Elephant

When the female elephant is ready to give birth she goes into water to do so, because her enemy the dragon would otherwise kill her child. Richard says water signifies foresight, and that anyone "giving birth" to love does not need to fear the dragon. The lady's response to the story of the elephant and dragon is on folio 243v. [From the Bestiaire d'amour]

Bibliothèque Nationale de France Digitized Manuscripts

Manuscript

Bestiaire d'amours of Richard de Fournival