Chapter XXIII.
About the Indian worm, the chameleon, the hare, and the phoenix; through which we are instructed in the preparation for the faith of resurrection and death. About the foreknowledge of the vultures; and about the ministry of the locusts in executing divine vengeance, which, however, is devoured by the Seleucid bird.
77. And because we are talking about birds, we do not think it appropriate to include those things that the Indian worm's history tells us about, nor the accounts of those who have been able to see it. It is said that this horned worm first transforms into the form of a cabbage, and then changes its nature into that of a bombylius; however, it does not retain that form and shape, but appears to assume wings made of loose and wider leaves. From these leaves, the soft Seres pluck the wool that they claim for their own specific uses. And the Lord said: What did you go out into the desert to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings (Matt. 11:8). The chameleon is also said to deceive with various species and colors. Certainly, it is well known that hares turn white in winter and return to their own color in summer.
78. I have mentioned these things so that, in order to have faith in the future resurrection, these examples may also provoke us: but in such a way that we speak of that exchange which the Apostle clearly expressed, saying: Indeed, we shall all rise again, but we shall not all be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51). And further he says: And the dead shall rise incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (ibid., 52). Indeed, many (interpreters) without having received the type of change and forms they had not acquired, in no way lacked inappropriate usurpation of undue presumption.
The phoenix bird is also said to live in the regions of Arabia, and it can live up to five hundred years. When it realizes that the end of its life is near, it makes a nest for itself out of frankincense, myrrh, and other fragrances. When the time of its life is complete, it enters the nest and dies. From the juice of its flesh, a worm emerges and gradually grows, and with the passage of a set period of time, it develops the feathers of wings and is restored into the form and shape of a superior bird. Therefore, let this bird teach us to believe in its resurrection, which restores the signs of resurrection to itself without example and without the perception of reason. And certainly, the birds are for the sake of man, not man for the sake of birds. Therefore, let it be an example for us, because the creator and maker of birds does not allow his holy ones to perish forever, who did not allow the unique bird to perish, but desired it to be restored by its own seed. Therefore, who announces to this person the day of death, so that they can make for themselves a burial shroud, fill it with good scents, enter into it, and die there, where the stench of the funeral can be eliminated by the pleasant odors?
80. Make for yourself, O man, a case; stripping off the old man with his actions, put on the new. Your case, your sheath, is Christ, who protects and hides you in the evil day. Do you want to know why the case is protection? My quiver, He says, protected him (Isaiah 49:2). Therefore, your case is faith: fill it with the good scents of your virtues; that is, chastity, mercy, and justice, and in it, enter completely fragrant with the sweet scent of excellent deeds of faith: may this faith-clothed exit of your life be found; so that your bones may become fat, and be like a drunken garden, whose seeds quickly sprout. So know the day of your death, as Paul knew and said: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Thus, he entered his chamber like a good phoenix, which he filled with the sweet scent of martyrdom.
81. I will ask you: however, you respond to me, from where vultures are accustomed to announce the death of men with certain signs, by which indication they have been taught and instructed; so that when a lamentable war is being prepared between opposing armies, many aforementioned birds may follow in a flock, and thereby signify that a multitude of men will fall in battle, becoming prey for vultures? This they seem to conclude with a certain human-like reasoning from the appearance of instruction.
82. Even the locust, by divine grace, penetrates everywhere, and when it has filled the width of each region with its dense swarm, it first strikes without harm, and feeds on the barren land only after receiving the divine signal of permission. Indeed, just as we read in Exodus, it also acts as the celestial executor of righteous vengeance.
This bird, called σελευκὶς in Greek, also devours it, for this is its name in Greek, given as a remedy for the evils that locusts are accustomed to bring: to which the creator gave an insatiable nature of devouring, so that through an unsatisfied feeding it can extinguish the plague that we mentioned above.