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Then generally for water, it is so far from being sufficient of itself for the generation and preservation of other
things, that it is itself destroyed for want of fire. But fire is
that which upholds every thing in its proper being, and
[p. 335]
preserves it in its proper substance, as well water itself as
all other things; so that when fire leaves it, water will
stink, and it may be said that the want of fire is the death
and destruction of water. And thus we find in regard to
pools and all manner of standing waters, and such as are
settled in pits and holes without issue, what an offensive
and dead stench they send forth, and all for want of motion; for this kindles and preserves heat in all things, and
more especially in running waters and swift streams, which
being thus agitated and enlivened by heat, we commonly
say such waters ‘live.’ Why then should not that be accounted the most useful of the two, that affords to the
other the cause of its being, as fire does to water? Moreover, that is the most useful, of which if an animal be
wholly deprived, it must perish; for it is evident, that anything without which an animal cannot live affords the
reason and cause why it exists. There is moisture also
in things after they are dead, nor are they altogether
dried up; for otherwise moist bodies would never putrefy;
since putrefaction is the alteration of dry into moist, or
rather the corruption of moisture in flesh. Neither is death
any other than an absolute defect and want of heat, and
therefore dead carcasses are the coldest of all; so that if
you do but touch them with a razor, they will blunt the
edge of it through excess of coldness. Also in living
creatures, those parts that least partake of heat are most
insensible, as the bones and hair, and those parts which
are most distant from the heart. Nay, to some of the
most important things the absence of fire and the presence
of water are destructive. For plants and fruits are not
produced by moisture, but by the warmth of the moisture;
and cold waters are most certainly either less productive,
or altogether barren. For if water were fruitful in itself,
it would always, and that spontaneously too, bear fruit.
But the contrary is apparent, and it is rather baneful to
generation.
[p. 336]
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