The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. II.

¶ The industrie and subtiltie of Nature inframing these Insects.

IN bodies of any bignes, or at least-wise in those of the greater sort, Nature hadno hard pie•…•…e of work to procreate, forme, and bring all parts to perfection; by reason that the matter wher∣of they be wrought, is pliable and will follow as she would haue it. But in these so little bo∣dies (nay pricks and specks rather than bodies indeed) how can one comprehend the reason, the [unspec L] power, and the inexplicable perfection that Nature hath therin shewed? How hath she bestow∣ed all the fiue senses in a Gnat? and yet some therebe, lesse creatures than they. But (I say) where hath she made the seat of her eies to see before it? where hath she set & disposed the tast? where hath she placed and inserted the instrument and organ of smelling? and aboue all, where hath she disposed that dreadful and terrible noise that it maketh, that wonderfull great sound (I say) in proportion of so little a body? can there be deuised a thing more finely & cunningly wrought than the wings set to her body? Marke what long-shanked legs aboue ordinary she hath giuen vnto them. See how she hath set that hungry hollow concauitie in stead of a belly: & hath made the same so thirstie and greedy after bloud, and mans especially. Come to the weapon that it hath to pricke, pierce, and enter through the skinne; how artificially hath shee pointed and sharpened it? and being so little as it is (as hardly the finenesse thereof cannot be seen) yet as if [unspec M] it were of bignesse & capacity answerable, f•…•…amed it she hath most cunningly for a twofold vse: to wit, most sharpe pointed, to pricke and enter; and withall, hollow like a pipe for to sucke in

and conuey the bloud through it. Come to the Wood-worme, what manner of teeth hath Na∣ture [unspec A] giuen it, to bore holes and eat into the very heart of hard Oke? who heareth not the sound that she makes whiles she is at her work? For in wood and timber is in manner all her feeding. We make a wonder at the monstrous and mighty shoulders of Elephants, able to carry turrets vpon them. We maruell at the strong and stiffe necks of buls, and to see how terribly they will take vp things and tosse them aloft into the aire with their hornes. We keepe a wondering at the rauening of Tygres, and in the shag manes of Lions: and yet in comparison of these Insects there is nothing wherein Nature and her whole power is more seene, neither sheweth she her might more than in the least creatures of all. I would request therfore the Readers, that in per∣using this treatise, they will not come with a preiudicate opinion, nor (because many of these silly flies and wormes be contemptible in their eies) disdaine, loath, and contemne the reports that I shall make thereof; seeing there is nothing either in Natures workes that may seeme su∣perfluous, [unspec B] or in her order vnworthy our speculation.