CHAP. X.
YOu see now the first causes,* 1.1 how waters are bred vnder the earth•• Adde hereunto also if thou wilt, That all is made of all, aire of wa∣ter, water of aire, fire of aire, aire of fire. Why therefore should not earth bee made of water, and water of earth? which if it bee changeable into anything, may bee changed into water, nay most•• of all into it. Both of them resemble one an other, both of them are heauie and thick, and are lodged together in the Center of the world. Earth is made of wa∣ter, and why should not water be made of earth? But there are great Riuers: But when thou seest how great they are, consider againe from how great a thing they come. Againe, thou wondrest that although some float incessantly, and others flie with a maruailous swiftnesse, yet neuer haue they want of new water. And what wilt thou say, that whereas the windes impell the aire, yet notwithstanding it faileth in no part being not carried in a certaine channell as Riuers, but turning by a sodaine and spacious motion through this vast extent of the heauens? Art thou not amased to see that there is not one drop of water left, after so many billowes that haue beaten against the rocks, and shores. There is nothing deficient that returneth into it selfe.* 1.2 The elements doe nothing ••ls•• but turne and returne. That which the one looseth, the other getteth: And nature examineth her parts as it were in a ballance, for feare l••a••t if there were too little on the one side, and too much on the other, the world should fall in∣to ruine. All things are in all things, not only the aire passeth into the element of fire, but is neuer without fire. Take away heat from it, it will freeze, it will grow thick, and hard. The aire is changed into water, yet in such sort that be∣fore that time it was not without humour. Both aire and water are made by earth, yet is shee neuer lesse without water then without aire. And therefore the passage through both the one and the other is more easie, because shee is al∣readie intermixed with those elements through which shee must passe. The earth then hath humiditie, and this shee expresseth. Shee hath the aire like∣wise, which is thickned by the shadow of winters cold, to the intent to pro∣duce humiditie: Shee is changeable into humour, and vseth her owne nature.