Here followeth the Life of S. Leonard, and first of his name.

Leonard is as much to say as the odour of the people. And it is said of leos, that is, people, and of nardus, that is, a herb sweet smelling, for by the odour of good fame he drew the people to him, and by the odour of good renomee. Or Leonard may be said as gathering high things. Or it is said of lion. The lion hath in himself four things. The first is force or strength, and as Isidore saith, it is in the breast and in the head. And so the blessed Leonard had strength in his breast by the refraining of evil thoughts, in the head by the contemplation of sovereign things. Secondly, the lion hath subtlety in two things, for he hath his eyes open when he sleepeth, and defaceth his traces when he fleeth. And thus Leonard waked by labour of good works, and in waking he sleepeth by rest of contemplation, and defaceth in himself the trace of all worldly affection. Thirdly, the lion hath might in his voice, for by his voice he raiseth the third day his whelp that is dead born, and maketh all other beasts by him to be in peace and rest. And in like wise Leonard raiseth many that were dead in sin, and many that lied bestially he fixed them in good works and profitable. Fourthly, the lion hath dread in his heart after that Isidore saith: He doubteth two things, that is, the noise of wheels of chariots or carts, and fire burning. In like wise Leonard doubted, and in doubting he eschewed all the noise of the world, and therefore he fled into the desert. And he eschewed the fire of covetise, and therefore he refused the treasures that were offered him