John Trapp on Job 39:13

Verſe 13. Gaveſt thou the goodly wings unto the Peacock?] Alam exultandam, the wings and tail to the Peacock, wherein he ſo prideth himſelf and taketh ſuch pleaſure, being all in changeable colours, ſo are ſome great promiſers; (the Peacock here hath his name from his loud and ſhrill voice) as often changed as moved. A beautiful bird it is, and pre[illegible: 1 letter]iouſly clothed by God. They were wont to ſay here,Plin. l. 1[illegible: 1 letter]. c. 2[illegible: 1 letter]. That Peacocks, Hops, and Hereſie, came firſt into England in one and the ſame ſhip. They ſay, he moſt of all ſpreads his fair tail, when he is moſt beheld by men, and praiſed. His feathers are good for little elſe but only to pleaſe children. But that he pulleth down his fair plumes, and ſetteth up his harſh Note, when he looketh down upon his ill-favoured feet, is an old ſaid ſaw; let them believe it that liſt.

Or wings and feathers unto the Oſtrich?] And ſo by a Synecdoche, to all other fowles of the air: in the admirable variety of whoſe colours, tunes, and taſtes, 1 Cor. 15.39. much of Gods power, and wiſdom, yea, of his goodneſſe alſo may be ſeen: and therefore the loſſe of theſe creatures (good for food, for phyſick, and for delight, as the companions of our lives) is threatned as a judgement, Jer. 4.25. & 9.10. Some for the Oſtrich render the Stork, and ſome a Night-bird of an ill note: But the following deſcription agreeth beſt with the Buſtard or Oſtrich, which is between a beaſt and a fowle; having ſo thin feathers, and ſo heavie a body, that he cannot flye; but only lifteth up his wings, and runneth very ſwiftly. Elian ſaith that he is almoſt as big as a Camel, being therefore called Struthi[illegible: 1 letter]-camelus. Pliny ſaith that he is higher than an horſe-man on horſe-back, and can out-run him: but is ſo fooliſh, that being purſued, if he can hide his head onely in ſome hole, or thicker, and can ſee no body; he thinks himſelf ſafe, and that no body ſeeth him;Cum interim tot[illegible: 1 letter] corporis mo[illegible: 1 letter]e promineas. though his great bulk be all in ſight. Other effects of his folly, follow in the next words.