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WE have compared Man in this our first Book, with those creatures whom we call irrational, and therein shewed, That he ought to be so far from glorying in, and exalting himself, in re∣spect of his excellency and dignity, that he hath the greatest arguments imagina∣ble, (every thing considered) to the con∣trary. Having therefore laid this slight
foundation, and drawn some rude lines of human misery, it remains now to go on forward in the continuation of our tra∣gical discourse of Mans life. First, In∣sisting on his generation and production, and so proceeding, till we have at last brought him to his Grave, which is the end and period of all things. In the first place considering the matter of his gene∣ration, which, what is it but corruption and putrefaction? as also the place of his birth, which is nothing else, but a vile and loathsom Prison. How long is he in the womb of his Mother, without form or resemblance to any thing, save an in∣sensible mass of flesh? For when the Ma∣trix hath taken in, and retained the two seeds, and warmed them by its natural heat, there is concreted a little thin skin, like unto that which we see is on the top of an Egg; and after some days the spi∣rit and blood mingling together, they be∣gin to boil, so that there riseth up Three little Bladders, as the bubbles which rise up in a troubled water, which are the places, where are formed the three most noble parts of thi•• lofty Animal, the Liver, the Heart and the Brain, which is the most excellent part of the work, it being the seat of all the functions, the true
fountain of sence, and magnificent palace of understanding and memory, the true arch and support, as it were, of Reason. Most wonderful also will it appear to us, if we consider likewise, particularly, the creation of all the other parts, the man∣ner and fashion of their formation, and how the Infant being in the womb of its Mother, beginneth to Urine through the passage of the Navel, the Urine running in a little membrance separate from the Child, ordained by nature to this office, having not as yet the ejections by the fundament, by reason that it receiveth not its nourishment by the mouth; the ventricle or stomach also not as yet per∣forming its office; so that not any thing is transported to the entrails, being for Six days as Milk, the Nine following Blood, the other Twelve Flesh, and the Eighteen following the spirit of Life and Motion is infused. There's scarce any heart, though never so hard and stony, which is not moved and ravished as it were with great admiration and astonishment, considering a thing so strange and wonder∣ful. But what we have now said, is but lit∣tle in comparison of those things which follow. For who marvelleth not, consider∣ing the manner of the Infants being nou∣rished
in the womb, seeing he receiveth nothing by his mouth? his nature is also so frail and tender, that if the Mother hath but the least shock or disaster, or scenteth but the snuff of a Candle, her fruit dieth immediately.