The text discusses how human emotions and deficiencies are often depicted using animal characteristics. This comparison is easy to understand because animal traits are well-known, and their expressions can convey these characteristics clearly. The author suggests that Nature has imprinted these traits in a recognizable way, allowing for proper assessment, aligning with the notion that Creation reflects innate nature.
Observation of Facial Features, Offspring, and
Facial features are widely known; therefore, in contemplation, they can easily engage anyone's thoughts.
We are often accustomed to depict the passions of humans, particularly as we speak of deficiencies, through the traits and inclinations of animals. Thus, one often speaks of a "Dog-like Person," a greedy dog, a dog's face, a rogue, a bull's head, a dumb ox, a sluggish cow, a cunning fox, a dull piglet, a lion, and a filthy pig, a buffalo, a clever monkey, a monkey or a boorish person, a hungry wolf, a greedy wolf, an innocent dove, a sheep's head, a dull or bloody owl, a stubborn goat, a crying goat, a fierce lion, a dumb calf, a starling, and such are known in common speech. These descriptive names are not only easily understood because the characteristics of most animals are familiar to us, but also mainly because many of these characteristics are visibly and entirely apparent in their facial expressions to those who study physiognomy. It does not seem obscure to us that Nature has impressed upon each creature a tendency according to its nature, which clearly reveals itself to us, so that we can judge them properly. In fact, we believe this is also Moses' view when he says that the Creator made everything according to its nature. Since God himself in his Word describes many vices and virtues of humans through the traits...
Translation Notes
- "Tronien" refers to facial features or expressions, often studied in physiognomy (the supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics).