of Kaydara the magnificent,
is an animal that changes color at will;
it has its belly filled with help from its slimy tongue.
This allows it not to have to chase its prey.
It tries to snatch it and when it can
it pulls its tongue back in, without the slightest movement.
It never puts all its feet on the ground at once,
but puts down one after the next, without hurrying.
To look around, it needs not turn.
It tips its head and rolls its eye
that turns in all directions in its socket;
but its body is still as a wall.
Its back rises up in a crest
and its tail can grab and hold things forceably.
Certain traits of the chameleon, Hammadi,
have these diurnal and nocturnal meanings:
changing color, in the diurnal sense, means
that one is sociable and pleasant,
full of tact, patiently willing to live and let live
and able to adapt to every circumstance
and accept it as is, as well as its origin;
one is sociable and accepting others' customs.
In the nocturnal sense, this changes to hypocrisy,
lack of constancy, and unstable change,
to the point of being impossible to be with,
and having no personality or dignity.
The rank of the chameleon is called
royal vestibule; in fact anything can happen there.
Some come to inflict evil on their species.
Some come to beg, others are there to offer what they may.
Some come to lie, others come from having been lied to.
Having the belly filled by a slimy tongue
means, diurnally, knowing how to talk
so as to convince the person one is talking to;
while pulling back the tongue
means knowing how to get around impasses.
“As for the demeanor of the chameleon, it indicates that
the knowledgeable, wise person never proceeds with his head lowered,