THE SCENE: The short passage about a woman who loves – and makes love to – a full-grown lion is surprisingly non-judgemental.
THE TEXT: I saw in Paris a lion which a cardinal had given when it was a whelp to Philip the son of Louis, then a boy. This lion used to make beastly love to a foolish woman called Joanna. Sometimes when he escaped from his cage and was in such fierce anger that no one would dare to go near him, they would send for Johanna who would calm his anger and great rage immediately. Soothing him with a woman’s tricks, she led him wherever he wanted and changed all his fury immediately into love.
– The History and Topography of Ireland, Gerald of Wales, 12th Century AD
