Rare Book Colouring-In at Fryer Library

Use your creativity to bring to life centuries old illustrations of mystical creatures and historical wonders with Fryer Library’s Rare Book Colouring-In!

All materials provided.
 

The Fryer Library
Founded in 1927 in memory of student John Denis Fryer, Fryer Library is one of the foremost collections of Australian literature and includes the manuscript papers of writers including David Malouf, Peter Carey, Thea Astley and Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
Read more about the Fryer Library and inquire about their services here. 

Ilustrations from The Dialoges of Creatures Moralysed, 1535
The illustrations seen in this Rare Book Colouring-In activty are all from the 1535 book The Dialoges of Creatures Moralysed which was translated into English from the 14th century Latin original. This manuscript contains 122 fables, or dialogues, which were intended to educate people in the rights and wrongs of life. Below is some more information about the medieval illustrations features in these colouring-in sheets.
See the Fryer Library's copy of The Dialoges of Creatures Moralysed, 1535 online here.

Illustration	Page Number	Description
	49	In Dialoge 18: Of a precious stone called Achate and a serpent called Cerastes, a very rude horned serpent (who looks a lot like a dragon!) wants to place the stone between the horns to make the serpent more powerful, but the stone refuses to assist someone who is already rude to become ruder.
	59	In Dialoge 23: Of the Locke and the Key, a lock complains that the key is always being pushed into it, but when the lock refuses to work, it is broken and replaced. The lesson here is that stubborn pride can lead us to a sorry end.
	72	In Dialoge 28: Of the Tree Called Abrotanum and the Hare, a hare with a thorn in its foot asks the tree Abrotanum for help, and the tree kindly removes the thorn and heals the hare. Later, the grateful hare waters the tree and helps it grow.
	93	In Dialoge 37: Of the Dolphin and the Eel, a dolphin constantly chases an eel and tries to catch it, but the clever eel lures the dolphin into shallow mud, where a fisherman catches it. Even a weaker enemy should not be underestimated, because overconfidence and poor judgment can lead to defeat.
	114	In Dialoge 45: Of a scaly fish called Regina and a water serpent called Hydrus, a scary, many-headed water serpent asks the fish Regina to marry him, but she refuses because they are not of the same kind and warns that friendship with the wicked brings danger.
	125	In Dialoge 49: Of the Eagle and the Birds, and the Lion and the Beasties, the eagle leads the birds and the lion leads the beasts in a war, and both sides suffer greatly from the conflict. Rulers should be careful of flatterers and bad advisers, because people who only say pleasing things can mislead others into trouble.
	205	In Dialoge 82: Of the Owl that would have lordship of all wild fowls, an owl becomes proud and plots with other night birds to seize power over all the birds, but the eagle and the other birds discover the plan and catch the traitors. The lesson is that pride and ambition lead to disgrace, while humility and good judgment earn lasting respect.
	215	In Dialoge 85: Of the Lion that Fought with an Eagle, a lion and an eagle wage a fierce war until a griffin, trusted by both sides because it belongs to neither, helps them make peace. The lesson is that peacemakers who stay fair and do not take sides can end conflicts and bring people together.
	220	In Dialoge 87: Of the tyrant the Gryphon, a powerful gryphon (or griffin) grows rich by taking everything for himself and refusing to help his neighbours when they are in need. Later, when disaster strikes his own land, no one comes to help him, teaching that those who are selfish and greedy should not expect kindness from others.
	233	In Dialoge 91: Of the Dromedary (camel) and of his labour, a camel is sent on a difficult journey but becomes exhausted because it tries to carry more than it can bear. The story then compares this to Icarus, who ignored his father's warning and flew too close to the sun, falling to his death. It’s important to know and respect your limits.
	240	In Dialoge 93: Of the Beast Called Onocentaurus That Built a Palace, an onocentaur begins building a grand palace but proudly ignores the advice of skilled workers, believing only in his own cleverness. When the palace collapses because it was poorly planned, he loses everything and learns that wise people always listen to good counsel.
	259	In Dialoge 96: Of the Hare and the Lion, a wise hare answers the lion’s questions cleverly and shows good judgment through simple examples, proving that wisdom is more valuable than strength or pride. The lesson is that people should keep studying and listening to wise teachers throughout their lives.
	265	In Dialoge 107: Of the Wolf and the Donkey, a wolf tries to trick and bully a donkey, but through justice and good fortune the wolf is knocked out by a falling tree while the donkey is saved. The story teaches that deceit and harmful schemes often bring punishment upon those who create them.
	277	In Dialoge 111: Of the Horse and the Boar, a poor boar (farmer) is helped by a horse during hard times, but when the boor becomes wealthy again he forgets the kindness and treats the horse badly. After losing his wealth and suffering punishment, he learns that ingratitude brings misery, while even animals such as lions remember their debts.
	283	In Dialoge 113: Of the Stork and the Ram, a ram leaves the safety and friendship of the flock because it is ashamed to stay with the other sheep. Alone in the woods, it is quickly attacked and chased away by a ravenous wolf. Those who abandon good companions expose themselves to danger, while friendship provides protection.
	291	In Dialoge 118: Of the Salamander and the Hydra, a salamander escapes danger by running into a fire, while a hydra (two mythical beasts) escapes by diving into water, each saving itself by using the place where it is strongest. When we’re tempted or troubled, we should turn to the virtues that protect us, just as each creature seeks safety in its natural refuge.
	303	In Dialoge 120: Of many creeping Worms and Beasties, a proud basilisk challenges all creatures to fight, but a humble snail defeats it by staying safely inside its shell and striking only when the time is right. The lesson is that we should not be proud or celebrate the downfall of others, because patience and wisdom can overcome even the strongest enemy.
	37	In Dialoge 15: Of the Sapphire and the Goldsmith, a goldsmith attempts to place the precious stone in a crown for the Emperor, only to be pleaded with by the sapphire to be left “at liberty”. The goldsmith ignores the warning and sets the gem in the royal crown, where it is kept safely and honoured for many years. True safety is worth more than great riches.