第3章

Toearth,then,letusassignthecubicalform;forearthisthe

mostimmoveableofthefourandthemostplasticofallbodies,and

thatwhichhasthemoststablebasesmustofnecessitybeofsucha

nature。Now,ofthetriangleswhichweassumedatfirst,thatwhich

hastwoequalsidesisbynaturemorefirmlybasedthanthatwhichhas

unequalsides;andofthecompoundfigureswhichareformedoutof

either,theplaneequilateralquadranglehasnecessarily,amore

stablebasisthantheequilateraltriangle,bothinthewholeandin

theparts。Wherefore,inassigningthisfiguretoearth,weadhere

toprobability;andtowaterweassignthatoneoftheremainingforms

whichistheleastmoveable;andthemostmoveableofthemtofire;

andtoairthatwhichisintermediate。Alsoweassignthesmallest

bodytofire,andthegreatesttowater,andtheintermediatein

sizetoair;and,again,theacutestbodytofire,andthenextin

acutenessto,air,andthethirdtowater。Ofalltheseelements,that

whichhasthefewestbasesmustnecessarilybethemostmoveable,

foritmustbetheacutestandmostpenetratingineveryway,andalso

thelightestasbeingcomposedofthesmallestnumberofsimilar

particles:andthesecondbodyhassimilarpropertiesinasecond

degree,andthethirdbodyinthethirddegree。Letitbeagreed,

then,bothaccordingtostrictreasonandaccordingtoprobability,

thatthepyramidisthesolidwhichistheoriginalelementandseed

offire;andletusassigntheelementwhichwasnextintheorder

ofgenerationtoair,andthethirdtowater。Wemustimagineall

thesetobesosmallthatnosingleparticleofanyofthefour

kindsisseenbyusonaccountoftheirsmallness:butwhenmanyof

themarecollectedtogethertheiraggregatesareseen。Andthe

ratiosoftheirnumbers,motions,andotherproperties,everywhere

God,asfarasnecessityallowedorgaveconsent,hasexactly

perfected,andharmonisedindueproportion。

Fromallthatwehavejustbeensayingabouttheelementsor

kinds,themostprobableconclusionisasfollows:—earth,whenmeeting

withfireanddissolvedbyitssharpness,whetherthedissolutiontake

placeinthefireitselforperhapsinsomemassofairorwater,is

bornehitherandthither,untilitsparts,meetingtogetherand

mutuallyharmonising,againbecomeearth;fortheycannevertake

anyotherform。Butwater,whendividedbyfireorbyair,on

reforming,maybecomeonepartfireandtwopartsair;andasingle

volumeofairdividedbecomestwooffire。Again,whenasmallbodyof

fireiscontainedinalargerbodyofairorwaterorearth,and

botharemoving,andthefirestrugglingisovercomeandbrokenup,

thentwovolumesoffireformonevolumeofair;andwhenairis

overcomeandcutupintosmallpieces,twoandahalfpartsofairare

condensedintoonepartofwater。Letusconsiderthematterin

anotherway。Whenoneoftheotherelementsisfasteneduponby

fire,andiscutbythesharpnessofitsanglesandsides,it

coalesceswiththefire,andthenceasestobecutbythemanylonger。

Fornoelementwhichisoneandthesamewithitselfcanbechangedby

orchangeanotherofthesamekindandinthesamestate。Butso

longasintheprocessoftransitiontheweakerisfightingagainst

thestronger,thedissolutioncontinues。Again,whenafewsmall

particles,enclosedinmanylargerones,areinprocessof

decompositionandextinction,theyonlyceasefromtheirtendencyto

extinctionwhentheyconsenttopassintotheconqueringnature,and

firebecomesairandairwater。Butifbodiesofanotherkindgoand

attackthem[i。e。thesmallparticles],thelattercontinuetobe

dissolveduntil,beingcompletelyforcedbackanddispersed,theymake

theirescapetotheirownkindred,orelse,beingovercomeand

assimilatedtotheconqueringpower,theyremainwheretheyareand

dwellwiththeirvictors,andfrombeingmanybecomeone。Andowingto

theseaffections,allthingsarechangingtheirplace,forbythe

motionofthereceivingvesselthebulkofeachclassisdistributed

intoitsproperplace;butthosethingswhichbecomeunlikethemselves

andlikeotherthings,arehurriedbytheshakingintotheplaceof

thethingstowhichtheygrowlike。

Nowallunmixedandprimarybodiesareproducedbysuchcausesas

these。Astothesubordinatespecieswhichareincludedinthegreater

kinds,theyaretobeattributedtothevarietiesinthestructure

ofthetwooriginaltriangles。Foreitherstructuredidnotoriginally

producethetriangleofonesizeonly,butsomelargerandsome

smaller,andthereareasmanysizesastherearespeciesofthe

fourelements。Hencewhentheyaremingledwiththemselvesandwith

oneanotherthereisanendlessvarietyofthem,whichthosewhowould

arriveattheprobabletruthofnatureoughtdulytoconsider。

Unlessapersoncomestoanunderstandingaboutthenatureand

conditionsofrestandmotion,hewillmeetwithmanydifficulties

inthediscussionwhichfollows。Somethinghasbeensaidofthis

matteralready,andsomethingmoreremainstobesaid,whichis,

thatmotionneverexistsinwhatisuniform。Fortoconceivethat

anythingcanbemovedwithoutamoverishardorindeedimpossible,

andequallyimpossibletoconceivethattherecanbeamoverunless

therebesomethingwhichcanbemoved—motioncannotexistwhereeither

ofthesearewanting,andforthesetobeuniformisimpossible;

whereforewemustassignresttouniformityandmotiontothewant

ofuniformity。Nowinequalityisthecauseofthenaturewhichis

wantinginuniformity;andofthiswehavealreadydescribedthe

origin。Buttherestillremainsthefurtherpoint—whythingswhen

dividedaftertheirkindsdonotceasetopassthroughoneanotherand

tochangetheirplace—whichwewillnowproceedtoexplain。Inthe

revolutionoftheuniversearecomprehendedallthefourelements,and

thisbeingcircularandhavingatendencytocometogether,compresses

everythingandwillnotallowanyplacetobeleftvoid。Wherefore,

also,fireaboveallthingspenetrateseverywhere,andairnext,as

beingnextinrarityoftheelements;andthetwootherelementsin

likemannerpenetrateaccordingtotheirdegreesofrarity。For

thosethingswhicharecomposedofthelargestparticleshavethe

largestvoidleftintheircompositions,andthosewhichare

composedofthesmallestparticleshavetheleast。Andthecontraction

causedbythecompressionthruststhesmallerparticlesintothe

intersticesofthelarger。Andthus,whenthesmallpartsareplaced

sidebysidewiththelarger,andthelesserdividethegreaterand

thegreaterunitethelesser,alltheelementsareborneupanddown

andhitherandthithertowardstheirownplaces;forthechangeinthe

sizeofeachchangesitspositioninspace。Andthesecauses

generateaninequalitywhichisalwaysmaintained,andis

continuallycreatingaperpetualmotionoftheelementsinalltime。

Inthenextplacewehavetoconsiderthattherearediverskindsof

fire。Thereare,forexample,first,flame;andsecondly,those

emanationsofflamewhichdonotburnbutonlygivelighttotheeyes;

thirdly,theremainsoffire,whichareseeninred—hotembersafter

theflamehasbeenextinguished。Therearesimilardifferencesin

theair;ofwhichthebrightestpartiscalledtheaether,andthe

mostturbidsortmistanddarkness;andtherearevariousother

namelesskindswhicharisefromtheinequalityofthetriangles。

Water,again,admitsinthefirstplaceofadivisionintotwo

kinds;theoneliquidandtheotherfusile。Theliquidkindis

composedofthesmallandunequalparticlesofwater;andmovesitself

andismovedbyotherbodiesowingtothewantofuniformityandthe

shapeofitsparticles;whereasthefusilekind,beingformedoflarge

anduniformparticles,ismorestablethantheother,andisheavyand

compactbyreasonofitsuniformity。Butwhenfiregetsinand

dissolvestheparticlesanddestroystheuniformity,ithasgreater

mobility,andbecomingfluidisthrustforthbytheneighbouringair

andspreadsupontheearth;andthisdissolutionofthesolidmasses

iscalledmelting,andtheirspreadingoutupontheearthflowing。

Again,whenthefiregoesoutofthefusilesubstance,itdoesnot

passintovacuum,butintotheneighbouringair;andtheairwhich

isdisplacedforcestogethertheliquidandstillmoveablemassinto

theplacewhichwasoccupiedbythefire,andunitesitwithitself。

Thuscompressedthemassresumesitsequability,andisagainatunity

withitself,becausethefirewhichwastheauthoroftheinequality

hasretreated;andthisdepartureofthefireiscalledcooling,and

thecomingtogetherwhichfollowsuponitistermedcongealment。Of

allthekindstermedfusile,thatwhichisthedensestandisformed

outofthefinestandmostuniformpartsisthatmostprecious

possessioncalledgold,whichishardenedbyfiltrationthrough

rock;thisisuniqueinkind,andhasbothaglitteringandayellow

colour。Ashootofgold,whichissodenseastobeveryhard,and

takesablackcolour,istermedadamant。Thereisalsoanotherkind

whichhaspartsnearlylikegold,andofwhichthereareseveral

species;itisdenserthangold,anditcontainsasmallandfine

portionofearth,andisthereforeharder,yetalsolighterbecauseof

thegreatintersticeswhichithaswithinitself;andthis

substance,whichisoneofthebrightanddenserkindsofwater,

whensolidifiediscalledcopper。Thereisanalloyofearthmingled

withit,which,whenthetwopartsgrowoldandaredisunited,shows

itselfseparatelyandiscalledrust。Theremainingphenomenaofthe

samekindtherewillbenodifficultyinreasoningoutbythemethod

ofprobabilities。Amanmaysometimessetasidemeditationsabout

eternalthings,andforrecreationturntoconsiderthetruthsof

generationwhichareprobableonly;hewillthusgainapleasurenot

toberepentedof,andsecureforhimselfwhilehelivesawiseand

moderatepastime。Letusgrantourselvesthisindulgence,andgo

throughtheprobabilitiesrelatingtothesamesubjectswhichfollow

nextinorder。

Waterwhichismingledwithfire,somuchasisfineandliquid

(beingsocalledbyreasonofitsmotionandthewayinwhichitrolls

alongtheground),andsoft,becauseitsbasesgivewayareless

stablethanthoseofearth,whenseparatedfromfireandairand

isolated,becomesmoreuniform,andbytheirretirementis

compressedintoitself;andifthecondensationbeverygreat,the

waterabovetheearthbecomeshail,butontheearth,ice;andthat

whichiscongealedinalessdegreeandisonlyhalfsolid,whenabove

theearthiscalledsnow,andwhenupontheearth,andcondensed

fromdew,hoarfrost。Then,again,therearethenumerouskindsof

waterwhichhavebeenmingledwithoneanother,andaredistilled

throughplantswhichgrowintheearth;andthiswholeclassiscalled

bythenameofjuicesorsaps。Theunequaladmixtureofthesefluids

createsavarietyofspecies;mostofthemarenameless,butfour

whichareofafierynatureareclearlydistinguishedandhave

names。Firstthereiswine,whichwarmsthesoulaswellasthe

body:secondly,thereistheoilynature,whichissmoothand

dividesthevisualray,andforthisreasonisbrightandshining

andofaglisteningappearance,includingpitch,thejuiceofthe

castorberry,oilitself,andotherthingsofalikekind:thirdly,

thereistheclassofsubstanceswhichexpandthecontractedparts

ofthemouth,untiltheyreturntotheirnaturalstate,andby

reasonofthispropertycreatesweetness;—theseareincludedunderthe

generalnameofhoney:and,lastly,thereisafrothynature,which

differsfromalljuices,havingaburningqualitywhichdissolves

theflesh;itiscalledopos(avegetableacid)。

Astothekindsofearth,thatwhichisfilteredthroughwater

passesintostoneinthefollowingmanner:—Thewaterwhichmixes

withtheearthandisbrokenupintheprocesschangesintoair,and

takingthisformmountsintoitsownplace。Butasthereisno

surroundingvacuumitthrustsawaytheneighbouringair,andthis

beingrenderedheavy,and,whenitisdisplaced,havingbeenpoured

aroundthemassofearth,forciblycompressesitanddrivesitinto

thevacantspacewhencethenewairhadcomeup;andtheearthwhen

compressedbytheairintoanindissolubleunionwithwaterbecomes

rock。Thefairersortisthatwhichismadeupofequalandsimilar

partsandistransparent;thatwhichhastheoppositequalitiesis

inferior。Butwhenallthewaterypartissuddenlydrawnoutby

fire,amorebrittlesubstanceisformed,towhichwegivethenameof

pottery。Sometimesalsomoisturemayremain,andtheearthwhichhas

beenfusedbyfirebecomes,whencool,acertainstoneofablack

colour。Alikeseparationofthewaterwhichhadbeencopiously

mingledwiththemmayoccurintwosubstancescomposedoffiner

particlesofearthandofabrinynature;outofeitherofthemahalf

solidbodyisthenformed,solubleinwater—theone,soda,whichis

usedforpurgingawayoilandearth,andother,salt,whichharmonizes

sowellincombinationspleasingtothepalate,andis,asthelaw

testifies,asubstancedeartothegods。Thecompoundsofearthand

waterarenotsolublebywater,butbyfireonly,andforthis

reason:—Neitherfirenorairmeltmassesofearth;fortheir

particles,beingsmallerthantheintersticesinitsstructure,have

plentyofroomtomovewithoutforcingtheirway,andsotheyleave

theearthunmeltedandundissolved;butparticlesofwater,which

arelarger,forceapassage,anddissolveandmelttheearth。

Whereforeearthwhennotconsolidatedbyforceisdissolvedbywater

only;whenconsolidated,bynothingbutfire;forthisistheonly

bodywhichcanfindanentrance。Thecohesionofwateragain,when

verystrong,isdissolvedbyfireonly—whenweaker,theneitherbyair

orfire—theformerenteringtheinterstices,andthelatter

penetratingeventhetriangles。Butnothingcandissolveair,when

stronglycondensed,whichdoesnotreachtheelementsortriangles;or

ifnotstronglycondensed,thenonlyfirecandissolveit。Asto

bodiescomposedofearthandwater,whilethewateroccupiesthe

vacantintersticesoftheearthinthemwhicharecompressedbyforce,

theparticlesofwaterwhichapproachthemfromwithout,findingno

entrance,flowaroundtheentiremassandleaveitundissolved;but

theparticlesoffire,enteringintotheintersticesofthewater,

dotothewaterwhatwaterdoestoearthandfiretoair,andare

thesolecausesofthecompoundbodyofearthandwaterliquefyingand

becomingfluid。Nowthesebodiesareoftwokinds;someofthem,

suchasglassandthefusiblesortofstones,havelesswaterthan

theyhaveearth;ontheotherhand,substancesofthenatureofwax

andincensehavemoreofwaterenteringintotheircomposition。

Ihavethusshownthevariousclassesofbodiesastheyare

diversifiedbytheirformsandcombinationsandchangesintoone

another,andnowImustendeavourtosetforththeiraffectionsand

thecausesofthem。Inthefirstplace,thebodieswhichIhavebeen

describingarenecessarilyobjectsofsense。Butwehavenotyet

consideredtheoriginofflesh,orwhatbelongstoflesh,orofthat

partofthesoulwhichismortal。Andthesethingscannotbe

adequatelyexplainedwithoutalsoexplainingtheaffectionswhich

areconcernedwithsensation,northelatterwithouttheformer:and

yettoexplainthemtogetherishardlypossible;forwhichreasonwe

mustassumefirstoneortheotherandafterwardsexaminethenature

ofourhypothesis。Inorder,then,thattheaffectionsmayfollow

regularlyaftertheelements,letuspresupposetheexistenceof

bodyandsoul。

First,letusenquirewhatwemeanbysayingthatfireishot;and

aboutthiswemayreasonfromthedividingorcuttingpowerwhichit

exercisesonourbodies。Weallofusfeelthatfireissharp;and

wemayfurtherconsiderthefinenessofthesides,andthesharpness

oftheangles,andthesmallnessoftheparticles,andtheswiftness

ofthemotion—allthismakestheactionoffireviolentandsharp,

sothatitcutswhateveritmeets。Andwemustnotforgetthatthe

originalfigureoffire[i。e。thepyramid],morethananyother

form,hasadividingpowerwhichcutsourbodiesintosmallpieces

(Kepmatizei),andthusnaturallyproducesthataffectionwhichwecall

heat;andhencetheoriginofthename(thepmos,Kepma)。Now,the

oppositeofthisissufficientlymanifest;neverthelesswewillnot

failtodescribeit。Forthelargerparticlesofmoisturewhich

surroundthebody,enteringinanddrivingoutthelesser,butnot

beingabletotaketheirplaces,compressthemoistprincipleinus;

andthisfrombeingunequalanddisturbed,isforcedbythemintoa

stateofrest,whichisduetoequabilityandcompression。But

thingswhicharecontractedcontrarytonaturearebynatureatwar,

andforcethemselvesapart;andtothiswarandconvulsionthenameof

shiveringandtremblingisgiven;andthewholeaffectionandthe

causeoftheaffectionarebothtermedcold。Thatiscalledhardto

whichourfleshyields,andsoftwhichyieldstoourflesh;andthings

arealsotermedhardandsoftrelativelytooneanother。Thatwhich

yieldshasasmallbase;butthatwhichrestsonquadrangularbasesis

firmlyposedandbelongstotheclasswhichoffersthegreatest

resistance;sotoodoesthatwhichisthemostcompactandtherefore

mostrepellent。Thenatureofthelightandtheheavywillbebest

understoodwhenexaminedinconnexionwithournotionsofaboveand

below;foritisquiteamistaketosupposethattheuniverseis

partedintotworegions,separatefromandoppositetoeachother,the

onealowertowhichallthingstendwhichhaveanybulk,andanupper

towhichthingsonlyascendagainsttheirwill。Forastheuniverseis

intheformofasphere,alltheextremities,beingequidistantfrom

thecentre,areequallyextremities,andthecentre,whichis

equidistantfromthem,isequallytoberegardedastheoppositeof

themall。Suchbeingthenatureoftheworld,whenapersonsays

thatanyofthesepointsisaboveorbelow,mayhenotbejustly

chargedwithusinganimproperexpression?Forthecentreoftheworld

cannotberightlycalledeitheraboveorbelow,butisthecentre

andnothingelse;andthecircumferenceisnotthecentre,andhas

innoonepartofitselfadifferentrelationtothecentrefrom

whatithasinanyoftheoppositeparts。Indeed,whenitisin

everydirectionsimilar,howcanonerightlygivetoitnameswhich

implyopposition?Foriftherewereanysolidbodyinequipoiseatthe

centreoftheuniverse,therewouldbenothingtodrawittothis

extremeratherthantothat,fortheyareallperfectlysimilar;and

ifapersonweretogoroundtheworldinacircle,hewouldoften,

whenstandingattheantipodesofhisformerposition,speakofthe

samepointasaboveandbelow;for,asIwassayingjustnow,tospeak

ofthewholewhichisintheformofaglobeashavingonepart

aboveandanotherbelowisnotlikeasensibleman。

Thereasonwhythesenamesareused,andthecircumstancesunder

whichtheyareordinarilyappliedbyustothedivisionofthe

heavens,maybeelucidatedbythefollowingsupposition:—ifaperson

weretostandinthatpartoftheuniversewhichistheappointed

placeoffire,andwherethereisthegreatmassoffiretowhich

fierybodiesgather—if,Isay,heweretoascendthither,and,

havingthepowertodothis,weretoabstractparticlesoffireand

puttheminscalesandweighthem,andthen,raisingthebalance,were

todrawthefirebyforcetowardstheuncongenialelementofthe

air,itwouldbeveryevidentthathecouldcompelthesmallermass

morereadilythanthelarger;forwhentwothingsaresimultaneously

raisedbyoneandthesamepower,thesmallerbodymustnecessarily

yieldtothesuperiorpowerwithlessreluctancethanthelarger;

andthelargerbodyiscalledheavyandsaidtotenddownwards,and

thesmallerbodyiscalledlightandsaidtotendupwards。Andwe

maydetectourselveswhoareupontheearthdoingpreciselythesame

thing。Forweofseparateearthynatures,andsometimesearth

itself,anddrawthemintotheuncongenialelementofairbyforceand

contrarytonature,bothclingingtotheirkindredelements。But

thatwhichissmalleryieldstotheimpulsegivenbyustowardsthe

dissimilarelementmoreeasilythanthelarger;andsowecallthe

formerlight,andtheplacetowardswhichitisimpelledwecall

above,andthecontrarystateandplacewecallheavyandbelow

respectively。Nowtherelationsofthesemustnecessarilyvary,

becausetheprincipalmassesofthedifferentelementsholdopposite

positions;forthatwhichislight,heavy,beloworaboveinoneplace

willbefoundtobeandbecomecontraryandtransverseandeveryway

diverseinrelationtothatwhichislight,heavy,beloworabovein

anoppositeplace。Andaboutallofthemthishastobe

considered:—thatthetendencyofeachtowardsitskindredelement

makesthebodywhichismovedheavy,andtheplacetowardswhichthe

motiontendsbelow,butthingswhichhaveanoppositetendencywecall

byanoppositename。Sucharethecauseswhichweassigntothese

phenomena。Astothesmoothandtherough,anyonewhoseesthemcan

explainthereasonofthemtoanother。Forroughnessishardness

mingledwithirregularity,andsmoothnessisproducedbythejoint

effectofuniformityanddensity。

Themostimportantoftheaffectionswhichconcernthewholebody

remainstobeconsidered—thatis,thecauseofpleasureandpainin

theperceptionsofwhichIhavebeenspeaking,andinallotherthings

whichareperceivedbysensethroughthepartsofthebody,andhave

bothpainsandpleasuresattendantonthem。Letusimaginethe

causesofeveryaffection,whetherofsenseornot,tobeofthe

followingnature,rememberingthatwehavealreadydistinguished

betweenthenaturewhichiseasyandwhichishardtomove;forthis

isthedirectioninwhichwemusthuntthepreywhichwemeantotake。

Abodywhichisofanaturetobeeasilymoved,onreceivingan

impressionhoweverslight,spreadsabroadthemotioninacircle,

thepartscommunicatingwitheachother,untilatlast,reachingthe

principleofmind,theyannouncethequalityoftheagent。Buta

bodyoftheoppositekind,beingimmobile,andnotextendingtothe

surroundingregion,merelyreceivestheimpression,anddoesnot

stiranyoftheneighbouringparts;andsincethepartsdonot

distributetheoriginalimpressiontootherparts,ithasnoeffectof

motiononthewholeanimal,andthereforeproducesnoeffectonthe

patient。Thisistrueofthebonesandhairandothermoreearthy

partsofthehumanbody;whereaswhatwassaidaboverelatesmainlyto

sightandhearing,becausetheyhaveinthemthegreatestamountof

fireandair。Nowwemustconceiveofpleasureandpaininthisway。

Animpressionproducedinuscontrarytonatureandviolent,if

sudden,ispainful;and,again,thesuddenreturntonatureis

pleasant;butagentleandgradualreturnisimperceptibleandvice

versa。Ontheotherhandtheimpressionofsensewhichismost

easilyproducedismostreadilyfelt,butisnotaccompaniedby

Pleasureorpain;such,forexample,aretheaffectionsofthe

sight,which,aswesaidabove,isabodynaturallyunitingwithour

bodyintheday—time;forcuttingsandburningsandother

affectionswhichhappentothesightdonotgivepain,noristhere

pleasurewhenthesightreturnstoitsnaturalstate;butthe

sensationsaredearestandstrongestaccordingtothemannerin

whichtheeyeisaffectedbytheobject,anditselfstrikesand

touchesit;thereisnoviolenceeitherinthecontractionordilation

oftheeye。Butbodiesformedoflargerparticlesyieldtotheagent

onlywithastruggle;andthentheyimparttheirmotionstothe

wholeandcausepleasureandpain—painwhenalienatedfromtheir

naturalconditions,andpleasurewhenrestoredtothem。Thingswhich

experiencegradualwithdrawingsandemptyingsoftheirnature,and

greatandsuddenreplenishments,failtoperceivetheemptying,but

aresensibleofthereplenishment;andsotheyoccasionnopain,but

thegreatestpleasure,tothemortalpartofthesoul,asis

manifestinthecaseofperfumes。Butthingswhicharechangedallof

asudden,andonlygraduallyandwithdifficultyreturntotheirown

nature,haveeffectsineverywayoppositetotheformer,asis

evidentinthecaseofburningsandcuttingsofthebody。

Thushavewediscussedthegeneralaffectionsofthewholebody,and

thenamesoftheagentswhichproducethem。AndnowIwillendeavour

tospeakoftheaffectionsofparticularparts,andthecausesand

agentsofthem,asfarasIamable。Inthefirstplaceletusset

forthwhatwasomittedwhenwewerespeakingofjuices,concerningthe

affectionspeculiartothetongue。Thesetoo,likemostoftheother

affections,appeartobecausedbycertaincontractionsanddilations,

buttheyhavebesidesmoreofroughnessandsmoothnessthanisfound

inotheraffections;forwheneverearthyparticlesenterintothe

smallveinswhicharethetestingofthetongue,reachingtothe

heart,andfalluponthemoist,delicateportionsofflesh—when,as

theyaredissolved,theycontractanddryupthelittleveins,they

areastringentiftheyarerougher,butifnotsorough,thenonly

harsh。Thoseofthemwhichareofanabstergentnature,andpurge

thewholesurfaceofthetongue,iftheydoitinexcess,andso

encroachastoconsumesomepartofthefleshitself,likepotash

andsoda,arealltermedbitter。Buttheparticleswhicharedeficient

inthealkalinequality,andwhichcleanseonlymoderately,arecalled

salt,andhavingnobitternessorroughness,areregardedasrather

agreeablethanotherwise。Bodieswhichshareinandaremadesmoothby

theheatofthemouth,andwhichareinflamed,andagaininturn

inflamethatwhichheatsthem,andwhicharesolightthattheyare

carriedupwardstothesensationsofthehead,andcutallthat

comesintheirway,byreasonofthesequalitiesinthem,areall

termedpungent。Butwhenthesesameparticles,refinedby

putrefaction,enterintothenarrowveins,andaredulyproportioned

totheparticlesofearthandairwhicharethere,theysetthem

whirlingaboutoneanother,andwhiletheyareinawhirlcausethem

todashagainstandenterintooneanother,andsoformhollows

surroundingtheparticlesthatenter—whichwateryvesselsofair

(forafilmofmoisture,sometimesearthy,sometimespure,isspread

aroundtheair)arehollowspheresofwater;andthoseofthemwhich

arepure,aretransparent,andarecalledbubbles,whilethose

composedoftheearthyliquid,whichisinastateofgeneral

agitationandeffervescence,aresaidtoboilorferment—ofall

theseaffectionsthecauseistermedacid。Andthereistheopposite

affectionarisingfromanoppositecause,whenthemassofentering

particles,immersedinthemoistureofthemouth,iscongenialto

thetongue,andsmoothsandoilsovertheroughness,andrelaxesthe

partswhichareunnaturallycontracted,andcontractstheparts

whicharerelaxed,anddisposesthemallaccordingtotheir

nature—thatsortofremedyofviolentaffectionsispleasantand

agreeabletoeveryman,andhasthenamesweet。Butenoughofthis。

Thefacultyofsmelldoesnotadmitofdifferencesofkind;for

allsmellsareofahalfformednature,andnoelementisso

proportionedastohaveanysmell。Theveinsaboutthenosearetoo

narrowtoadmitearthandwater,andtoowidetodetainfireand

air;andforthisreasonnooneeverperceivesthesmellofanyof

them;butsmellsalwaysproceedfrombodiesthataredamp,or

putrefying,orliquefying,orevaporating,andareperceptibleonlyin

theintermediatestate,whenwaterischangingintoairandairinto

water;andallofthemareeithervaporormist。Thatwhichispassing

outofairintowaterismist,andthatwhichispassingfromwater

intoairisvapour;andhenceallsmellsarethinnerthanwaterand

thickerthanair。Theproofofthisis,thatwhenthereisany

obstructiontotherespiration,andamandrawsinhisbreathby

force,thennosmellfiltersthrough,buttheairwithoutthesmell

alonepenetrates。Whereforethevarietiesofsmellhavenoname,and

theyhavenotmany,ordefiniteandsimplekinds;buttheyare

distinguishedonlypainfulandpleasant,theonesortirritatingand

disturbingthewholecavitywhichissituatedbetweentheheadandthe

navel,theotherhavingasoothinginfluence,andrestoringthis

sameregiontoanagreeableandnaturalcondition。

Inconsideringthethirdkindofsense,hearing,wemustspeakof

thecausesinwhichitoriginates。Wemayingeneralassumesoundto

beablowwhichpassesthroughtheears,andistransmittedbymeans

oftheair,thebrain,andtheblood,tothesoul,andthathearingis

thevibrationofthisblow,whichbeginsintheheadandendsinthe

regionoftheliver。Thesoundwhichmovesswiftlyisacute,andthe

soundwhichmovesslowlyisgrave,andthatwhichisregularis

equableandsmooth,andthereverseisharsh。Agreatbodyofsoundis

loud,andasmallbodyofsoundthereverse。Respectingthe

harmoniesofsoundImusthereafterspeak。

Thereisafourthclassofsensiblethings,havingmanyintricate

varieties,whichmustnowbedistinguished。Theyarecalledbythe

generalnameofcolours,andareaflamewhichemanatesfromevery

sortofbody,andhasparticlescorrespondingtothesenseofsight。I

havespokenalready,inwhathaspreceded,ofthecauseswhich

generatesight,andinthisplaceitwillbenaturalandsuitableto

givearationaltheoryofcolours。

Oftheparticlescomingfromotherbodieswhichfalluponthesight,

somearesmallerandsomearelarger,andsomeareequaltothe

partsofthesightitself。Thosewhichareequalareimperceptible,

andwecallthemtransparent。Thelargerproducecontraction,the

smallerdilation,inthesight,exercisingapowerakintothatofhot

andcoldbodiesontheflesh,orofastringentbodiesonthetongue,

orofthoseheatingbodieswhichwetermedpungent。Whiteandblack

aresimilareffectsofcontractionanddilationinanothersphere,and

forthisreasonhaveadifferentappearance。Wherefore,weoughtto

termwhitethatwhichdilatesthevisualray,andtheoppositeofthis

isblack。Thereisalsoaswiftermotionofadifferentsortoffire

whichstrikesanddilatestherayofsightuntilitreachesthe

eyes,forcingawaythroughtheirpassagesandmeltingthem,and

elicitingfromthemaunionoffireandwaterwhichwecalltears,

beingitselfanoppositefirewhichcomestothemfromanopposite

direction—theinnerfireflashesforthlikelightning,andtheouter

findsawayinandisextinguishedinthemoisture,andallsortsof

coloursaregeneratedbythemixture。Thisaffectionistermed

dazzling,andtheobjectwhichproducesitiscalledbrightand

flashing。Thereisanothersortoffirewhichisintermediate,and

whichreachesandmingleswiththemoistureoftheeyewithout

flashing;andinthis,thefireminglingwiththerayofthemoisture,

producesacolourlikeblood,towhichwegivethenameofred。A

brighthuemingledwithredandwhitegivesthecolourcalled

auburn。Thelawofproportion,however,accordingtowhichtheseveral

coloursareformed,evenifamanknewhewouldbefoolishintelling,

forhecouldnotgiveanynecessaryreason,norindeedanytolerable

orprobableexplanationofthem。Again,red,whenmingledwithblack

andwhite,becomespurple,butitbecomesumberwhenthecoloursare

burntaswellasmingledandtheblackismorethoroughlymixedwith

them。Flamecolourisproducedbyaunionofauburnanddun,anddun

byanadmixtureofblackandwhite;paleyellow,byanadmixtureof

whiteandauburn。Whiteandbrightmeeting,andfallinguponafull

black,becomedarkblue,andwhendarkbluemingleswithwhite,a

lightbluecolourisformed,asflame—colourwithblackmakesleek

green。Therewillbenodifficultyinseeinghowandbywhat

mixturesthecoloursderivedfromthesearemadeaccordingtothe

rulesofprobability。He,however,whoshouldattempttoverifyall

thisbyexperiment,wouldforgetthedifferenceofthehumanand

divinenature。ForGodonlyhastheknowledgeandalsothepowerwhich

areabletocombinemanythingsintooneandagainresolvetheone

intomany。Butnomaneitherisoreverwillbeabletoaccomplish

eithertheoneortheotheroperation。

Thesearetheelements,thusofnecessitythensubsisting,whichthe

creatorofthefairestandbestofcreatedthingsassociatedwith

himself,whenhemadetheself—sufficingandmostperfectGod,using

thenecessarycausesashisministersintheaccomplishmentofhis

work,buthimselfcontrivingthegoodinallhiscreations。

Whereforewemaydistinguishtwosortsofcauses,theonedivineand

theothernecessary,andmayseekforthedivineinallthings,asfar

asournatureadmits,withaviewtotheblessedlife;butthe

necessarykindonlyforthesakeofthedivine,consideringthat

withoutthemandwhenisolatedfromthem,thesehigherthingsfor

whichwelookcannotbeapprehendedorreceivedorinanywayshared

byus。

Seeing,then,thatwehavenowpreparedforourusethevarious

classesofcauseswhicharethematerialoutofwhichtheremainderof

ourdiscoursemustbewoven,justaswoodisthematerialofthe

carpenter,letusrevertinafewwordstothepointatwhichwe

began,andthenendeavourtoaddonasuitableendingtothebeginning

ofourtale。

AsIsaidatfirst,whenallthingswereindisorderGodcreated

ineachthinginrelationtoitself,andinallthingsinrelation

toeachother,allthemeasuresandharmonieswhichtheycould

possiblyreceive。Forinthosedaysnothinghadanyproportion

exceptbyaccident;nordidanyofthethingswhichnowhavenames

deservetobenamedatall—as,forexample,fire,water,andthe

restoftheelements。Allthesethecreatorfirstsetinorder,and

outofthemheconstructedtheuniverse,whichwasasingleanimal

comprehendinginitselfallotheranimals,mortalandimmortal。Nowof

thedivine,hehimselfwasthecreator,butthecreationofthemortal

hecommittedtohisoffspring。Andthey,imitatinghim,received

fromhimtheimmortalprincipleofthesoul;andaroundthisthey

proceededtofashionamortalbody,and。madeittobethevehicle

ofthesoandconstructedwithinthebodyasoulofanothernature

whichwasmortal,subjecttoterribleandirresistible

affections—firstofall,pleasure,thegreatestincitementtoevil;

then,pain,whichdetersfromgood;alsorashnessandfear,two

foolishcounsellors,angerhardtobeappeased,andhopeeasilyled

astray—thesetheymingledwithirrationalsenseandwithall—daring

loveaccordingtonecessarylaws,andsoframedman。Wherefore,

fearingtopollutethedivineanymorethanwasabsolutely

unavoidable,theygavetothemortalnatureaseparatehabitationin

anotherpartofthebody,placingtheneckbetweenthemtobethe

isthmusandboundary,whichtheyconstructedbetweentheheadand

breast,tokeepthemapart。Andinthebreast,andinwhatistermed

thethorax,theyencasedthemortalsoul;andastheonepartof

thiswassuperiorandtheotherinferiortheydividedthecavityof

thethoraxintotwoparts,asthewomen’sandmen’sapartmentsare

dividedinhouses,andplacedthemidrifftobeawallofpartition

betweenthem。Thatpartoftheinferiorsoulwhichisendowedwith

courageandpassionandlovescontentiontheysettlednearerthehead,

midwaybetweenthemidriffandtheneck,inorderthatitmightbe

undertheruleofreasonandmightjoinwithitincontrollingand

restrainingthedesireswhentheyarenolongerwillingoftheirown

accordtoobeythewordofcommandissuingfromthecitadel。

Theheart,theknotoftheveinsandthefountainofthebloodwhich

racesthroughallthelimbswassetintheplaceofguard,thatwhen

themightofpassionwasrousedbyreasonmakingproclamationofany

wrongassailingthemfromwithoutorbeingperpetratedbythe

desireswithin,quicklythewholepoweroffeelinginthebody,

perceivingthesecommandsandthreats,mightobeyandfollowthrough

everyturnandalley,andthusallowtheprincipleofthebesttohave

thecommandinallofthem。Butthegods,foreknowingthatthe

palpitationoftheheartintheexpectationofdangerandtheswelling

andexcitementofpassionwascausedbyfire,formedandimplanted

asasupportertotheheartthelung,whichwas,inthefirstplace,

softandbloodless,andalsohadwithinhollowsliketheporesofa

sponge,inorderthatbyreceivingthebreathandthedrink,it

mightgivecoolnessandthepowerofrespirationandalleviatethe

heat。Whereforetheycuttheair—channelsleadingtothelung,and

placedthelungabouttheheartasasoftspring,that,whenpassion

wasrifewithin,theheart,beatingagainstayieldingbody,might

becooledandsufferless,andmightthusbecomemorereadytojoin

withpassionintheserviceofreason。

Thepartofthesoulwhichdesiresmeatsanddrinksandtheother

thingsofwhichithasneedbyreasonofthebodilynature,they

placedbetweenthemidriffandtheboundaryofthenavel,contriving

inallthisregionasortofmangerforthefoodofthebody;and

theretheybounditdownlikeawildanimalwhichwaschainedup

withman,andmustbenourishedifmanwastoexist。Theyappointed

thislowercreationhisplacehereinorderthathemightbealways

feedingatthemanger,andhavehisdwellingasfarasmightbefrom

thecouncil—chamber,makingaslittlenoiseanddisturbanceas

possible,andpermittingthebestparttoadvisequietlyforthe

goodofthewhole。Andknowingthatthislowerprincipleinman

wouldnotcomprehendreason,andevenifattainingtosomedegreeof

perceptionwouldnevernaturallycareforrationalnotions,butthat

itwouldbeledawaybyphantomsandvisionsnightandday—tobea

remedyforthis,Godcombinedwithittheliver,andplaceditin

thehouseofthelowernature,contrivingthatitshouldbesolid

andsmooth,andbrightandsweet,andshouldalsohaveabitter

quality,inorderthatthepowerofthought,whichproceedsfromthe

mind,mightbereflectedasinamirrorwhichreceiveslikenessesof

objectsandgivesbackimagesofthemtothesight;andsomight

striketerrorintothedesires,when,makinguseofthebitterpartof

theliver,towhichitisakin,itcomesthreateningandinvading,and

diffusingthisbitterelementswiftlythroughthewholeliverproduces

colourslikebile,andcontractingeverypartmakesitwrinkledand

rough;andtwistingoutofitsrightplaceandcontortingthelobeand

closingandshuttingupthevesselsandgates,causespainand

loathing。Andtheconversehappenswhensomegentleinspirationofthe

understandingpicturesimagesofanoppositecharacter,andallaysthe

bileandbitternessbyrefusingtostirortouchthenatureopposedto

itself,butbymakinguseofthenaturalsweetnessoftheliver,

correctsallthingsandmakesthemtoberightandsmoothandfree,

andrenderstheportionofthesoulwhichresidesabouttheliver

happyandjoyful,enablingittopassthenightinpeace,andto

practisedivinationinsleep,inasmuchasithasnoshareinmind

andreason。Fortheauthorsofourbeing,rememberingthecommandof

theirfatherwhenhebadethemcreatethehumanraceasgoodasthey

could,thattheymightcorrectourinferiorpartsandmakethemto

attainameasureoftruth,placedinthelivertheseatofdivination。

AndhereinisaproofthatGodhasgiventheartofdivinationnot

tothewisdom,buttothefoolishnessofman。Noman,wheninhis

wits,attainsprophetictruthandinspiration;butwhenhereceives

theinspiredword,eitherhisintelligenceisenthralledinsleep,

orheisdementedbysomedistemperorpossession。Andhewhowould

understandwhatherememberstohavebeensaid,whetherinadream

orwhenhewasawake,bythepropheticandinspirednature,orwould

determinebyreasonthemeaningoftheapparitionswhichhehas

seen,andwhatindicationstheyaffordtothismanorthat,ofpast,

presentorfuturegoodandevil,mustfirstrecoverhiswits。But,

whilehecontinuesdemented,hecannotjudgeofthevisionswhichhe

seesorthewordswhichheutters;theancientsayingisverytrue,

that\"onlyamanwhohashiswitscanactorjudgeabouthimselfand

hisownaffairs。\"Andforthisreasonitiscustomarytoappoint

interpreterstobejudgesofthetrueinspiration。Somepersonscall

themprophets;theyarequiteunawarethattheyareonlythe

expositorsofdarksayingsandvisions,andarenottobecalled

prophetsatall,butonlyinterpretersofprophecy。

Suchisthenatureoftheliver,whichisplacedaswehave

describedinorderthatitmaygivepropheticintimations。During

thelifeofeachindividualtheseintimationsareplainer,butafter

hisdeaththeliverbecomesblind,anddeliversoraclestooobscureto

beintelligible。Theneighbouringorgan[thespleen]issituatedon

theleft—handside,andisconstructedwithaviewofkeepingthe

liverbrightandpure—likeanapkin,alwaysreadypreparedandathand

tocleanthemirror。Andhence,whenanyimpuritiesariseinthe

regionoftheliverbyreasonofdisordersofthebody,theloose

natureofthespleen,whichiscomposedofahollowandbloodless

tissue,receivesthemallanddearsthemaway,andwhenfilledwith

theuncleanmatter,swellsandfesters,but,again,whenthebodyis

purged,settlesdownintothesameplaceasbefore,andishumbled。

Concerningthesoul,astowhichpartismortalandwhichdivine,

andhowandwhytheyareseparated,andwherelocated,ifGod

acknowledgesthatwehavespokenthetruth,then,andthenonly,can

webeconfident;still,wemayventuretoassertthatwhathasbeen

saidbyusisprobable,andwillberenderedmoreprobableby

investigation。Letusassumethusmuch。

Thecreationoftherestoffollowsnextinorder,andthiswemay

investigateinasimilarmanner。Anditappearstobeverymeetthat

thebodyshouldbeframedonthefollowingprinciples:—

Theauthorsofourracewereawarethatweshouldbeintemperate

ineatinganddrinking,andtakeagooddealmorethanwasnecessary

orproper,byreasonofgluttony。Inorderthenthatdiseasemightnot

quicklydestroyus,andlestourmortalraceshouldperishwithout

fulfillingitsend—intendingtoprovideagainstthis,thegodsmade

whatiscalledthelowerbelly,tobeareceptacleforthesuperfluous

meatanddrink,andformedtheconvolutionofthebowels,sothat

thefoodmightbepreventedfrompassingquicklythroughand

compellingthebodytorequiremorefood,thusproducinginsatiable

gluttony,andmakingthewholeraceanenemytophilosophyand

music,andrebelliousagainstthedivinestelementwithinus。

Thebonesandflesh,andothersimilarpartsofus,weremadeas

follows。Thefirstprincipleofallofthemwasthegenerationof

themarrow。Forthebondsoflifewhichunitethesoulwiththebody

aremadefastthere,andtheyaretherootandfoundationofthehuman

race。Themarrowitselfiscreatedoutofothermaterials:Godtook

suchoftheprimarytrianglesaswerestraightandsmooth,andwere

adaptedbytheirperfectiontoproducefireandwater,andairand

earth—these,Isay,heseparatedfromtheirkinds,andminglingthem

indueproportionswithoneanother,madethemarrowoutofthemtobe

auniversalseedofthewholeraceofmankind;andinthisseedhe

thenplantedandenclosedthesouls,andintheoriginal

distributiongavetothemarrowasmanyandvariousformsasthe

differentkindsofsoulswerehereaftertoreceive。Thatwhich,likea

field,wastoreceivethedivineseed,hemaderoundeveryway,and

calledthatportionofthemarrow,brain,intendingthat,whenan

animalwasperfected,thevesselcontainingthissubstanceshouldbe

thehead;butthatwhichwasintendedtocontaintheremainingand

mortalpartofthesoulhedistributedintofiguresatoncearoundand

elongated,andhecalledthemallbythename\"marrow\";andto

these,astoanchors,fasteningthebondsofthewholesoul,he

proceededtofashionaroundthemtheentireframeworkofourbody,

constructingforthemarrow,firstofallacompletecoveringofbone。

Bonewascomposedbyhiminthefollowingmanner。Havingsiftedpure

andsmoothearthhekneadeditandwetteditwithmarrow,andafter

thatheputitintofireandthenintowater,andoncemoreinto

fireandagainintowater—inthiswaybyfrequenttransfersfromone

totheotherhemadeitinsolublebyeither。Outofthishefashioned,

asinalathe,aglobemadeofbone,whichheplacedaroundthebrain,

andinthisheleftanarrowopening;andaroundthemarrowofthe

neckandbackheformedvertebraewhichheplacedunderoneanother

likepivots,beginningattheheadandextendingthroughthewhole

ofthetrunk。Thuswishingtopreservetheentireseed,heenclosedit

inastone—likecasing,insertingjoints,andusingintheformation

ofthemthepoweroftheotherordiverseasanintermediatenature,

thattheymighthavemotionandflexure。Thenagain,considering

thatthebonewouldbetoobrittleandinflexible,andwhenheatedand

againcooledwouldsoonmortifyanddestroytheseedwithin—having

thisinview,hecontrivedthesinewsandtheflesh,thatsobinding

allthememberstogetherbythesinews,whichadmittedofbeing

stretchedandrelaxedaboutthevertebrae,hemightthusmakethebody

capableofflexionandextension,whilethefleshwouldserveasa

protectionagainstthesummerheatandagainstthewintercold,and

alsoagainstfalls,softlyandeasilyyieldingtoexternalbodies,

likearticlesmadeoffelt;andcontaininginitselfawarmmoisture

whichinsummerexudesandmakesthesurfacedamp,wouldimparta

naturecoolnesstothewholebody;andagaininwinterbythehelp

ofthisinternalwarmthwouldformaverytolerabledefenceagainst

thefrostwhichsurroundsitandattacksitfromwithout。Hewho

modelledus,consideringthesethings,mixedearthwithfireandwater

andblendedthem;andmakingafermentofacidandsalt,hemingledit

withthemandformedsoftandsucculentflesh。Asforthesinews,he

madethemofamixtureofboneandunfermentedflesh,attemperedsoas

tobeinamean,andgavethemayellowcolour;whereforethesinews

haveafirmerandmoreglutinousnaturethanflesh,butasofterand

moisternaturethanthebones。WiththeseGodcoveredthebonesand

marrow,bindingthemtogetherbysinews,andthenenshroudedthem

allinanuppercoveringofflesh。Themorelivingandsensitiveof

thebonesheenclosedinthethinnestfilmofflesh,andthosewhich

hadtheleastlifewithintheminthethickestandmostsolidflesh。

Soagainonthejointsofthebones,wherereasonindicatedthatno

morewasrequired,heplacedonlyathincoveringofflesh,thatit

mightnotinterferewiththeflexionofourbodiesandmakethem

unwieldybecausedifficulttomove;andalsothatitmightnot,by

beingcrowdedandpressedandmattedtogether,destroysensationby

reasonofitshardness,andimpairthememoryanddulltheedgeof

intelligence。Whereforealsothethighsandtheshanksandthehips,

andthebonesofthearmsandtheforearms,andotherpartswhichhave

nojoints,andtheinnerbones,whichonaccountoftherarityof

thesoulinthemarrowaredestituteofreason—alltheseare

abundantlyprovidedwithflesh;butsuchashavemindinthemarein

generallessfleshy,exceptwherethecreatorhasmadesomepart

solelyoffleshinordertogivesensation—as,forexample,the

tongue。Butcommonlythisisnotthecase。Forthenaturewhich

comesintobeingandgrowsupinusbyalawofnecessity,doesnot

admitofthecombinationofsolidboneandmuchfleshwithacute

perceptions。Morethananyotherparttheframeworkofthehead

wouldhavehadthem,iftheycouldhaveco—existed,andthehuman

race,havingastrongandfleshyandsinewyhead,wouldhavehada

lifetwiceormanytimesaslongasitnowhas,andalsomore

healthyandfreefrompain。