Devon & Cornwall notes & queries . classical 4iomo-centaur, and is half man andhalf ass. A centaur with the tail of an ass appears atRouen, but as a rule it assumes the classical form, half man,half horse, and it is so at Exeter. There are two examples, male and female passion for symmetry led to the practice of representingall sorts of creatures as of both sexes. The interpretations of the centaur are rather contradictory ;this is not unusual in bestiaries. The writers want to drawso many morals, and are so ingenious in finding analogies,that they do not perceive incongruitie
Devon & Cornwall notes & queries . classical 4iomo-centaur, and is half man andhalf ass. A centaur with the tail of an ass appears atRouen, but as a rule it assumes the classical form, half man,half horse, and it is so at Exeter. There are two examples, male and female passion for symmetry led to the practice of representingall sorts of creatures as of both sexes. The interpretations of the centaur are rather contradictory ;this is not unusual in bestiaries. The writers want to drawso many morals, and are so ingenious in finding analogies,that they do not perceive incongruities, and lose themselvesin the bewildering maze of their own dissertations. In itsmain features the centaur symbolizes the contest betweenthe flesh and the spirit. The bestiaries mention that it is foundin India, and is constantly engaged in contest with savagemen, dragons, and other fearsome beasts. According to thisreading the centaur represents the soul, which is peaceableand dislikes war, loving his Creator. If the centaur is 20. THE MISERICORDS OF EXETER CATHEDRAL. fighting with a lion or dragon, it represents the soul whichbattles with the flesh and overcomes it. This centaur is a virtuous creature. His arrow haspierced the neck of a dog on the terminal. Following theHebrew misconception of the dog, in medieval times it wasregarded as an incarnation of the evil principle, in conformitywith the assertion For without are dogs (Revelation xxii,15), and many other derogatory allusions in the Scriptures. This is the only case wherein the terminal is connected inany way with the main subject. Female Centaur (No 9). But there is another side to the centaurs character. Hesymbolizes a deceitful man or a traitor ; one who seems in frontto be good, but is evil behind. Hugo de Saint Victoire sayscentaurs are like double-tongued men, and quotes the passagein II. Tim. iii., 5, having a form of godliness, but denying thepower thereof. I hesitate to suggest that the female centauris meant
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