things very like to a Leopard, de∣stroying all Thieves and Robbers, at last being o∣vercome with his own lust and passions, he gave himself wholly up to Women, one of which knock∣ed him on the head with a Slipper; thus Themisto∣cles, who overcame all the Persians, and kept all

Greece under him, yet in his old age he was so leacherous, that he was drawn into the Market∣place by four Women instead of Mules; moreo∣ver now I will compare this Leopard to the Devil, as St. Basil did, for

1. As the Leopard is so crafty and subtle, so we cannot express the malice and subtilty of this com∣mon enemy.

2. Thus the Devil (as the Leopard hath a most fragrant scent) sometimes transformeth himself into an Angel of light; and as the Leopard hideth himself, feigning himself to be dead, or asleep, the easier to ensnare his prey; so the Devil often∣times covereth his temptations with fallacies and deceits, the better to take the simple: and as the Leopard with a great deal of eagerness leapeth up∣on his prey, so the Devil is never sluggish nor slothful in tempting of us, but he doth (as he is a roaring Lyon) snatch away the wicked; finally, as the Leopard never changeth his spots, so he will not leave off deceiving mankind; nay, by so many years experience as he hath had, he is much crafti∣er, and now in these later ages he is more fierce and cruel, by how much the nearer he seeth his Judgment coming; and therefore we ought alwayes to implore the Son of God that he would restrain and confound this cruel Creature; but so much for the Leopard.