Italian Animal Texts
There are several medieval animal texts that were produced in Italy by Italian authors. In some cases the author is known. These texts originated in a dialect of Italian (Tuscan, Umbrian, Venetian), but most were later translated into other languages. Multiple manuscripts and early printed editions exist of most of these texts.
L'Acerba etas by Cecco d’Ascoli
Cecco d'Ascoli (1257-1327) is the popular name of Francesco degli Stabili (sometimes given as Francesco degli Stabili Cichus), an Italian encyclopaedist, physician and poet. He devoted himself to the study of mathematics and astrology. The book by which he achieved his fame was the Acerba, a treatise on the natural science of his time, including the order and influences of the heavens, the characteristics and properties of animals and precious stones, the causes of phenomena such as meteors and earthquakes, and of commonplace moral philosophy.
Bestiario moralizzato di Gubbio
The Bestiario moralizzato di Gubbio is a moralized 14th or 15th century bestiary in verse, in the Umbrian dialect of Italian. The author is unknown. The Gubbio in the title refers to a town of that name in central Italy, where the text was probably written and where the manuscript was held until the late 19th century.
The fourteenth century Fiore di virtù (Flower of virtue) is a treatise on the virtues and vices from a Christian perspective, exemplified by animal stories and supported with quotes from many classical and Christian authorities. It has been attributed to Tommaso Gozzadini, Ghuidotto da Bologna, and others. The original Italian text was translated into French, Spanish, German. Catalan and Croatian. It was very popular in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries: There are at least 80 surviving manuscripts containing the text, and it was printed in over 65 editions starting in the fifteenth century.
The Tuscan Bestiary, written in the Tuscan dialect of Italian, is fourteenth century compendium of moralized animal lore. It is similar to the Latin bestiaries, but adds a collection of fables. The authors or compilers of the text are unknown.
