1be eſteemed a great imperfection to be alterable, generable,
table, &c. It is my opinion that the Earth is very noble and
mirable, by reaſon of ſo many and ſo different alterations,
tations, generations, &c. which are inceſſantly made therein;
and if without being ſubject to any alteration, it had been all
one vaſt heap of ſand, or a maſſe of Jaſper, or that in the time
of the Deluge, the waters freezing which covered it, it had
continued an immenſe Globe of Chriſtal, wherein nothing had
ever grown, altered, or changed, I ſhould have eſteemed it a
lump of no benefit to the World, full of idleneſſe, and in a
word ſuperfluous, and as if it had never been in nature; and
ſhould make the ſame difference in it, as between a living and
dead creature: The like I ſay of the Moon, Jupiter, and all the
other Globes of the World. But the more I dive into the
ſideration of the vanity of popular diſcourſes, the more empty
and ſimple I find them. And what greater folly can there be
imagined, than to call Jems, Silver and Gold pretious; and Earth
and dirt vile? For do not theſe perſons conſider, that if there
ſhould be as great a ſcarcity of Earth, as there is of Jewels and
pretious metals, there would be no Prince, but would gladly give
a heap of Diamonds and Rubies, and many Wedges of Gold,
to purchaſe onely ſo much Earth as ſhould ſuffice to plant a
mine in a little pot, or to ſet therein a China Orange, that he might
ſee it ſprout, grow up, and bring forth ſo goodly leaves, ſo
riferous flowers, and ſo delicate fruit? It is therefore ſcarcity and
plenty that make things eſteemed and contemned by the vulgar;
who will ſay that ſame is a moſt beautiful Diamond, for that it
reſembleth a cleer water, and yet will not part with it for ten
Tun of water: Theſe men that ſo extol incorruptibility,
rability, &c. ſpeak thus I believe out of the great deſire they
have to live long, and for fear of death; not confidering, that
if men had been immortal, they ſhould have had nothing to do
in the World. Theſe deſerve to meet with a Meduſa's head,
that would transform them into Statues of Dimond and Jaſper,
that ſo they might become more perfect than they are.
table, &c. It is my opinion that the Earth is very noble and
mirable, by reaſon of ſo many and ſo different alterations,
tations, generations, &c. which are inceſſantly made therein;
and if without being ſubject to any alteration, it had been all
one vaſt heap of ſand, or a maſſe of Jaſper, or that in the time
of the Deluge, the waters freezing which covered it, it had
continued an immenſe Globe of Chriſtal, wherein nothing had
ever grown, altered, or changed, I ſhould have eſteemed it a
lump of no benefit to the World, full of idleneſſe, and in a
word ſuperfluous, and as if it had never been in nature; and
ſhould make the ſame difference in it, as between a living and
dead creature: The like I ſay of the Moon, Jupiter, and all the
other Globes of the World. But the more I dive into the
ſideration of the vanity of popular diſcourſes, the more empty
and ſimple I find them. And what greater folly can there be
imagined, than to call Jems, Silver and Gold pretious; and Earth
and dirt vile? For do not theſe perſons conſider, that if there
ſhould be as great a ſcarcity of Earth, as there is of Jewels and
pretious metals, there would be no Prince, but would gladly give
a heap of Diamonds and Rubies, and many Wedges of Gold,
to purchaſe onely ſo much Earth as ſhould ſuffice to plant a
mine in a little pot, or to ſet therein a China Orange, that he might
ſee it ſprout, grow up, and bring forth ſo goodly leaves, ſo
riferous flowers, and ſo delicate fruit? It is therefore ſcarcity and
plenty that make things eſteemed and contemned by the vulgar;
who will ſay that ſame is a moſt beautiful Diamond, for that it
reſembleth a cleer water, and yet will not part with it for ten
Tun of water: Theſe men that ſo extol incorruptibility,
rability, &c. ſpeak thus I believe out of the great deſire they
have to live long, and for fear of death; not confidering, that
if men had been immortal, they ſhould have had nothing to do
in the World. Theſe deſerve to meet with a Meduſa's head,
that would transform them into Statues of Dimond and Jaſper,
that ſo they might become more perfect than they are.
* Impatible.
SALV. And it may be ſuch a Metamorphoſis would not be
together unprofitable to them; for I am of opinion that it is
ter not to diſcourſe at all, than to argue erroniouſly.
together unprofitable to them; for I am of opinion that it is
ter not to diſcourſe at all, than to argue erroniouſly.
SIMPL. There is not the leaſt queſtion to be made, but that
the Earth is much more perfect, being as it is alterable, mutable,
&c. than if it had been a maſſe of ſtone; yea although it were
one entire Diamond, moſt hard and impaſſile. But look how mueh
theſe qualifications enoble the Earth, they render the Heavenly
bodies again on the other ſide ſo much the more imperfect, in
which, ſuch conditions would be ſuperfluous; in regard that the
the Earth is much more perfect, being as it is alterable, mutable,
&c. than if it had been a maſſe of ſtone; yea although it were
one entire Diamond, moſt hard and impaſſile. But look how mueh
theſe qualifications enoble the Earth, they render the Heavenly
bodies again on the other ſide ſo much the more imperfect, in
which, ſuch conditions would be ſuperfluous; in regard that the